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Low pressure areas and major storms are usually deflected to <br />the north or to the south, in winter, high pressure areas often <br />dominate over the Great Basin and western slope of the Rockies <br />with accompanying moderate temperatures and abundant sunshine. <br />Over the entire area, because of the normally low relative humi- <br />dity, the warm summer days cause little discomfort. In mid- <br />winter, under the high pressure ridge, the strong solar radiation <br />and dry air combine to make a pleasant environment even under <br />conditions of low air temperature. <br />Small scale climatic controls - slope, aspect, elevation, soil <br />type and moisture content, vegetation and air movement patterns <br />dominate the local climate during much of the year. In particular; <br />the local surface winds and vertical temperature profiles are strong- <br />ly dependent upon shape and orientation of the local topography. <br />• PRECIPITATION <br />The origin of the moisture that is received at the project site <br />is usu311y from the Gulf of California with an occasional compo- <br />Went from the Gulf of Mexico. The moist air masses usually <br />arrive at the project site from a southwesterly direction follow- <br />ing the Colorado River basin. General storms occurring at the <br />project site are long-duration, low-intensity storms covering <br />most of the western Colorado region. <br />Thunderstorms are short-duration, high-intensity storms usually <br />only two to three miles in width. These storms are highly isola= <br />red and localized, and occur during the summer. The highest <br />thunderstorm activity occurs during July and August. <br />Orographic (topographic lifting) effects on precipitation at <br />. the site are minor because of the relative uniformity of the <br />K-2 <br />