TEMPERATURE AT FORT COLLINS 
21 YEARS’ RECORD 
Graphical Diagrams of the Normal Daily Temperature and the Highest and Lowest 
Daily Average 
By L. G. CARPENTER and R. E. TRIMBLE 
The Meteorological records for Fort Collins have been con¬ 
tinued under essentially the same system for 20 years. Observa¬ 
tions were made tri-daily up to July i, 1889, when we changed to 
the twice daily records. 
The average temperature which forms the basis of these charts 
is the mean of the maximum and minimum temperatures of the dav. 
The observations have been made by several different persons, but 
since 1891 have been made by Mr. R. E. Trimble. 
The instrument house has been under substantially the same 
conditions, but moved several times for short distances. It has 
been of the Standard Weather Bureau type, a louvre-sided instru¬ 
ment house, with the floor about 6 feet above a grassy plot. 
The dotted line of the diagrams shows the average temperature 
‘ for every calendar day during the year. It is the average of 20 
years, 1887-1906 inclusive. 
The highest daily average during the 20 years is indicated by 
the upper line, and the lowest daily average by the lower line. Thus 
the warmest first of January in the 20 years averaged 39°, and the 
coldest -4°. The diagrams do not show the minimum temperature 
nor the maximum. The average range for January is 28°, and for 
August 33°. The range on the days of extreme temperature is 
much greater, often 40° or even 55°, so that if one selects the por¬ 
tion of day to be outside, the physiological effect is that of much 
more moderate extremes. This is still more the case when the ex¬ 
treme dryness of the climate is considered, moderating the physio¬ 
logical effect. 
During the 20 years here recorded the maximum has been as 
follows. 
MAXIMUM 
91°. 
.1 
year 
93°. 
.3 
years 
94°. 
.3 
years 
95°. 
.5 
years 
96°. 
.2 
years 
97°. 
.. 4 
yfears 
■^99°. 
.2 
years 
99.6°. 
.1 
year 
