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CLIMATE OF COLORADO YaQe 3 of 3 In contrast, June is one of the wetter months in most of the easteru portions of the State. SEVERE STORMS -Thunderstorms are quite prevalent in the eastem plains and along the eastern slopes of the mountains during the spring and summer. These often become quite severe, and the frequency of hail damage to crops in northeastern Colorado is quite high. Tornadoes almost never occur in the mountains or in the west. They are also relatively infrequent over the eastern plains, where fatality rates and mean property loss rates are lower than in States farther east. Other severe storms include the winter blizzards of the eastem high plains, but these also are less frequent and not as severe as those in States farther east and north. Heavy snows in the high mountains create the danger of avalanches, a serious problem to residents and road maintenance crews. A spring flood potential results from the melting of the snow pack at the higher elevations. In a year ofnear-normal snow accumulations in the mountains and normal spring temperatures, river stages become high, but there is no general - flooding -In rears when snow cover is heavy, or when there is a siidden"warming in-the spring at high elevations, there may be extensive flooding. Heavy thunderstorms in the eastem foothills and plains occasionally cause damaging flash dam ge tot property and cropsy Similar flash floods occur onrthewest m saopessbut wtthvsomewha lower frequency. AGRICULTURE - As in other sections of the semiarid West, water is of prime importance to human activities in Colorado. In the eastem plains and in the flat valley areas, where agricultural activities are practicable, local precipitation is deficient. However, the heavy winter snow in the mountains, which accumulates 10 to 20 feet or more, provides ayear- azound source of water for streams and rivers. Many large reservoirs conserve the heavy spring runoff and often famish along the South Platte and Arkansas Ripetsin the Eastelrnpplainstas welgasen manylof the westernvvalleys~eveloped As a result of its varied climate, Colorado has a highly diversified agriculture. Northeastern Colorado has a growing season averaging about 140 days, which is suitable for the major crops of wheat, spring grains, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, and, near the mountains, potatoes and fruit. The protection offered by the mountains has favored the development of orchards, principally cherry, in the Loveland-Longmont area. Lazge feeding lots for fattening cattle are maintained in the northeastern portion. Southeastern Colorado has a growing season which averages 160 days but increases to neaorlduc 8D days in the extreme southeastern comer. Vegetables, melons, sugar beets, and alfalfa are grown in the highly p irrigated sections of the Arkansas Valley. Throughout the eastem plaios "dry farming" is practiced in unirrigated areas, and the principal crops are wheat, spring grains, com and broomcorn. In wet years excellent crop yields aze realized, but the eaatic variation in precipitation from yeaz to year can seriously affect production. Periodic droughts, extending from one or two to several years, create severe agricultural and economic problems. The portion of Colorado from the mountains west is so varied in terrain and climate that no overall description of the agriculture of the region is practicable. By irrigating with water stored in the mountain snow cover to the west, and by tapping underground supplies of water, the San Luis Valley has become a major agricultural area. Sugar beets, vegetables, alfalfa, wheat, and spring grains are among the principal crops, with potatoes the most important single crop. At the higher western elevations, livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity. Cattle