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Present Weather and Climate: Average Conditions 59and generally smaller over much of California than the interior Southwest due to themoderating influence of the Pacific Ocean (Figure 4.1d). The largest annual temperatureranges are found in the interior mountain valleys and basins of Utah and Colorado thatare prone to wintertime cold pools. Throughout the region, including California, the annualtemperature range is generally larger in valleys and basins than in the surroundinghigher topography.Figure 4.1 Temperature climatology of the Southwest (°F, 1971–2000). Source: PRISMClimate Group, Oregon State University (http://prism.oregonstate.edu).