Here are three maps that show how remarkable it was. The maps show, 1) the actual high temperature on January 16, 2009, 2) the normal high temperature on January 16, 2009, and 3) the departure from normal of the high temperature on January 16, 2009. As you can see, there were pockets of areas a full 50°F above normal and at least half of the state was more than 35°F above normal.
Here in Anchorage the snow depth dropped from 17" down to 5". All of the snow disappeared from the roofs in town and many shingles were blown off. I spent several hours replacing missing shingles in the middle of January!
I was in Alaska at this time and I remember all the accidents caused by the warm weather. I believe this was also remarkable due extended cold period shortly before it. In the course of a couple days it warmed from 40 below to 50 above if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteMatthew K.
You are absolutely correct Matthew. The 16-day period between 12/28/08 and 1/11/09 saw an average high temperature of -35°F and an average high temperature of -43°F in Fairbanks. In Anchorage, that same time period was the coldest since the Feb. 1999 cold snap. The 5-day temperature change in Fairbanks was 99°F.
DeleteTypo correction. It should read:
DeleteYou are absolutely correct Matthew. The 16-day period between 12/28/08 and 1/11/09 saw an average high temperature of -35°F and an average low temperature of -43°F in Fairbanks. In Anchorage, that same time period was the coldest since the Feb. 1999 cold snap. The 5-day temperature change in Fairbanks was 99°F.