tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post6678948066905613656..comments2024-03-28T07:09:59.093-08:00Comments on Deep Cold: Alaska Weather & Climate: Fairbanks vs Keystone Ridge PrecipitationRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946704894714514716noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-69313214750884366112014-05-12T20:27:49.432-08:002014-05-12T20:27:49.432-08:00I'm stretching a qualitative hypothesis here. ...I'm stretching a qualitative hypothesis here. <br /><br />In summer thunderstorms form in an arc over the hills W>N>E from Fairbanks. Typically they tend to move to the south to share their weather. There are exceptions of course depending upon the prevailing winds at various levels.<br /><br />In fall and winter, we get the major effects of moisture from the SW. The Alaska Range often drys any incoming air mass to the south and southeast unless the fetch and duration are long. <br /><br />Weather/moisture that flows to the NE will often be lifted and congest near the Keystone Ridge constriction in that valley extending from Nenana. <br /><br />For that reason that area can be difficult to traverse in an aircraft, unlike flight further to the south of the hills along the Tanana River.NL7Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874712728971005352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-87185424850361202432014-05-12T17:32:58.678-08:002014-05-12T17:32:58.678-08:00Gary, I agree - orographic lifting boosts precipit...Gary, I agree - orographic lifting boosts precipitation in all seasons, and in the unstable season the higher terrain benefits from elevated heating that sets off convection. It would be interesting to categorize the historical data by flow direction and see how strong the dependency is.<br />Richard Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313902028896263276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-75889394853859850492014-05-08T21:28:46.801-08:002014-05-08T21:28:46.801-08:00Plus...
The Keystone location lies at the head of...Plus...<br /><br />The Keystone location lies at the head of a NE-SW orientated valley that's subject to orographic lifting if the flow is from the SW...our favorite direction for incoming moisture. The hills to the west of Fairbanks lift the flow and protect us for some time before we get the same fallout.<br /><br />In summer, the hills to the north where Keystone is located often experience the initial effects of daily insolation, unstable air, and resultant thunderstorm activity and precip., well before it heads south and hits downtown. <br /><br />GaryNL7Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874712728971005352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-7085410597748485282014-05-08T20:22:28.294-08:002014-05-08T20:22:28.294-08:00Elevation, seasonally lower temp at an increased a...Elevation, seasonally lower temp at an increased altitude (+~1160 ft) w/o an inversion, dew point, and perhaps more direct exposure to weather traversing the Fairbanks area, likely contribute to the differences vs the lower hill-sheltered airport location. This is what happens when you live closer to the clouds.<br /><br />Plus, I hear the station owner runs a sprinkler on occasion to grow his garden or make snow.<br /><br />GaryNL7Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874712728971005352noreply@blogger.com