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Climate <br />The climate 'Of Bent County is characterized by low and variable precipitation, abundant sunshine, low <br />humidity, a wide range in temperature, 'and considerable wind. The weather pattern is commonly <br />governed by dry air from the southwest. In winter it is influenced by brief invasions of Cold .air from the <br />north, which cause sharp drops in .temperature. In spring, summer, and fall, it is influenced by moist air <br />from the Gulf Of Mexico, which brings 'above normal temperatures, higher than average humidity, and <br />most of the growing- season precipitation. <br />Winters are fairly mild. Although the period December through February is the coldest and driest of the <br />year, temperatures generally rise above freezing during the day and sometimes reach the sixties 'and <br />seventies. Occasionally, blizzards and Cold spells that last 3 to 5 days move into the area from the north. <br />The onset of periods of high winds is frequently late in February. <br />Skies are cloudier in spring than rut any other season. Precipitation increases sharply late in March and in <br />April and May. High - velocity winds are common in March and April. <br />By summertime the sustained high winds have subsided. Short intrusions of air from the Gulf of Mexico <br />increase humidity and shower activity. Through June, July, and August, precipitation is fairly high and <br />temperatures reach 90° F . or above on about 70 percent of the days. <br />Fall is a transitional period of sunny days and generally mild temperatures. A few thunderstorms persist <br />into September, but precipitation decreases each month and reaches a minimum in November. Freezing <br />nighttime temperatures are frequent late in October and usual in November. Cold air from the north <br />moves in during November. Wind movement is generally Tight. <br />Table 1 shows, by months the averages daily maximum temperature, the average daily minimum <br />temperature, and the average precipitation for Bent County. Table 2 shows probabilities of the last <br />freezing temperatures in spring and the first freezing temperatures in fall. <br />About 75 percent of the annual total precipitation falls during the period March through September, and <br />most of this falls during thunderstorms. The amount varies greatly from storm to storm and from place to <br />place. On <br />July 2, 1961, for example, 3.33 inches of rain fell at John Martin Dam but only 0.25 inch fell at Las <br />Animas. Hailstorms are occasionally severe and damaging, but they are less frequent in Bent County <br />than in higher parts of the state. Tornadoes are smaller, less damaging, and less frequent than in areas in <br />the eastern part of the state. <br />