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S , <br /> M <br /> r <br /> Exhibit K RECEIVED <br /> Climate Information <br /> Potts Pit#2 FEB 012W6 <br /> Division of Minerals and Geology <br /> The climate of the plains is comparatively uniform from place to place, with characteristic features <br /> of low relative humidity, abundant sunshine, light rainfall, moderate to high wind movement, and a <br /> large daily range in temperature. Summer daily maximum temperatures are often 950 F or above, <br /> and 100° F temperatures have been observed at all plain stations. Such temperatures are not <br /> infrequent at altitudes below 5,000 feet; above that elevation they are comparatively rare. The <br /> highest temperatures in Colorado occur in the northeastern plains,and sometimes exceed 1150 F. <br /> Because of the very low relative humidity accompanying these high temperatures, hot days cause <br /> less discomfort than in more humid areas. The usual winter extremes in the plains are from zero to <br /> 100 F or 150 F below zero. <br /> An important feature of the precipitation in the plains is the large proportion of the annual total that <br /> falls during the growing season—70 to 80 percent during the period from April through September. <br /> Summer precipitation in the plains is largely from thunderstorm activity and is sometimes extremely <br /> heavy. Strong winds occur frequently in winter and spring. These winds tend to dry out soils, <br /> which are not well supplied with moisture because of the low annual precipitation. During periods <br /> of drought, high winds give rise to the dust storms, which are especially characteristic of the <br /> southeastern plains. <br /> At the western edge of the plains and near the foothills of the mountains, there are a number of <br /> significant changes in climate as compared to the plains proper. Average wind movement is less, <br /> but areas very near the mountains are subject to periodic,severe turbulent winds from the effects <br /> of high westerly winds over the mountain barrier. Temperature changes from day to day are not as <br /> great; summer temperatures are lower, and winter temperatures are higher. Precipitation, which <br /> decreases gradually from the eastern border to a minimum near the mountains, increases rapidly <br /> with the increasing elevation of the foothills and proximity to higher ranges. The decrease in <br /> temperature from the eastern boundary westward to the foothills is less than might be expected <br /> with increasing altitude. This results from mountain and valley winds and greater frequency of the <br /> Chinook. Below the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas, the mountain and valley winds are strong <br /> enough to modify the climate over a considerable area. Descending air currents frequently prevent <br /> the stratification of air necessary for the occurrence of excessive cold. As a consequence, the <br /> winter climate is milder than elsewhere in the State. <br />