The power of the ridge

POES-19 image from 240 pm ADT Saturday. The lack of any appreciable snow cover of the Brooks Range this late in September is unusual. Also note there is a smoke plume from the Pat Creek fire, just north of the Yukon River near Stevens Village. Temperatures on the North Slope are extremely mild; through 3pm, Atqasuk, south of Barrow, has been up 60F, in the upper 50s at Deadhorse., and 66 at the Umiat RAWS. The record high at Barrow today is 60F, which is probably out of reach but still, pretty warm for this late in the season.