Sunday, September 25, 2011
First Freeze
Most valley locations that had yet to have a freeze finally got one this morning. The low temperature of 32F at Fairbanks International Airport ties for the second latest first freeze of record. The low of 30F at UAF West Ridge is the third latest of record (since 1949). Here on Keystone Ridge, close, but no cigar, so far. Low was 34F, with some frozen rain on the car. However, the first freeze here has been later than September 25th three times since 1996.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Please answer: Where is the Fairbanks "midtown" station? Is it in the downtown area? Thanks
ReplyDeleteFairbanks Midtown is now in the urban area between Alaskaland and Fred Myers. When the station was established about 12 years ago it was closer to the hospital.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps.
Rick
From my extensive research of the daily historical weather stats, it seems like CHALKYITSIK is the coldest weather station in Alaska in January. Can you think of any other places that could be colder, doesn't have to be an inhabited town.
ReplyDeleteTrung,
ReplyDeleteI assume you mean cold as in temperatures, as opposed to wind chill.
Certainly the Yukon Flats are pretty darn cold in January. Other places that might be as consistently cold would be the Allakaket area, south of Bettles (significantly colder than Bettles). On the North Slope, the Colville River valley above (i.e. southwest) of Umiat is also often very cold; based on satellite imagery, Umiat itself is near the north edge of this very cold area. Years ago I wrote a paper about how Umiat has the lowest average winter temperature in Alaska, but this was just looking at instrumental data. Also note that the Chalkyitsik RAWS is actually about half way between Chalkyitsik and Fort Yukon.
Rick
Rick,
ReplyDeleteIs Arctic Village located in the Yukon Flats? It's hard to tell just by looking at maps. Thanks
Trung,
ReplyDeleteArctic Village is definitely not on the Yukon Flats. It is in the eastern Books Range in the East Fork Chandalar River valley.
The FAA Webcams shows the mountains:
http://akweathercams.faa.gov/viewsite.php?bookmark=702BZ1OV
Is Bettles situated on high-altitude area? Why is Allakaket so much colder, comparable to Umait and Chalkyitsik , than Bettles?
ReplyDeleteTrung,
ReplyDeleteBettles is at 600' MSL but the terrain oriented such such that Bettles gets some wind, which weakens or breaks the surface temperature inversion. Allakaket just the opposite, in that the terrain is such that they do not wind in winter except in extra-ordinary situations.
Rick