PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 339 PM AKST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...A COLD WINTER SOLSTICE IN INTERIOR ALASKA... TEMPERATURES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR ALASKAN VALLEYS AGAIN DIPPED INTO THE 40S AND 50S BELOW...MAKING FOR A MIGHTY CHILLY WINTER SOLSTICE. HOWEVER...AS BRISK AS IT IS...NO LONG TERM OBSERVING LOCATION SET A NEW RECORD LOW FOR DECEMBER 20TH. AT FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...THE LOW SINCE MIDNIGHT HAS BEEN 46 BELOW...MAKING THIS THE EIGHTH DAY THIS MONTH WITH A LOW OF 40 BELOW OR LOWER. THE LAST TIME DECEMBER HAD THIS MANY 40 BELOW DAYS WAS BACK IN 1980. OTHER VALLEY LOW TEMPERATURES FRIDAY IN THE FAIRBANKS AREA INCLUDED... WOODSMOKE...................51 BELOW (NEAR NORTH POLE) BADGER AND RAPP ROAD........49 BELOW (NEAR NORTH POLE) FORT WAINWRIGHT.............48 BELOW GOLDSTREAM CREEK............47 BELOW EIELSON AFB.................46 BELOW ELSEWHERE IN INTERIOR ALASKA LOWS INCLUDE... CHICKEN.....................58 BELOW TOK.........................56 BELOW FORTYMILE RIVER.............54 BELOW EAGLE.......................52 BELOW FORT YUKON..................52 BELOW NORTHWAY....................51 BELOW SALCHA RIVER MILE 25........51 BELOW NENANA......................47 BELOW CENTRAL.....................46 BELOW DENALI PARK TRAIN STATION...42 BELOW FORT GREELY.................41 BELOW DENALI PARK HQ..............31 BELOW $$ RT DEC 12
Objective Comments and Analysis - All Science, No Politics
Primary Author Richard James
2010-2013 Author Rick Thoman
We've had readings closer to -65 on the outskirts of Tok. This has been one of the most relentlessly cold Decembers that I can recall. Every time there's even the slightest warmup, it only lasts for a few days and can't even seem to hit 0, before yet another wave of cold air descends and sets up camp for an extended stay. I sure hope this pattern doesn't continue all winter. Last year we got dumped with snow over and over, but it was better than this. I'm ready to take a tropical vacation to a warmer clime, like Yakutsk for instance...
ReplyDeleteLooks like a pattern change is on the horizon for next week, though as usual the Upper Tanana Valley will be about the last area to warm up.
DeleteRick
Looks like this will be the coldest December in Tok since 1980, during which the temp remain 20 below or colder 7th through the 30th. This was followed by the 2nd warmest January of record.
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