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Some precipitation fell in Los Alamos, White Rock last month

After a relatively dry June and July, rains finally came to Los Alamos and White Rock in August.

And warmer than normal temperatures in the two towns continued a pattern that has been in place in the region for several years, said Scot Johnson of Meteorology and Air Quality (RRES-MAQ).

Last month, 2.78 inches of precipitation was recorded at the official Los Alamos measuring station at Technical Area 6. The total is about 83 percent of normal for the month, but far greater than the 1.14 inches recorded in August 2002.

White Rock fared better as well, with 2.28 inches of precipitation recorded at the Technical Area 54 measuring station, or about 8 percent greater than normal.

Through the end of August, a little more than 7 inches of precipitation has been recorded in Los Alamos, while in White Rock, 6.13 inches of precipitation has been recorded since the beginning of the year. Both are below normal, said Johnson.

Los Alamos' mean maximum temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit was 3 F above normal for August, while the mean minimum temperature of 55 F also was greater than normal.

White Rock's mean maximum of 86 F was 3 F above normal for August, and the mean minimum temperature of 55 F was 1 F above normal.

Several temperature records were established last month in Los Alamos and White Rock. The high temperature of 89 F on Aug. 21 broke the old record of 88 F set in 1943. And in White Rock, temperature records were set on Aug. 10 (94 F) and Aug. 21 (92 F).

Winds in August as measured by average wind speed and average maximum daily gust speed were slightly stronger than normal in Los Alamos and slightly calmer than normal in White Rock.

Johnson noted that the forecast for September, provided by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, includes higher than normal temperatures and normal precipitation in the area.

-- Steve Sandoval

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