Meteorological measurements from five weather stations in Grand and San Juan Counties in southeastern Utah (ver. 3.0, September 2024)

These data were compiled from six automated weather stations that together provide several points in the meteorological record across a latitudinal and elevational gradient in southeastern Utah. Recorded data from these weather stations are associated with several different studies. Meteorological data are important for quantifying short term weather events as well as longer term climate trends. Spatially separated precipitation gauges allow for better characterization of the heterogeneity of precipitation events. These data were collected from six locations running from north to south in southeast Utah. All of the weather stations use Campbell Scientific data loggers and data are collected daily via telecommunications and stored on servers at the U.S Geological Survey-Southwest Biological Science Center office in Moab UT. Data, station, and sensor function are checked periodically by trained U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel. The PPCUT_Wx station was set up in 2005 by USGS personnel and it is located adjacent to Porcupine Canyon at the base of Parriott Mesa near Castle Valley, UT. The KERBY_Wx station was set up in 2009 by USGS personnel and it is located at the east end of Kerby Lane near Moab, UT. Both the PPCUT_Wx and KERBY_Wx stations are part of a larger Department of Energy funded project concerning climate change on dryland systems (see Cross References). The GOLDB_Wx station was set up in 2010 by US Forest Service personnel for use by avalanche forecasters and winter recreationists. It is located at the south end of the Gold Basin Rd in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, UT. The LSL_Wx station was originally set up in 1991 by US Forest Service personnel for use by avalanche forecasters and winter recreationists, although only data from 2009 until present are included in this data set. The station is located on a ridge below Mount Laurel in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, UT. The farthest station to the south included in this data release is EDGUT_Wx. The EDGUT_Wx station was set up in 2015 by USGS personnel and it is located at the EDGE site near Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Monticello, UT. The EDGUT_Wx station is part of a larger study on the effects of drought on dry land systems (Hoover et al. 2021). These data can be used to understand past meteorological events as well as longer term climatic trends within southeastern Utah.