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CLIMATE <br /> Precipitation <br /> Weld County lies in the eastern high plains of northern Colo- <br /> rado approximately 40 miles east of the Continental Divide . <br /> Elevations range from about 4 , 400 feet above sea level where <br /> Pawnee Creek flows from the county to 6 ,200 feet above sea <br /> level in the northwest. Because of its location in the mid- <br /> latitudes of the interior of the North American Continent, <br /> Weld County has large seasonal temperature changes and rapid <br /> changes of weather. Storms tend to move from west to east <br /> through the area. The high mountains to the west block <br /> atmospheric moisture from the Pacific Ocean; the primary source <br /> of moisture is the Gulf of Mexico. This moisture comes to <br /> central Colorado inconsistently. Low relative humidity and low <br /> precipitation are typical on the plains . Average annual rain- <br /> fall for the county is 11. 96 inches; snowfall averages 32 . 3 <br /> inches. Most precipitation falls during the growing season <br /> when there is more frequent air movement from the south and <br /> more solar radiation to produce convective showers. These <br /> storms may be local in scope so that areal distribution of <br /> rainfall can be quite variable. <br /> Temperature <br /> MDaily temperature maximums and minimums range widely. For <br /> instance, the average daily maximum observed in July at Greeley <br /> is 87 . 5° compared to an average daily minimum of 54 . 8° . This <br /> spread is observed throughout the year. In the December <br /> through February quarter, the average daily maximum was 41. 51 , <br /> K-1 <br />