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EXHIBIT K-Climate Information <br />The Delta-Montrose area is characterized by low precipitation, low humidity, abundant sunshine <br />and a wide range in annual and daily temperatures. Summers are warm to hot in the valleys attd much <br />cooler in the mountains. Winters are cold in the mountains and the valleys are usually colder than the <br />lower slopes of the adjacent mountains because of cold air drainage and inversion layers. Precipitation <br />occurs year round in the mountains with deep snow-pack accumulations during the winter. Precipitation in <br />valleys in summer falls as showers and thundershowers. Thunderstorms occur on about 60 days each year, <br />and most occur in summer. <br />The primary air circulation in the area is from the west. Mountains surround the area and much of <br />the moisture from the west is lost in its' passage over them. In winter, cold polar air from the north and <br />northwest is sometimes trapped ht the valleys for several days before being moved out of the area by the <br />prevailing westerly winds. <br />The total average annual precipitation in the Montrose area is 8 to 9 inches. Of this, <br />approximately 70 percent (6 inches) falls in April through September. The average seasonal snowfall is 29 <br />inches with an average of 25 days having at leas[ I inch of snow on the ground. Winds are warm and dry <br />and often melt and evaporate the snow. The prevailing wind is from [he west northwest with an average <br />highest wind-speed of I S miles per hour in [he spring. <br />In winter the average maximum temperature is 48 degrees F, and the average daily minimum <br />temperature is 19 degrees F. In summer the average daily temperature is 72 degrees F, and the average <br />daily maximum temperature is 80 degrees F. The average relative humidity in midafternoon is about 40 <br />percent and the average a[ dawn is about 60 percent. The sun shines 80 percent of [he time possible during <br />the summer and 60 percent in winter. The spring season is generally mild and there is little difficulty in <br />preparing seedbeds. Fall months are typically dry, mild and satisfactory for harvest. <br />