42 Agkhm i.n kai. Manual 



ANNUAL l'KECIPITATION 



The average amount and distribution of annual precipitation is 

 shown graphically by the accompanying chart (Fig. 13 J. Exam- 

 ination of this chart brings out clearly the remarkably wide varia- 

 tion iu the average amount of rainfall received in the different 

 divisions of the state. In general, the average rainfall of the east- 

 ern half of the state greatly exceeds that of the western half, except 

 possibly for the more elevated parts of Chautauqua and Cattarau- 

 gus counties. For the Central Lakes division, including parts of 

 Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, and Yates counties, as well as 

 the western part of Niagara County, the annual rainfall is the 

 lightest in the state, slightly less than 30 inches annually. The 

 heaviest precipitation, slightly in excess of 50 inches, occurs in the 

 Lower Hudson division, including parts of Dutchess and Putnam 

 counties and along the western slope of the Northern Plateau. 



WINTER PRECIPITATION 



The amount and distribution of precipitation for the months of 

 December, January, and February is shown by Fig. 14. 



For the state as a whole. the winter season is relatively dry, hy 

 far the greater portion of the state receiving less than 9 inches 

 during the three months. The driest part of the state during winter 

 is the Champlain Valley division, with the remarkably low aver- 

 age of less than 5 inches. It is also dry in winter over most of 

 the Central Lakes division, but over the southeastern counties, 

 including Long Island, and for the greater part of the Mohawk 

 Valley division the winter rainfall is liberal, ranging in amount 

 from 11 to more than 12 inches. 



SPRING PRECIPITATION 



The average precipitation for the months of March, April, and 

 May (Fig. 15) shows increased amounts and a more uniform 

 distribution than that of winter, but the light precipitation per- 

 sists over most of the Central Lakes division and over most of 

 the Northern Plateau and adjacent divisions, while for Long Tsland 

 and the southeastern counties, and for most of the Mohawk Valley 

 division the precipitation ranges from about 10 to 12 inches, 

 nearly the same as that of the winter months. 



