The radar-estimated total precipitation is above 2" in a number of places and even exceeds 4" west of Fairbanks, which would be enough to cause serious local flooding problems.
The 4pm Fairbanks sounding shows a very high 61°F dewpoint at the surface (see below), although the airport ASOS didn't report anything higher than a 57°F dewpoint - but even so, that's quite a lot of moisture.
Can you look over the remarkable storm in June 1997 when we got several inches of hail in town by Alaska Land? I remember that storm well as I was out riding my bike and just missed getting nailed by hail.
ReplyDeleteMike, I'll take a look and see what I can come up with.
DeleteHere's an interesting write-up of the June 1997 storm:
Deletehttp://worldagweather.com/richmond2007_fairbanks_storm_june_1997.pdf
More details here:
http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/pubs/newsltr/pub3/hsa_fai.html
"Flooding and severe weather occurred in the Fairbanks HSA during June 1997. On the evening of Sunday, June 8th, a severe thunderstorm brought high winds, heavy rain and some local street flooding to the western side of Fairbanks, as well as hail of 1/2 inch or more that piled up like snow on roadways and lawns. The rainfall total at the Fairbanks International Airport had to be estimated at 0.75 inch, since the storm blew over the official rain gage, but co-op observers and other agencies reported as much as 2.17 inches from the storm, most of which fell in less than an hour. Leaking roofs caused significant damage to the stock of several stores at a local shopping mall, and water was reported in the halls of Lathrop High School, as well as in some residential basements. The University of Alaska Fairbanks received several hundred thousand dollars worth of damage; hail and high volumes of runoff clogged sewage systems and caused backups in several buildings, including the Rare Books section of the University library."
That's the one! Thanks Richard. I remember the storms drains being clogged with hail so the streets backed up with water. The temperature decreased from the 70's to the upper 40's fairly quickly. Kmart's outdoor garden plants got nailed pretty bad too.
DeleteGood pics Richard. Lots of Fire Service aircraft activity now.
ReplyDeleteThe air mass flow appears to be from the SW according to earlier personal obs, radar, and FAA webcams. The U-shaped higher terrain SW>N>SE of Fairbanks is providing the orographic lifting as reflected in the intense radar returns over that feature.
Gary
About 6000 lightning strikes today at http://fire.ak.blm.gov > Maps > Lightning
ReplyDeleteSeems excessive and I wonder what info there is regarding the typical range for this time of year?
Gary
That's for the "Fairbanks Area" as offered by the BLM's webpage I linked above.
ReplyDeleteGary