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November brings little moisture to Los Alamos, less to White Rock

Los Alamos and White Rock recorded near normal temperatures but below average precipitation in November as autumn moves into winter.

In Los Alamos last month, less than one inch (.78) of precipitation was recorded at the Technical Area 6 measuring station, said Scot Johnson of Meteorology and Air Quality (RRES-MAQ). The total is about 66 percent of normal for November. Los Alamos' total precipitation through the end of November is less than 10 inches for the year and only 53 percent of normal.

In White Rock, total recorded precipitation in November at the official measuring station near NM 4 at Pajarito Road was .64 of an inch, or about 69 percent of normal (0.93) for the month, he said. White Rock has recorded 8.34 inches of precipitation through the end of November, or about 65 percent of normal.

"Assuming normal precipitation in December, the 2003 total in Los Alamos will be the lowest since 1956 and the average precipitation over the last five years will be the lowest of any half-decade since measurements began here in 1910," said Johnson. He said that the forecast for December through early spring, provided by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, includes higher than normal temperatures and normal precipitation in the area. "Indices of the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation remain nearly neutral and are not expected to have a significant impact on our weather this winter," added Johnson.

In Los Alamos, the mean maximum temperature of 49 degrees Fahrenheit was 1 F above normal last month. The mean temperature of 38 F was 1 F above normal, and the mean minimum temperature in Los Alamos last month was 26 degrees F, which is normal.

The mean maximum temperature of 52 degrees F in White Rock in November was 1 F above normal, while the mean and mean minimum temperatures also were at or slightly below normal, said Johnson. Several temperature records were set in White Rock last month, including a high of 61 F on Nov. 30 and a high minimum temperature of 40 F on Nov. 3. The old record was 39 F, said Johnson.

Wind gusts exceeding 40 miles per hour were recorded on Nov. 17 and 22 in Los Alamos, including a peak wind gust of 56 miles per hour on Nov. 17. It was windy the same two days in White Rock, with peak wind gusts of 45 and 48 miles per hour respectively, said Johnson.

The number of days in November during which gusts can be expected to exceed 40 miles per hour is 1.75 in Los Alamos and 1.2 in White Rock, so November was windier than normal by this measure, Johnson said. Winds in November as measured by average wind speed and average maximum daily gust speed were about 30 percent stronger than normal in both Los Alamos and White Rock.

More information about weather in the region can be found at http://weather.lanl.gov online.

-- Steve Sandoval

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