.".n mur.sT DISTRIBUTION 



47. 2 degrees. K<T tin- dimatolou-ical sections established by the 

 Weather IJnreau. the mean annual temperal ures range as fol- 

 lows : 



Northeastern .Montana. 39.6 to 43.3 decrees 



Southeastern .Montana 42.1) to 47.2 decrees 



North Central .Montana 36.8 to 45. 8 degrees 



Southwestern Montana 34.1 to 45.5 degrees 



Western Montana 38.9 to 45.8 /legrees 



Northeastern Montana is characteri/ed hy lower tempera- 

 ture* usually and hy higher winds and more sudden changes of 

 temperature than other parts of the state. There is a sudden 

 transition from winter to summer in the middle of June, from 

 snows and i'rce/inir weather to the long hot days of summer; 

 autumn is dry. and mild weather often extends to December. 

 Tin- normal temperature for April is about 40 degrees, which 

 marks the beginning of the spring growth of the prairie flora. 

 In the southeastern part of the State there is a wider range 

 of temperature, both daily and annual. During the summer 

 the diurnal variations may be as much as 40 degrees or more. 

 Snow falls from October to !\iarch. The north central portion 

 of the State is colder and drier than the northeastern part. The 

 winter minimum sometimes falls to 45 degrees below /ero. and 

 iimner maximum of 100 degrees is experienced in many 

 localities. 1 1! s< uthwestern Montana the several high ranges of 

 mountains collect abundant snows. High altitudes, low humid- 

 ity and the absence of high winds are features of this section. 

 The temperature records are more uniform than might be ex- 

 pected, owin'_r probably to the more or less sheltered locations 

 of tin- various stations of observation. Western Montana is a 

 region nf widely differing altitudes and topographic conditions. 

 and in SOUK- df the mountain valleys frosts and even snows may 

 OCCUr in all months of the year. In some parts the snowfnll is 

 din-j-ly heavy. 

 Two ta'.les are provided -ivinir the significant fasts of at- 



beric temperatures, Table :> gives the average mean tem- 



dnrinir the months of the growinu 1 season and the 



Mimal means at L M ) different stations in the State. The 



are \\ithin the timbered section of Montana and in 



Miity to imp., Hani forests. The others are most I v in the 



