El Nuevo mexicano., 1918-02-14
JANUARY STORMY,
COLD, WET MONTH";
ZERO PROVES FREQUENT
All Parts Of New Mexico Share In
Abnormal Precipitation Need
ed For Six Months
WAS AMONG THE COOLEST
JANUARiES ON RECORD
(Weather Bureau Office, Santa E'e.
General Climatic Summary Tor
New Mexico. January. 1881

(Weather Bureau Office, Santa E'e.
General Climatic Summary Tor
New Mexico, January, 1879
The temperature of the month
averaged G degrees below the nor
malt was well amongst the coolest
Januaries of record, and in certain
parts of the state, notably the north
and east portions, many stations
averaged 8, 10 and even IL degrees
below the normal. All parts showed
a deficiency, with the exception of
small areas in the Immediate Rio
Grande valley in Sierra and Socorro
counties, where normal temperature
or a slight excess was reported.
Three sharp cold waves crossed the
state; the first on the 10-11th, the
second on the 20-21st and the third
on the 26-27th, with rather cold
weather closing the month. The
18th was probably the coolest day
Of the month, and the LIST or End the
warmest, although warn weather
was fairly general till the 4th or 5th.
In the cold waves of the 10-11th and
20-21st temperatures below zero
swept over practically all parts of
the state, snow and high winds pre-
ceding or accompanying the severe
drop in temperature. These caused
a marked shrinkage to stock, with
some losses, more especially to the
thin stock in the southeast counties.
Light snow fell over most of the
winter wheat area in advance of the
cold waves but high winds drifted it
badly and its effect upon the crop is
uncertain. The snow was of marked
benefit to the range although trying
on stock. Press reports indicate a
few deaths among travellers over
the southeast plains, variously esti-
mated from two to eight.
The precipitation of the month
averaged much above normal, and all
parts Of the state shared in the ex-
cess, with the slight exception Of
minor areas along the eastern border
in southern Union county, Quay, San
Miguel, Curry, Roosevelt and nortn-
ern Lea, and along the southern bor-
der in Otero. About t%wo-thirds OF
the state received more than an
inch of precipitation and fully a
fourth exceeded two inches. Five
storms of moment passed over the
state during the month, and as 2
whole 1t was stormy and wet. The
snowfall, as shown. elsewhere in this
report, was unusually heavy and
brings the fall for the state we'll
above the normal for the season.
Temperature
The monthly mean temperature, as
determined from the records of 80
stations having a mean altitude OF
about 5000 feet, was 1913 degrees or
5.5 degrees below the normal, as
shown by the departures of AZ sta
lions having records for ten years
or more. January, 1917, averaged 80
degrees warmer than the last month.
The highest monthly mean was 41.O
degrees at Elephant Butte Dam, and
the highest recorded temperature rs
degrees at Artesia on the Sd. The
monthly mean was 1876 de-
grees at Dulce, and the lowest re-
temperature 30 degrees below
zero on the 18th at Vermejo Park,
Colfax county. The great
local daily range of temperature
was &C degrees at Pearl, western
Lea county on the 18th.
Precipitation
The averaged precipitation for the
state, as determined from the rec
ords Of It's stations was 1.09 inches,
or 0.35 inch above the normal, as
shown by the departures OF 60 sta
having records for ten years
more. The precipitation OF the
month averaged 0.33 inch greater
han January, 1917. The greatest
monthly amount was 1896 inches at
Bateman Ranch, near Clayton,
Rio Arriba county, and the least 0.02
nch at Santa Rosa, while the great
in any "a consecutive hours was
l.55 inches at Aragon on the 25th.
rhe average snowfall for the state
vas 1874 inches, and there was an
lverage of 5 days with DOL inch or
more precipitation.
Sunshine and c~loudIness
The month was much given to
and storm; for the state
IS a whole, there were Is clear days,
partly cloudy and s cloudy. Santa
'e recorded 6S per cent of the total
sunshine, or 210 hours, and
here we're 81 days with so per cent
r more Of the possible amount. Ros-
veil recorded &C per cent of the pos
ible sunshine, and had 20 days with Z,
0 per cent OF more of the possible
Miscellaneous Phenomena
Rather high winds we're prevalent
the 9Th to the 18th, the 18th,
Sth, 9th and goth. Fog occurred
yer some Of the northeast districts
n the mornings of the 22d, 23d and
4th. Solar halos we're observed on
ne 10th, 18th, 14th and Goth; lunar
alos on the 10th. Sleet was noted
t a few stations on the 25th and
sth, while a winter thunderstorm
as widely recorded from the Rio
rande westward on the 9th, and
gain on the 26th.
Evaporation
The cold and snow OF the month
ade the taking of evaporation rec
DIS extremely difficult. At Santa
e, with a mean temperature OF
'.6 degrees and an average wind
ovement Of 3.5 miles per hour, the
Vaporation for the month amounted
1.083 inches. On several occas-