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n <br />U <br />• <br /> <br /> <br />ALAMOSA, <br />CnI,ORA~O <br />Alamosa is located in the south-central pert of <br />Colorado, near the center of the Snn Luis Valley <br />which lies in a brood depression between mountain <br />ranges converging to the north. The valley is <br />the first of a series of basins along the Rio <br />Crende River. The mountain ranges Lo the east <br />reach altitudes over 14,000 teat end those to the <br />west ere between 13,000 end 14,000 feel. The <br />length of the volley from north Lo south is over <br />BO miles, and its greeted width is about 50 <br />miles. The valley floor ranges in altitude from <br />7,500 to near 8.000 feet end has a remarkably list <br />surface. except for a range of low hills across <br />the southern portion. From Lhe lowest areas which <br />lie along en axis near the eastern border, the <br />valley floor rises to the fcothills. steeply to <br />Lhe east end more gently to the west <br />The climate of the San Luis Valley is marked by <br />cold winters end moderate summers. IighL <br />precipice Lion, and much sunshine At Alamosa <br />about BO percent of the annual preci pitalinu <br />occurs from April to October, most of it in ll: r• <br />lorm of scattered hghl showers and lhunders~~~rms <br />that develop over the mou stems and move inl~~ Lhe <br />valley during the afternoon. More than half of <br />these thunderstorms occur during Jufy and A,~c ust. <br />Heil frequently falls in some parts of the valley <br />during their movement. Winter snows occur mainly <br />in frequent IighL falls. with occasional falls as <br />early as September or es Isle es May A good snow <br />cover will remain on Lhe ground for several weeks <br />during the coldest months. <br />All agriculture in the volley is dependent on <br />irrigation, using water supplied ~ by the more <br />abundant precipitation in' the surrounding <br />mountains. Summer grazing o! cattle end sheep on <br />nearby mountain ranges end smeller valleys is <br />extensive. A wide variety cf vegetables, grains <br />and feed crops are grown locally. with .potatoes <br />being the mein commercial crop. , <br />Summer is characterized by Irequent days with <br />maximum temperatures in the middle 80a and minis-.un~ <br />temperatures in the low 40s. Relntive humidity <br />ranges from about 76 percent in the early mornings <br />to around 40 percent during the afternoons. Winds <br />are light during the coldest weather, but ere <br />strong with occasional blowing dust during the <br />spring and early summer months. <br />Based on the 1951-1980 period, the average first <br />occurrence of 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the loll is <br />September 8 and the average last occurrence in the <br />spring is June 8. <br />• <br />