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Local Climata~gical Data N ~ ~~ENT OF COM <br />Annual Summary With Comparative Cata P ~~~ ~~~, <br />1982 <br />'FO ~~ <br />GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO STATES Of P~ <br />Narrative C{imatologica{ Summary <br />Located in a large mountain valley, the junction of [he Colorado and Gunnison fivers, on <br />the west elope of the Rockies, Crand Junction has a climate marked by the wide seasonal <br />range usual to interior localities at this latitude. Thanks, however, to the rotective <br />topography of [he vicinity, sudden and severe weather changes are very Snfrequ nt. Eleva- <br />tion of [he valley floor ranges from 4,400 to 4,800 feet above sea level, with ounta ins <br />on all sides at distances of from 10 to 60 miles, reaching heights of 9,000 to over 12,000 <br />fee[. <br />This mountain valley location, with attendant "valley breezes" provides protect on from <br />spring and fall frosts, resulting in a growing season averaging 191 days in the city of <br />Crand Junction. This value varies considerably in the outlying districts, is a out the <br />same in the upper valley around Palisade, and 3 to 4 weeks shorter near the riv r west of <br />Grand Junction, where the "valley breeze" is less effective. Farming areas loc ted on <br />mesas also enjoy longer frost-free seasons than adjacent lower lying ground whe a cool air <br />tends to collect at night; this effect is more noticeable in the west, or lower portion of <br />[he valley. The growing season is sufficiently long to permit growth commercia ly of <br />almost all fruits except citrus varieties. Summer grazing of cattle and sheep n nearby <br />mountain ranges is extensive; foundation herds are wintered in the valley and t ere is <br />some winter feeding of fat cattle and sheep. <br />The interior, continental location, ringed by mountains on all sides, results i quite low <br />precipitation in all seasons. Consequently, agriculture is dependent on irriga ion, for <br />which an adequate supply of water has been available from mountain snows and ra ns. <br />Summer rains occur chiefly as scattered light showers from thunderstorms which evelop <br />over nearby mountains. Winter snows are fairly frequent, but mostly light and uickly <br />melt off. Even the infrequent snows of from 4 to 8 inches, which are heavy for this <br />locality, seldom remain on the ground for prolonged periods. Blizzard conditio s in the <br />valley are extremely rare. <br />Temperatures at Crand Junction have ranged from 105° to -23°, but readings of 1 0° or <br />higher are infrequent, and about one-third of the winters have no readings belo zero. <br />Summer days with maximum temperatures in the middle and low 90's and minima in he low <br />60's are common. Relative humidity is very low during the summer, with values lose to <br />such other dry localities as the southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Spe is of cold <br />winter weather are sometimes prolonged due to cold air becoming trapped in the lley. <br />Winds are usually very light during the coldest weather. Changes in winter are enerally <br />gradual, and abrupt changes are much less frequent than in eastern Colorado. " ld Waves" <br />are rare. Sunny days predominate in all seasons. <br />Flying weather conditions are generally favorable for operation of light airplan s, with <br />visibilities of 20 miles or more and ceilings of 5,000 feet or higher prevailing approxi- <br />mately 95 percent of the time. Custy surface winds are rather frequent in the s ring and <br />early summer. The prevailing wind is from the east-southeast due to the "valley breeze" <br />effects, but the strongest winds are usually from the south and southwest, and a e associ- <br />ated with thunderstorms or with pre-frontal weather. <br />noaa ATMOSP HE RICEA DMI NISTRATION / DATA, AN DE NFORMATIONASER VICE LIT E. / ASHE VrILLE CN OATIt DATA CENTER <br />