Las Vegas optic., 1913-09-11
RAINFALL WASN'T
UP TO THE
NORMAL
NEW MEXICO SHARED TO SOME
EXTENT IN THE GENERAL
DROUGHT IN AUGUST

Santa Re, Sept 1.-THE month OF
August, 1918, averaged practically nor
NAL in temperature in New Mexico,
but far below the normal in rainfall,
the average for the state falling one
third below the normal August pre-
eipitation. Eastern counties we're,
generally, hottest and driest, the tenn
perature exceeding the normal in Dis
trict No. about degree a day,
while many stations near the border
exceeded the normal two or more de-
grees a day. The rainfall Of the east
ern counties averaged practically an
inch below the normal; mountain
slopes were most favored, although
local downpours occurred at few
widely scattered stations over the
northeast plains country, nearby sta
tions showing little or no precipita-
ton, clearly Indicating rne local char
acter of the precipitation Of the
month. Central counties averaged
practically normal in temperature,
with about two-thirds of the normal
precipitation, nearby localities again
showing widely different amounts
Western counties, on the other hand,
averaged considerably below the nor
NAL temperature, with about three
fourths of the normal rainfall. The
southwestern mountain areas we're es-
pecially favored in precipitation, re-
ceiving frequent good showers. The
coolness of the western counties ex-
tended eastward over the lower Rio
Grande, the Sacramento and the Pc
cos valleys, where the usual high
temperatures of August we're largely
lacking, and partly cloudy month of
moderate temperature prevailed.
Two rather pronounced cool periods
occurred, the first from the beginning
of the month to the third or fourth
and the second from the 26th to the
close of the month, the 30th and 31st
proving generally the coolest days OF
the month. On the other hand the
highest temperature occurred various
ly on the 3rd to 9th, 10th, 18th and
18th
Showers were of almost daily oc
currence, though mostly light an(
local in character In the eastern
counties they were generally delayed
until the 10th and mostly ceased OF
the 22nd. Central counties general!
received showers by the 5th anC
they continued quite general.
throughout the month, mountain area
especially being favored with frequen
light showers.
The winds of the month were pre-
vailing southwesterly and light. Th
sunshine of the state was nearly nor
NAL, although eastern counties receiy
ed more than normal, and western, o
rather southwestern, considerabl
less, the skies being partially over
cast most of the month. The aver
age number of clear days was IL
partly cloudy IA and cloudy 4. A
! Santa Fe there was Il per cent 0
the total possible sunshine, and a
Roswell 73 per cent. The humidit.
of the state was low, averaging 5
per cent at Santa Fe, so per cent a
{ Roswell and 46 per cent at the agrt
, cultural college.
The meaz temperature for tn
state, as determined by the record
of 92 stations, having mean altitud
Of about 5000 feet, was II. or i be
low the normal, and 8 degrees aboy
August, 1912 The highest month";
mean temperature was 881 degrees a
Gage and at the dry farm experimen
station near Tucumcari, The loves
monthly mean temperature was Sc.
degrees at Cloudcroft. The highes
recorded temperature was 105 degree
at Artesia on the Sth and at Loga
on the 9th, while the lowest recorde
temperature was 30 degrees at Eliza
bethtown on the 5th, and at Re
River canyon on the End, 9Th and 31s
The greatest local monthly range {
temperature was 81 degrees at Ii
guna; the least 26 degrees at Clou(
croft, while the greatest local dali
range was 55 degrees at San Rafat
on the 18TH The district average
were as follows: No. canadian an
northeast). " degrees; No. s (Pecc
and Rio Grande), 7o7 degrees; M
: 9 (western), 7O.7 degrees
= The average precipitation for th
state, as determined from the record
Of 100 stations, was 159 inches, (
4 rs inch below the normal, and L.
( inches below the rainfall Of Angus
1912. The greatest amount was as
inches at Harvey's upper ranch, an
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