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• outlying districts, is about the same in the upper valley around Palisade, and <br />three to four weeks shorter near the river west of Grand Junction, where the <br />"valley breeze" is less effective. Farming areas located on mesas also enjoy <br />longer frost-free seasons than adjacent lower lying ground where cool air tends <br />to collect at night; this effect is more noticeable in the west, or lower <br />portion of the valley. The growing season is sufficiently long to permit growth <br />commercially of almost all fruits except citrus varieties. Svmmer grazing of <br />cattle and sheep on nearby mountain ranges is extensive; foundation herds are <br />wintered in the valley and there is some winter feeding of fat cattle and sheep. <br />"The interior, continental location, ringed by mountains on all sides, results <br />in quite low precipitation in all seasons. Consequently, agriculture is <br />dependent on irrigation, for which an adequate supply of water has been <br />available from mountain snows and rains. Summer rains occur chiefly as <br />scattered light showers from thunderstorms which develop over nearby mountains. <br />Winter snows are fairly frequent, but mostly light and quickly melt off. Even <br />the infrequent snows of from four to eight inches, which are heavy for this <br />• locality, seldom remain on the ground for prolonged periods. Blizzard <br />conditions in the valley are extremely rare. <br />"Temperatures at Grand Junction have ranged from 105° to -23°, but readings of <br />100° or higher are infrequent, and about one-third of the winters have no <br />readings below zero. Summer days with maximum temperatures in the middle and <br />tow 90's and minima in the low 60's are common. Relative humidity is very low <br />during the summer, with values close to such other dry localities as the <br />southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Spells of cold winter weather are <br />sometimes prolonged due to cold air becoming trapped in the valley. Winds are <br />usually very light during the coldest weather. Changes in winter are generally <br />gradual, antl abrupt changes are much less frequent than in eastern Colorado. <br />"Cold waves" are rare. Sunny days predominate in all seasons. <br />"Flying weather conditions are generally favorable for operation of light <br />airplanes, with visibilities of 20 miles or more and ceiling of 5,000 feet or <br />higher prevailing approximately 95 percent of the time. Custy surface winds are <br />• rather frequent in the spring and early summer. The prevailing wind is from the <br />east-southeast due to the "valley breeze" effects, but the strongest winds are <br />8-2 Revised 04/11/88 <br />