Laserfiche WebLink
EXHIBIT K <br /> Climate <br /> The Eastern Plains have a semi-arid climate and receive little rainfall.(21 Much of the area relies <br /> on irrigation to survive. Summers are typically hot and dry, often bringing thunderstorms, which are <br /> often severe, to the area, with some occasionally forming land spouts and tornadoes. Eastern <br /> Colorado winters are cold and dry, with significant snowfalls and icy conditions. Temperatures can <br /> sometimes fall to -40 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit in extreme cold waves, although this is rare.131 <br /> . We average 260 days of sunshine and 16.7" of annual rainfall <br /> The climate of the Eastern Plains is semiarid with low humidity and moderate precipitation, usually <br /> from 15 to 25 in (380 to 640 mm) annually. The area is known for its abundant sunshine and cool, <br /> clear nights, which give this area a great average diurnal temperature range. The difference between <br /> the highs of the days and the lows of the nights can be considerable as warmth dissipates to the <br /> space during clear nights, the heat radiation not being trapped by clouds. <br /> In summer, this area can have many days above 95 OF (35 °C) and often 100 OF (38 °C).1181 On the <br /> plains, the winter lows usually range from 25 to —10 OF (-4 to —23 °C). About 75% of the precipitation <br /> falls within the growing season, from April to September, but this area is very prone to droughts. <br /> Most of the precipitation comes from thunderstorms, which can be severe, and from <br /> major snowstorms that occur in the winter and early spring. Otherwise, winters tend to be mostly dry <br /> and cold.["] <br /> In much of the region, March is the snowiest month. April and May are normally the rainiest months, <br /> while April is the wettest month overall. The Front Range cities closer to the mountains tend to be <br /> warmer in the winter due to chinook winds which warm the area, sometimes bringing temperatures <br /> of 70 OF (21 °C) or higher in the winter.1191 The average July temperature is 55 OF (13 °C) in the <br /> morning and 90 OF (32 °C) in the afternoon. The average January temperature is 18 OF (-8 °C) in the <br /> morning and 48 OF (9 °C) in the afternoon, although variation between consecutive days can be <br /> 40 OF (22 °C). <br />