Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-13
SEVERE WEATHER
FOR NEW MEXICO
DURING FEBRUARY
Mild Temperature of First
Few Days Quickly Followed
by Sharp Cold, Especially
in Northern Part Of State,

tsprclAl CORRESPONDENCE 10 MOANING Jouss.u
santa Fe, March 12.-The following
General summary of weather condi-
tions prevailing in New Mexico during
tho month of February has been given
ont by the weather bureau here:
February was characterized by very
severe weather, especially over the
northern border counties, during the
first two days of the month, by
marked rise in temperature and mod
erately warm weather thereafter
and by clear skies and dryness. Fol-
lowing the sharp cold of the first two
DAYS temperature rose rapidly and re-
NAMED comparatively high throughout
The month. The temperatures were
generally recorded on the 10th or 18th,
while the first and second were by far
the coolest days. There was a general
and marked excess of temperature,
greatest, however, over the southern
tier of counties where it exceeded
degrees at many stations.
The precipitation during the month
was mostly confined to that portion of
the state west of the 105th meridian,
and to the higher districts therein.
More than forty stations reported no
precipitation and quite as many more
had but mere trace, so that fully
one-third of the state had no appre-
cable precipitation. The resulting av-
erage for the state was OBJ inch. This,
however, is not the lowest average re-
corded for the state, as there was only
Ole inch in 1904 and 0.20 in 1902, al
though no previous February had SO
little snowfall. Conditions throughout
the month we're excellent for stock
and for ranchmen, except the growing
scarcity Of moisture over the eastern
counties. The warmth also caused the
season to advance too rapidly in south
crn counties.
Pressure.
The mean sea-level atmosphere
pressure at Santa Fe was 30.12 inches;
highest, 30.5S on the 1st; lowest, 296S
on the Goth. AT Roswell the mean
was 5000 inches; highest. 3067 on the
13th; lowest, 1883 on the 29th At
FL Paso the mean was 30.06 inches;
highest, 1852 on the End; lowest.
1855 on the Goth.
Temperature.
The monthly mean for the state, as
determined by the records of ninety
six stations, having mean altitude of
about 5000 feet, was Alp degrees, or
80 degrees above the normal for the
month, as determined by the depar
lures of forty stations having records
for ten years or more. The month av-
eraged degrees higher than Febru-
airy. 1915, and with the exception of
1904 and 1907 was the highest of rec
ord. The highest monthly mean was
52.f degrees at Carlsbad, and the
highest recorded temperature SO de-
grees at Artesia and Carlsbad on the
18th. The lowest monthly mean was
25.1 degrees at ElizabethtoWn, and
the lowest recorded temperature 80
degrees below zero at Haynes, eX
treme southwest Rio Arriba county
Low temperatures We're also recorded
at Elizabethtown, Chama, Dulce, Red
River Regina, Tres Piedras and Wis
sylvia. The greatest local daily range
of temperature was GO degrees at
Luna on the 14th.
The mean relative humidity at Santa
Fe at a. m. was sc per cent; at 6 p.
m, AZ per cent, and for the month 81
per cent. Roswell average SO per cent
at a. M, % per cent at p. m, and
81 per cent for the month. AT the
state agricultural college the s A. m,
readings averaged SO per cent, the 3
p. m. readings 90 per cent, and for the
month, 2S per cent, while a series of
forenoon readings at Fort Bayard av-
eraged q per cent for the month.
Precipitation.
The average precipitation for the
state, as determined from the records
of 1877 stations, was 0.21 inch, or 0.49
inch below the normal, as determined
from the departures of fifty-five sta
tons having records of ten years or
more. February, 1915, had 0.65 inch
greater precipitation than the month
Just closed. The greatest monthly
amount was 3.04 inches at Bateman'
ranch, eastern Rio Arriba county
While no precipitation was noted AT
more than forty stations. The greatest