Dry weather pattern continued in February in Los Alamos, White Rock

Los Alamos and White Rock continued to experience generally dry conditions in February as storms steered up and around New Mexico.

It also was a little cooler than normal last month in both towns, according to Laboratory meteorologist George Fenton of Air Quality (ESH-17).

“Persistent High Pressure over the Four Corners region deflected winter storms north and east of New Mexico, resulting in very dry conditions with predominately clear skies. Local precipitation came from storm systems passing over Colorado, into Oklahoma and Texas,” said Fenton.

Los Alamos received only .03 of an inch of precipitation at the Technical Area 6 measuring station in February, or 4 percent of normal. White Rock received only .02 of an inch of precipitation at the Technical Area 54 measuring station. While trace snowfalls were observed on several days in February, Fenton said, there was no measureable snowfall. Normal snowfall in February is nine inches, he noted.

Fenton added that this winter — generally October through February — is the fourth driest and 30th warmest on record.

The mean maximum temperature in Los Alamos last month was 44 degrees Fahrenheit, which is normal. The mean minimum temperature of 19 F was 3 F below normal, said Fenton.

Likewise in White Rock, the mean maximum temperature of 48 F in February was normal for the month, while the mean and mean minimum temperatures of 31 F and 15 F were 3 F and 6 F below normal respectively.

“Clear skies promoted night-time radiative cooling and stable/calm mornings. These conditions lead to cool air draining into the local canyons and pooling in White Rock, possibly an explanation of why White Rock's average minimum temperature was much lower than normal,” Fenton said.

Wind gusts exceeding 40 miles per hour were recorded Feb. 8, 20, 21, 25, 26 and 27 in Los Alamos.

Winds gusts exceeding 40 miles per hour were recorded Feb. 8, 21 and 25 in White Rock.

--Steve Sandoval

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