Laserfiche WebLink
Climatological Summary <br />Included below, for background purposes, is the Narrative Climatological Summary for Grand <br />Junction, Colorado. <br />"Located in a large mountain valley, the junction of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers, on the <br />west slope of the Rockies, Grand Junction has a climate marked by the wide seasonal range <br />usual to interior localities at this latitude. Thanks, however, to the protective topography of <br />the vicinity, sudden and severe weather changes are very infrequent. Elevation of the valley <br />floor ranges from 4,400 to 4,800 feet above sea level, with mountains on all sides at distances <br />of from 10 to 60 miles, reaching heights of 9,000 to over 12,000 feet. <br />"This mountain valley location, with attendant "valley breezes" provides protection from spring <br />and fall frosts, resulting in a growing season averaging 191 days in the city of Grand Junction. <br />This value varies considerably in the <br />outlying districts, is about the same in the upper valley around Palisade, and three to four <br />weeks shorter near the river west of Grand Junction, where the "valley breeze" is less <br />effective. Farming areas located on mesas also enjoy longerfrost-free seasons than adjacent <br />lower lying ground where cool air tends to collect at night; this effect is more noticeable in the <br />west, or lower portion of the valley. The growing season is sufficiently long to permit growth <br />commercially of almost all fruits except citrus varieties. Summer grazing of cattle and sheep <br />on nearby mountain ranges is extensive; foundation herds are wintered in the valley and there <br />is some winter feeding of fat cattle and sheep. <br />"The interior, continental location, ringed by mountains on all sides, results in quite low <br />precipitation in all seasons. Consequently, agriculture is dependent on irrigation, for which <br />an adequate supply of water has been available from mountain snows and rains. Summer <br />rains occur chiefly as scattered light showers from thunderstorms which develop over nearby <br />mountains. Winter snows are fairly frequent, but mostly light and quickly melt off. Even the <br />infrequent snows of from four to eight inches, which are heavy for this locality, seldom remain <br />on the ground for prolonged periods. Blizzard conditions in the valley are extremely rare. <br />• <br />(REVISED MARCH 2006) 2.04.8-4 <br />