Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-13
COOLEST MONTH IN
RECORDS Of THE
WEATHER MAN
DECEMBER FRIGID
FROM START TO FINISH
Phenomenal Cold Wave Over
spreads Entire Territory
Says Weather Bureau Sum-
mary,
office U. s. Weather Bureau.

Santa Fe, n. NJ.
CNew Mexico Section, December, 1909.
General Climatic Summary
The closing month of 1908 was re-
markable in several ways. 1t was the
coolest December and the coolest
month within the period covered by
the climatic records of the territory.
Lower temperatures We're also re-
corded than in any previous month,
save one february, 1905, 35 below
zero at Cimarron). 1t was a mont
of comparatively steady, long-cin-
tinued cold, and the low temperatures
were not confined to the northern dis
tricts or the higher mountain regions
but overspread the entire territory,
and temperatures many degrees be-
low zero were recorded far south in
the Rio Grande and the Pecos val
leys. only the extreme southern part
of the territory escaped zero weather.
The greatest deficiency in tempera-
ture occurred in northern Rio Arriba
and in San Juan counties, where the
average for the month was more than
10 degrees daily below the normal
temperature. Almost as great daily
deficiency also occurred in southern
Colfax and central Mora counties, in
Santa Fe and Torrance counties and
in eastern Socorro.
There were three periods of low
temperature; the first from the 4th
to the 8th; the second from the 18th
to the 21st, and the third from the
oath to the 9th. The 10th was gen
orally the coolest day of the month
and of the year. on the other hand,
the month began and ended with
warm weather. The 31st was general
ly the day on which the highest tenn
p%erature of tho month was recorded,
and the highest for the territory (7S
degrees) closely approximated that
of previous years. Tho sunshine Of
the month vas large, despite the
farther frequent storms, the heavy
snow and the severe cold.
-Four periods of precipitation oc-
CURED, mostly snowfall. The first,
from the End to the 9Th; the second,
from the 10th to the 18th; the third,
from the 18th to 18th, and the fourth,
from the 21st to the cath, the latter,
however, did not touch district No.
z, nor did the second except at one
or two northern stations. The result
ing precipitation (0.75) was slightly
above the normal, and nearly three
times that of December, 1907 or 1908.
The snowfall $50 was tho heaviest
for several years. Five inches or
more occurred over the entire terri
tory, except the eastern border coun-
ties of Quay, Roosevelt, Chavcs, and
northern Eddy, and ten inches or
more in practically all of northern
Union and CnIfnU ,Atn4{n~ fI,a,,o
over the Sangre de Cristo range, the
Sandals, and southwest along the foot
hills west of the Rio Grande to north
ern Sierra and Grant counties. Over
the headwaters of the CHA river the
fall exceeded 20 inches, also over
northern Taos and northeast Rio Ar
riba county, reaching a maximum
depth of over four feet near Chama.
The humidity for the month was
high for New Mexico. The winds
were moderate, although gales occur
red. The prevailing direction was
from the west.
Temperature.
The mean temperature for the ter
ritory, determined from the records
of 81 stations having a mean altitude
of about 5000 feet, was PSI degrees.
or Sc degrees below the normal, and
rs degrees below the mean of De-
cember, 1908. The highest local
monthly mean was 1916 degrees al
Carlsbad, and the highest temper
ature recorded was as degrees at the
same station on the 31st. The lowest
local monthly mean was 1870 de-
grees at IIopcwcll. and the lowest
temperature recorded was 80 below
zero at Elizabethtown n Estancia
on the 18th. Some of the other low
readings were as follows: Red River
Canyon, q; Luna, 20; Los Lunas and
Stanley, 25; Manuelito, "a; Tres Pied
ras, %; Wagon Mound, %; Springer
and Blackjack, 81; Mama Ranch, 20
degrees. The greatest daily range
in temperature was SO degrees AT
Luna on the 27th the greatest local
monthly range was IS degrees at
Fort Stanton, and the least 81 de-
grees at Fort Bayard. The average
temperature for the districts was as
follows: No. Z (Canadian), 2S.4;
No. s (Pecos and Rio Grande), 2S.2;
No. 3 CWestern), Ell degrees.
Precipitation.
The average precipitation for the
territory, determined from the rec
ords of 1874 stations. was 0.75 inch,
or 0.O3 inch above the normal, and
GAS inch greater thar December.
1908. The greatest monthly AMOUNT
was 3.32 inches at Chama, and the
least 0.06 inch at Cuervo. The great