CLIMATE IS AS CLIMATE DOES

Craters of the Moon National Monument has a latitude of 43.4167° N and a longitude of 113.5167° W. This means that it is a mid-latitude region that is affected by the Westerly wind belt in which air moves from West to East. These belts are kept in place by polar and subtropical jet streams. Although these jet streams help to keep the Westerlies in place, they also travel into the Westerlies which can influence weather conditions. Craters of the Moon, for example, has much more active weather during winter months because the polar front dips down over the United States during this time of year. As the polar front dips down the polar jet stream dips with it. At the same time, the subtropical jet stream attempts to move toward the poles. This interaction of colder and dryer air moving south and interacting with warmer more moist air creates the potential for snow storms. While summer experiences hot and dry (surface temperature of 170° F!) climate, winter experiences colder and wetter climate.

via http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.JetStreams

 

Other factors, such as elevation, contribute to the type of climate experienced in Craters of the Moon. Known as a high desert, Craters of the Moon is located approximately 5,910 feet above sea level. At the northern end of the monument the temperatures are lower and the precipitation is higher because it rests at a higher elevation than the southern half. Another factor is that Craters of the Moon is land locked and does not boarder any major body of water. This is significant because land heats and cools faster than water which, in Craters of the Moon, means a higher temperature range than many coastal regions of the United States.

Information taken from nps.gov (National Parks Service)