WEATHER 



Table 2 summarizes weather data collected at the NOAA Libby recording 

 station (Libby 1 NE Ranger Station) for the period September 1980 to July 

 1981. The data show that the winter of 1980-81 was exceptionally mild. 

 Average monthly temperatures were 2.3 to 9.6 degrees Fahrenheit (averaging 

 4.9 degrees) above normal from November through .March, and precipitation 

 averaged 1 inch below normal. Snowfall, which totalled only 21.5 inches 

 over the winter, occurred only during the period November through February. 

 Although data on average snowfall at this recording station are not 

 available, snowfall during the same period the previous year, November 1979 

 through February 1980, totalled 39.6 inches. Snow depths in 1980-81 were 

 relativ'ely low; the greatest depth, 10 inches, was recorded in December 1980. 

 During the winter of 1979-80, the maximum snow depth of 13 inches occurred in 

 January. 



Table 2. Summary of weather parameters at Libby, September 1980- July 1981. 



Maximum Snow 

 Month Temperature ( 1 ■) Precipitation( 1) Snowfall Depth on Ground 



(degrees Fahrenheit) (inches) (inches) (inches) 



September 1980 56.9(+0.1) 



October 1980 45. 7 (+0.21 



November 1980 35. 5 (+2. 3) 



December 1980 30.3(+4.6) 



January 1981 32.0(+9.6) 



February 1981 33.1 (+3.0) 



March 1981 40.9(+5.2) 



April 1981 46.3(+1.0j 



May 1981 54. 4 (+0.4) 



June 1981 56.6(-3.7) 



July 1981 65.5(-1.5) 

 _ 



Monthly average (departure from normal 



