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<br />n <br />Exhibit "K" <br />Climate <br />Grand County is located in north central Colorado on the western <br />slope of the Rocky Mountains. The county is comprised of Middle <br />Park and surrounding mountains and includes the Colorado River <br />Valley as well as its headwaters. Altitudes range from almost <br />7000 feet to over 12,650 feet The KAPGP is at an altitude of <br />7,360. The location in the mid-latitudes in the interior of the <br />North American continent experiences large temperature changes <br />from summer to winter and rapid changes of weather due to storms <br />travelling from west to east through the region. <br />Under both stormy and fair weather conditions topographic features <br />exert strong influences on local climate. Mountains influence the <br />flow of air over and around these barriers and valleys channel low <br />level air movements. Under wintertime storm conditions, air <br />forced to rise over mountains cools rapidly and precipitation is <br />• enhanced. On the lee side air descends resulting in reduced <br />snowfall. In the summer, channeling of air can lead to preferred <br />areas of shower development especially on the east side of <br />ridges. Cold air tends to flow downward and its motions are <br />strongly controlled by topographic features. Cold air is trapped <br />in canyons, valleys and other low spots and becomes colder than <br />other air in nearby areas. The effect of topography results in <br />very strong climatic variations in the county. Large temperature <br />changes are observed. <br />At the site of this gravel pit the average annual temperature is <br />37.7 degrees F in January to 62 degrees F in August. <br />Freeze and growing season data are dependent upon minimum <br />temperatures which can vary considerably over short distances <br />since cold air tends to flow down to low elevations and become <br />trapped. <br />Average annual precipitation measurements vary considerably over <br />the county and range from 14.05 inches 6 miles south southwest of <br />Grand Lake to 27.51 inches at Winter Park. The Kremmling area has <br />an annual precipitation of 11.3 inches. The maximum and minimum <br />monthly precipitation is extremely variable. Average snowfall <br />measurements for the Kremmling area is 44". <br />. *Colorado State University - County Information Service (1988) <br />