Precipitation Patterns in South Park Nolan J. Doesken, State Climatologist Colorado Climate Center, Atmospheric Science Department, Colorado State University Presented at South Park Symposium, August 3, 2007 Fairplay, Colorado http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu Prepared by Odie Bliss
Why We Care About Precipitation?
South Park The Headwaters of the South Platte River
Precipitation in South Park and It's Role in Local History
The History of Precipitation Measurements in Colorado
First Denver observation form Denver November 19-25, 1871
Colorado Weather Stations in 1890
Hartsel, December 1909 First South Park Cooperative observation form
National Weather Service Cooperative Network From Kelly Redmond, WRCC
National Weather Service Cooperative Stations
Historical Cooperative Network (HCN) stations
Colorado SNOTEL Sites
Colorado Precipitation Patterns (show first Colorado Average Annual Precip map) -- there was one in an old book that showed precip estimates in the 1800s but I have no idea where to tell you to find that
Colorado average annual precipitation map (show the one that Scott Archer gave us -- it was framed, I believe -- 1920s??
Colorado Average Annual Precipitation
Precipitation In Colorado and Where South Park Fits In
Seasonal Patterns of Precipitation I-70 Transect Water Year Average Precipitation for Selected Stations 5.0 4.5 4.0 Grand Junction Vail Vail Pass Georgetown Denver Burlington Precipitation (inches) 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
North-South Transect Durango, Crested Butte, Vail and Steamboat North-South Transect Water Year Precipitation Averages 3.0 Durango Crested Butte Vail Steamboat 2.5 Precipitation (inches) 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
North-South Transect Alamosa, Salida, Leadville, Grand Lake, Walden 2.5 North-South Transect Water Year Precipitation Averages Alamosa Salida Leadville Grand Lake Walden 2.0 Precipitation (inches) 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
North-South Transect Trindad, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, Longmont, Ft. Collins North-South Transect Water Year Precipitation 4.0 Precipitation (inches) 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 Trinidad Pueblo Colo Springs Denver Longmont Ft Collins 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
North-South Transect Campo, Lamar, Cheyenne Wells, Burlington, Wray, Julesburg 4.0 North-South Transect Water Year Precipitation Averages Precipitation (inches) 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 Campo Lamar Cheyenne Wells Burlington Wray Julesburg 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Park County Seasonal Precipitation Patterns (Water Year) Park County Seasonal Precipitation Averages 4.5 4.0 Hoosier Pass Fairplay Antero Reservoir Lake George Grant Bailey 3.5 Precipitation (inches) 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Variations Over Time
Fort Collins Water Year Precipitation 35 Fort Collins Total Water Year Precipitation (1890 through 2006) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2005 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Month Precipitation (inches)
Montrose Water Year Precipitation Montrose Total Water Year Precipitation (1897 through 2006) 25 20 15 10 5 0 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Precipitation (inches)
Rocky Ford Water Year Precipitation Rocky Ford Total Water Year Precipitation (1890 through 2006) 25 20 15 10 5 0 Precipitation (inches) 2005 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
25 20 15 10 5 0 Hartsel and Antero Reservoir Water Year Precipitation Hartsel (1910-1965) and Antero Reservoir (1966-2006) Combined Water Year Precipitation Precipitation (inches) 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
25 20 15 10 5 0 Hoosier Pass April 1 Snowpack Hoosier Pass April 1 SWE Precipitation (inches) 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Grant
30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Bailey Annual Precipitation Bailey Annual Precipitation Totals Precipitation (inches) 1948 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005
Park County Mean Precipitation Westmap at http://www.wrcc.dri.edu
What About Temperature?
Colorado Statewide Winter (Dec-Feb) Average Temperatures
Colorado Statewide Spring (Mar-May) Average Temperatures
Colorado Statewide Summer (Jun-Aug) Average Temperatures
Colorado Statewide Fall (Sep-Nov) Average Temperatures
40 38 36 34 32 30 Antero Reservoir Temperatures Antero Reservoir Annual Average Temperature Temperature (deg F) 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Conclusions
Help us monitor precipitation! CoCoRaHS Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network HAIL RAIN SNOW
Colorado Statewide CoCoRaHS Precipitation for July 28, 2007
Park County CoCoRaHS Precipitation for July 28, 2007
Park County CoCoRaHS Precipitation for July 29, 2007
Park County CoCoRaHS Precipitation for July 30, 2007
Join Us! Visit the CoCoRaHS Web Site: http://www.cocorahs.org Support for this project provided by NOAA Environmental Literacy Program and many local charter sponsors.
Colorado Climate Center Data and Power Point Presentations available for downloading http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu click on Drought then click on Presentations
The End