Laserfiche WebLink
EXHIBIT K - Climate Information <br />The climate in the Moffat County area is of the Continental type. Temperatures <br />and precipitation vary widely with elevation. Generally higher precipitation amounts and <br />lower temperatures at higher elevations and the warmer dryer conditions in the valley <br />areas, though some valley areas are subject to winter temperature inversions. Average <br />snowfall is dependent on elevation. On average 70 to 90 days per year have at least 1 inch <br />of snow and up to 4 to 6 months at higher elevations. <br />The Moffat County area is characterized by low precipitation, low humidity, <br />abundant sunshine and a wide range in annual and daily temperatures dependent on <br />elevation. Summers are warm to mild in the valleys and much cooler in the mountains. <br />Winters are very cold in the mountains and the valleys are usually colder than the lower <br />slopes of the adjacent mountains because of cold air drainage and inversion layers. <br />Precipitation occurs year round in the mountains with deep snow-pack accumulations <br />during the winter. Precipitation in valleys in summer falls as showers and <br />thundershowers. Thunderstorms occur on about 30-35 days each. year, and most occur in <br />summer. <br />The prevailing winds in the area are from the west and northwest and are <br />frequently strong in .winter and spring averaging around 10 mph. In winter high pressure <br />builds over the area and remains giving clear moderate days and cold nights. The cold <br />polar air from the north and north.vest is sometimes trapped in the valleys for several <br />days before being moved out of the area by the prevailing westerly winds. <br />The total average annual precipitation at the Craig weather station, elevation is <br />about 16.39inches with about up to 50 inches in areas above 10,000 feet adjacent to <br />Route County to the east. Of this, most fall in the winter and spring with frequent <br />showers in July thru September (at higher elevations). Generally precipitation increases <br />with elevation. <br />The average daily winter temperature at the Craig station is @ 25 degrees F, and <br />the average daily summer temperature is 70 degrees F_ The average relative humidity in <br />midafternoon is about 20 percent and the average at dawn is about 60 percent. The sun <br />shines 80 percent of the time possible during the suminer and 60 percent in winter. The <br />spring season is generally variable with some late mountain and valley snows, as March <br />generally has the highest precipitation during the year. Depending on elevation and <br />ground temperatures there may be some difficulty in preparing seedbeds. Fall months are <br />typically dry, mild and satisfactory for harvest.