It has Began…

The big warm-up the numerical models have been advertizing for a week is here. The upper air sounding from early Saturday morning already had the temperature at freezing 900 meters up, 42F warmer than the surface. 

Temperatures have continued to rise since then; some 9am AST Saturday temperatures include:

• Eielson AFB: 8F
• Woodsmoke PWS: 8F (near North Pole)
• Goldstream Creek: 8F
• Fort Wainwright: 10F
• Fairbanks Airport: 11F
• UAF West Ridge: 16F
• College Hills: 26F
• Keystone Ridge: 31F
• Skyline Ridge: 34F

Temperatures near the Alaska Range Saturday morning are way up above freezing, including 9am temperatures of 38F at Healy and 41F at Bolio Lake south of Fort Greely.

The 9am GOES infrared image shows the fractured occlusion over the central Interior, and the next wound-up storm plowing northward through the Gulf of Alaska:

Courtesy of NWS Alaska Region

This will ensure warm winter weather in Fairbanks-land into the New Year.