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February brought some precipitation, cooler temps to Los Alamos, White Rock

After a generally dry January, Los Alamos and White Rock both experienced slightly above average precipitation last month.

And while the average temperature in the two towns in February was slightly below normal, it didn't start out this way.

A tropical Pacific storm in the middle of February brought much-needed precipitation to Los Alamos and White Rock in the form of rain, said Scot Johnson, a Lab meteorologist in Meteorology and Air Quality (RRES-MAQ). The mid-month storm contributed to the .88 inches of precipitation recorded in Los Alamos last month, he said. The total is about 15 percent more than normal for the month. It also was much greater than the meager .03 inches of precipitation recorded in Los Alamos in February 2002.

Likewise in White Rock, the .84 inches of precipitation was 56 percent greater than normal (.54) for February, said Johnson.

"While total precipitation was a bit higher than normal for February, snowfall was a bit lower than normal," Johnson explained, noting that 7.3 inches of snowfall was recorded in February in Los Alamos. Normal snowfall in February is about 9 inches, he said. Through February, 24.3. inches of snow has been recorded in Los Alamos, about 58 percent of the normal accumulation of 41.6 inches.

Johnson said that although the mild-to-moderate warm El Nino-Southern Oscillation episode is nearly over, the area can expect better–than–normal chances for precipitation for another two months or so. In addition, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index remains slightly positive, which also bodes well for precipitation in the area. Accordingly, the National Weather Service's three-month forecast (March through May 2003) calls for greater–than-–normal chances for precipitation, Johnson added.

The mean maximum temperature in Los Alamos last month was 42 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2 F below normal. The mean minimum temperature of 23 F was 1 F above normal, said Johnson.

In White Rock, the mean maximum temperature of 47 F in February was 1 F below normal for the month, while the mean and mean minimum temperatures of 34 F and 21 F respectively were normal for the month.

Johnson said that in the early part of February temperatures were unusually high – a 62 F high temperature in White Rock on Feb. 2 shattered the previous record of 57 F for the day. But toward the end of the month it was slightly colder than normal with precipitation falling as snow.

Wind gusts exceeding 40 miles per hour were recorded Feb. 2 in Los Alamos and White Rock. Johnson said the windiness in February, as measured by average wind speed and average maximum daily [wind] gust speed, was about normal in both Los Alamos and White Rock.

-- Steve Sandoval

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