A look at a very unusual spring

Editor:

Most of you have noted that this was a most unusual spring this year, but I didn’t realize how strange it was until I ran some numbers and looked at long-term records. First, spring is typically designated by the months March, April and May. This year, the average temperature for all three months was 44.55 degrees, compared to the long-term average of 37.80 degrees. That’s almost seven degrees above long-term average. 

Looking ahead to this summer, a Boulder meteorologist has just predicted that we will have a hotter and wetter summer. This is due to a strong El Nino current bring very warm waters from the Pacific Ocean to our west coast setting the stage for a strong monsoonal season, especially later in the summer. He also points out that the hottest place in Colorado will be the area around Fruita and Grand Junction.

Bruce Bartleson

Gunnison