Climate of the Kanab Plateau Basin

Climate data from NOAA/NWS Co-op Network and SNOTEL/Snowcourse stations are complied in Table 6.3-1 and the locations are shown on Figure 6.3-3.  Figure 6.3-3 also shows precipitation contour data from the Spatial Climate Analysis Service (SCAS) at Oregon State University.  The Kanab Plateau Basin does not contain Evaporation Pan or AZMET stations.  More detailed information on climate in the planning area is found in Section 6.0.3.  A description of the climate data sources and methods is found in Volume 1, Appendix A.

NOAA/NWS Coop Network

• Refer to Table 6.3-1A

• There are nine NOAA/NWS Co-op network climate stations in the basin.  The average monthly maximum temperature occurs in July and ranges between 91.5°F at Inner Canyon USGS and 61.8°F at Bright Angel Ranger Station.  The average monthly minimum temperature occurs in January or December and ranges between 23.2°F at Colorado City and 47.0°F at Phantom Ranch.

• Highest average seasonal rainfall occurs in the summer (July-September) or winter (January-March). For the period of record used, the highest annual rainfall is 25.70 inches at Bright Angel Ranger Station and the lowest is 6.55 inches at Lees Ferry.     

SNOTEL/Snowcourse

• Refer to Table 6.3-1D

• There is one SNOTEL/Snowcourse station (Bright Angel) in the basin located at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. 

• The highest average monthly snowpack is in March with an average of 9.9 inches.

SCAS Precipitation Data

• See Figure 6.1-3
• Additional precipitation data shows average annual rainfall as high as 30 inches north of the North Rim and as low as four inches along the Colorado River.

Click for Figure 6.3-3 Kanab Plateau Basin

Meteorological Stations and Annual Precipitation

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