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s <br /> <br /> <br />The daily surface temperature near Craig can vary by 30°(F) or more, even in <br />the winter months (Stearns-Roger, 1973). As the average temperatures indi- <br />cate, summer days are usually warm, but seldom hot. Summer nights are gener- <br />ally cool, especially if accompanied by night (downs lope) breezes. Tempera- <br />tures above 95°F (35°C) only occurred in 8 months during the 30 years from <br />1936 to 1965 (Berry, 1966). Since 1977 however, temperatures above 95°F have <br />been recorded in 2 of the 31 months. During the twenty-three year period <br />(1951-1973) the average maximum temperatures for summer months did not reach <br />90°F (32.2°C) (Table 2.1-15). <br />Winter months are usually cold, but the average daily maximum temperature for <br />January, historically the coldest month, has been above freezing in more than <br />half of the years of record. This results in a high frequency of winter days <br />warm enough to melt off the snow cover. Winter nights are usually co 1d. The <br />temperatures often drop rapidly once the sun begins [o set. Most of the win- <br />ter days are more comfortable because of the low humidity and the usual <br />amounts of bright sunshine (solar insolation) for the region (Table 2.1-16). <br />The normal diurnal and annual temperature cycles for the Craig vicinity are <br />presented in Figures 2.1-15 and 2.1-16 respectively. If they are compared <br />with Figures 2.1-17 and 2.1-18, the usual inverse relationship between temper- <br />ature and relative humidity can be noted. Likewise, relative humidity differs <br />conversely with hourly and monthly temperature maximums. For example, [he <br />highest humidity occurs at S:OOam (MST) when temperatures are the lowest and <br />the lowest (R. H.) is recorded around 2:OOpm (MST). Stearns-Roger (1973) cal- <br />culated the monthly average for relative humidity to fall between 43 and 89 <br />percent. Hourly averages range between 35 and 86 percent with a mean of 60.6 <br />percent. <br />2-49 <br />