Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-14
NE VI MEXICO HAD
too MUCH HEAT;
RAIN WAS SCANT
Month of August Hottest in.
History of the State With
the Exception of August,
1901.

Santa Fe, Sept. 13.-Following Is
the climatic survey for the month
OF August, issued by the United
states weather bureau, with head
quarters here: The month averaged
much above the normal in tempera-
ture and much below in precipita-
ton. The heat was intense over
much of the state. Barring August,
1901, it was the hottest August In
the last thirty-two years. The
month began with rather high tenn
peratures, which rose higher till
the 4th or 5th, passing 100 degrees
at many of the lower altitude and
valley stations. Temperatures again
rose the last decade of the month,
quite generally passing 100 degrees
in the lower valleys and southern
districts from the 23d TO the Goth.
On the other hand, cool nights were
fairly general throughout the
month, but were especially noted
on the Sth, 9th, 18th and 18th.
A general and large excess OF
temperature occurred, greatest,
however over the eastern counties,
where many station, exceeded
the normal by four degrees or
more.
A general and marked deficiency
of precipitation occurred, barring
a few local doWn-pours that caused
scattered stations to show an eX'
cess. The deficiency was greatest
in the eastern half of the state,
but was large also at a few stations
in the Rio Grande valley and west
ward. Showers were exceedingly
local in character and of small eX-
tent. Nearby places showed wide
range in the amounts that were re-
ceived and a few stations-were
skipped entirely. For the state, as
a whole, there was little release
from the drouth, except in the Gila
and southwest division and along
the western border. The drouth
was especially severe in southern
Santa Fe, Torrance, eastern Valen-
cia, northeast Socorro, Ch2ves.
Eddy and Lea counties, and bad
locally in parts of De Baca, Guada-
lupe, Roosevelt and Quay counties,
and in lesser degree northward.
Springs, well and streams gradually
failed. irrigation and city water
supplies grew low and even many
of the larger streams practically
dried up. The water in Lake Ava
Ion, on the Carlsbad project, be-
came too low to float the evapora-
ton pan in the spill-way basin,
after the 2Sd.
The dryness caused crop failure
in many districts and shortened |
yields generally throughout the
state. Ranges became poor, with
stock mostly poor and thin and
heavy shipments being made to
outside ranges, because the outlook
for winter range was generally bad.
Temperature.
The monthly mean for the state,
based upon the records of 101 sta
tons having a mean altitude OF
about 5000 feet, was 1919 degrees
Or 2.5 degrees above the normal, as
determined from the departures of
stations having records
for ten years or more. The month
was 81 degrees warmer than Aug
llst, 1921. The highest monthly
mean was S2.2 degrees at the rail-
road station at Tucumcari, and tho
highest recorded temperature ITO
degrees at Orogrande on the 4th
and 9Th. The lowest monthly mean
was So degrees at Harvey's Upper
fhn 1nEunGt rnanr6nI
SO degrees at Senori-
to on the 26th. The greatest local
daily range of temperature was SIS
degrees, also at Senorito on the |
26th.
Precipitation.
The average precipitation for the |
state, based upon the records Of
166 stations was 1.54 inches, or
.S8 inch below the normal, as
shown by the departures of ia |
stations having records for ten
years or more. The greatest
month amount was 9.9S inches at
the Cloverdale Ranger Station, and
none occurred at three stations.
mere trace. The greatest amount
in any twenty-four consecutive
hours was 7.50 inches at Virsylvia
on the 18th. There was an average
of seven days with .01 inch or more
precipitation, while seventeen We're
clear, twelve partly cloudy and but
two cloudy. The prevailing direc.
ton of the wind was from the |
southeast.
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