NIUmetGF

A little 'instant occlusion' going on in the Northern Pacific

The North Slope and Alaska Range are easily identifiable just from the 850T air pooling upstream of the barriers.

12Z ECMWF analysis. Those 850 temps are incredible. Polar Vortex of pain and gnashing of teeth.

Check out those 500mb heights!

Valdez had sustained winds of 100mph and gusts to 120mph with this event. What makes this event so rare is the upper level winds were from the south! These winds were created by the combination of surface pressure gradient (High over the interior, Low in the Gulf of Alaska) and cold air in the Copper River Basin being held back by the Chugach. The Gulkana(Copper River Basin) to Cordova(Along the coast near Valdez) pressure difference was 22mb!

To put it into perspective the models were only forecasting 50kt in the low/mid levels that was available to mix to the surface. Essentially a katabatic driven event!

From NWS Fairbanks:

INTERIOR...A MODERATELY STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT TODAY INTO TONIGHT

WILL ONLY VERY SLOWLY BEGIN TO RELAX WEDNESDAY. A VERY COLD AIRMASS

ALOFT WILL VERY SLOWLY MODERATE THE NEXT TWO DAYS. 500 MB HEIGHTS

BOTTOMED OUT AT 490 DM WITH AN 850 MB TEMP OF -30.5C AT FAIRBANKS

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT 00Z. THIS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY COLDER ALOFT

THAN LAST WEEK. IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT THE UPPER LOW PASTED TO

THE WEST OF THE INTERIOR AND ALLOWED SOME CLOUDS AND WEAK

OVERRUNNING TO HELP TEMPER THE COLD.

TO GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE THE 500 MB HEIGHT OF 490 DM IS AN ALL-TIME

RECORD LOW 500 MB HEIGHT AT FAIRBANKS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

AT MCGRATH...THE 500 MB HEIGHT OF 483 DM BREAKS THE ALL-TIME

NOVEMBER RECORD OF 490 DM. THE 850 MB TEMPS ARE IN THE TOP 5

PERCENTILE...BUT NOT RECORDS.

Also, some lovely -70 wind chills in Atigun Pass, on the new wind chill scale. That would be very impressive in January, much less November!

NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE-

INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE...

SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS

412 AM AKST TUE NOV 22 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY

AT ATIGUN PASS...

.TODAY...CLOUDY. FLURRIES. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW THROUGH PASSES

WITH LOCALLY POOR VISIBILITY. TEMPERATURES STEADY FROM 25 TO 40

BELOW. NORTH WINDS AROUND 15 MPH. GUSTS TO 35 MPH IN PASSES WITH

WIND CHILL TO 70 BELOW AT ATIGUN PASS.

.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW THROUGH PASSES

WITH LOCALLY POOR VISIBILITY. TEMPERATURES 25 TO 40 BELOW. NORTH

WINDS AROUND 15 MPH. GUSTS TO 30 MPH IN PASSES WITH WIND CHILL TO

70 BELOW AT ATIGUN PASS.

I was just looking at that yesterday. Makes sense when the whole polar vortex displaces over top of you.

When i was a freshmen at Lyndon State College back in the late 1990's...i experienced cold approaching this magnitude...during a flipping fire alarm at about 2-3am...i did not like it...at all!!! I don't know how y'all in AK survive!!! you have bigger cojones than i do, that's for sure!!!

That's just brutal. We never got anything that bitterly cold in ND till mid-winter. At least the wind doesn't blow much up there.

Not quite as impressive as the central Interior, but still cold none the less...

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE IN ANCHORAGE AND BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES

ACROSS THE REGION...

COLD TEMPERATURES ALOFT COMBINED WITH A NIGHT OF CLEAR SKIES AND

LIGHT WINDS HAVE ALLOWED TEMPERATURES TO PLUMMET ACROSS SOUTH

CENTRAL ALASKA. CLOUDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE TONIGHT AHEAD OF

AN APPROACHING FRONT FROM THE SOUTHWEST WHICH WILL RESULT IN

MODERATING TEMPERATURES TONIGHT AND SUNDAY.

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -8 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE NWS ANCHORAGE

FORECAST OFFICE TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF -7 DEGREES

SET IN 1963.

OTHER LOW TEMPERATURES FROM THE AREA:

ANCHORAGE AREA:

EAGLE RIVER................................. -26

CAMPBELL CREEK SCIENCE CENTER............... -22

EAST NORTHERN LIGHTS........................ -15

NEW SEWARD @ HUFFMAN........................ -13

ANCHORAGE MIDTOWN........................... -10

ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT............. -9

TURNAGAIN ARM AREA:

SEWARD HWY @ PORTAGE GLACIER RD............. -16

GIRDWOOD.................................... -7

PORTAGE..................................... -7

MAT-SU AREA:

WILLOW...................................... -28

SKWENTNA.................................... -26

BUTTE....................................... -21

WASILLA AIRPORT............................. -20

TALKEETNA AIRPORT........................... -19

SOUTH PALMER................................ -18

WEST PALMER................................. -17

PALMER AIRPORT.............................. -9

KENAI AREA:

KENAI NWR................................... -25

SOLDOTNA.................................... -18

KENAI MUNICIPAL AIRPORT..................... -16

NINILCHIK................................... -11

COPPER RIVER BASIN:

GLENNALLEN.................................. -38

MAY CREEK................................... -37

CHISTOCHINA................................. -35

GULKANA AIRPORT............................. -34

KLAWASI..................................... -23

CHITINA..................................... -24

MCCARTHY.................................... -22

EUREKA...................................... -15

MTL

Nice sun dogs! That was one thing I enjoyed in ND. Lots of ice crystals, light pillars and huge sun dogs.

As promised, here are some pictures I took this afternoon (by -30/-31):

This evening, a lot of temperatures are already below -30C, here we have -29.5C at 6:30.

The night may be frigid if the sky stays clear.

Observations from Palmer AK last evening. They were sitting at -5F at 153Z by 553z they had jumped up to 13F. Mixing anyone?

PAAQ 160705Z AUTO 03030G45KT 2 1/2SM BLSN CLR M11/M19 A2973 RMK AO2 PK WND 02045/0659 TSNO

PAAQ 160653Z AUTO 03027G49KT 4SM BLSN CLR M11/M19 A2973 RMK AO2 PK WND 05049/0651 SLP070 T11061194 TSNO

PAAQ 160605Z AUTO 03029G42KT 5SM BLSN CLR M11/M19 A2974 RMK AO2 PK WND 03042/0604 TSNO

PAAQ 160553Z AUTO 03028G42KT 2SM BLSN CLR M11/M19 A2975 RMK AO2 PK WND 03045/0542 VIS 1 3/4V3 SLP074 T11061189 11106 21211 58023 TSNO

PAAQ 160453Z AUTO 03023G33KT 7SM CLR M14/M19 A2977 RMK AO2 PK WND 01037/0442 SLP081 T11391194 TSNO

PAAQ 160353Z AUTO 13005KT 10SM CLR M19/M22 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP092 T11941217 TSNO

PAAQ 160253Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR M20/M22 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP098 T12001217 56012 TSNO

PAAQ 160153Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR M21/M22 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP099 T12061217 TSNO

Loving it, got another 4-5 inches overnight. Most of south-central AK is in a large deformation zone keeping the snow falling consistently with bouts of shear vorticity generated from the faster westerlies to the south.

Yes they are...about a foot in the past week, with 10" on the ground currently.

A nice early start to winter in Anchorage!

With a rapidly deepening system moving from the Bering Sea to the Bering Strait, extratropical storm surge is going to be a big issue along the west coast of AK. Especially since the ice pack isn't far south yet. Coastal flooding and erosion are going to be issues with the incoming 940mb storm.

Forecast surge for Cape Romanzof AK which is almost a full 6 ft over maximum astronomical tide!

The Anchorage Forecast Office received a record amount of precipitation and snowfall yesterday.

.49 liquid and 6.1 inches of new snow.

Snow is still falling and we're expecting another 2-4 inches today! Bring it on. This guy needs to do some skiing.

http://www.aviationw...t_big&itype=vis

Great looking visible loop over the Gulf of Alaska today.

With the next low pressure system moving toward southcentral Alaska, the pressure gradient is increasing and the Turnagain Arm wind is in full effect. Amazing the difference between the west side of town and the higher elevations. I can hear the wind howling on the hillside.

Gusts left/sustained right

Radiational cooling at elevation:

State low this morning as of 12Z. Anaktuvuk Pass 643ft ASL. Zero. Note the contrast to the other sites around it. Mainly because it is a mountain pass along the Brooks Range, but as the surface ridge moved over, clouds cleared and winds went calm. As soon as the low deck moved in temps jumped back up to 12F.

PAKP 121236Z AUTO 18006KT 10SM OVC023 M11/M13 A2987 RMK AO1

PAKP 121216Z AUTO 18007KT 10SM OVC025 M11/M13 A2987 RMK AO1

PAKP 121156Z AUTO 18006KT 10SM OVC025 M11/M14 A2987 RMK AO1 11110 21180 52003

PAKP 121136Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC025 M11/M14 A2986 RMK AO1

PAKP 121116Z AUTO 23004KT 10SM OVC025 M12/M15 A2986 RMK AO1

PAKP 121056Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM OVC025 M12/M15 A2987 RMK AO1

PAKP 121036Z AUTO 22005KT 10SM OVC023 M12/M15 A2987 RMK AO1

PAKP 121016Z AUTO 22004KT 10SM OVC023 M13/M16 A2987 RMK AO1

PAKP 120956Z AUTO 23004KT 10SM OVC025 M13/M17 A2987 RMK AO1

PAKP 120936Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM BKN025 M13/M16 A2987 RMK AO1

PAKP 120916Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM BKN025 M14/M16 A2986 RMK AO1

PAKP 120856Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM BKN025 M15/M17 A2986 RMK AO1 52003

PAKP 120836Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW025 M14/M16 A2986 RMK AO1

PAKP 120816Z AUTO 19004KT 10SM SCT025 M16/M18 A2986 RMK AO1

PAKP 120756Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM FEW025 M16/M19 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120736Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M17/M19 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120716Z AUTO 26003KT 4SM CLR M17/M19 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120656Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M18/M20 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120636Z AUTO 18005KT 10SM CLR M18/M20 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120616Z AUTO 19004KT 10SM CLR M18/M19 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120556Z AUTO 19005KT 10SM CLR M18/M21 A2985 RMK AO1 11110 21180 52003

PAKP 120536Z AUTO 20003KT 9SM CLR M18/M21 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120516Z AUTO 19004KT 10SM CLR M18/M21 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120456Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M18/M20 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120436Z AUTO 26003KT 10SM CLR M18/M21 A2985 RMK AO1

PAKP 120416Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM CLR M18/M20 A2984 RMK AO1

PAKP 120356Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM CLR M17/M19 A2984 RMK AO1

PAKP 120336Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M18/M21 A2984 RMK AO1

PAKP 120316Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M18/M20 A2984 RMK AO1

PAKP 120256Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M17/M21 A2984 RMK AO1 52003

PAKP 120236Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M16/M19 A2983 RMK AO1

PAKP 120216Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM CLR M14/M17 A2983 RMK AO1

PAKP 120156Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M14/M17 A2983 RMK AO1

PAKP 120136Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M13/M16 A2983 RMK AO1

PAKP 120116Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M12/M14 A2982 RMK AO1

PAKP 120056Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M11/M14 A2982 RMK AO1

I would like to go "office space" on one of those ASOS OIDs. So frustrating to work with.

Yeah the ASOS here will remove the - sign whenever I add PL or GS....each machine has "it's own mind". I didn't COR it so I can show the techs and let them troubleshoot it.

7sm moderate snow?

Well you knew it was a "matter of time". Had my first snow of the season as a heavier "convective" shower moved through and the winds kicked up from 13 to 33kt....as the shower "wet-bulbed" down some cooler air. Had a nice mix of rain, sleet, and snow for a little less than 10 minutes....no surprise though as earlier in the day we could see the "white haze" mixed in with the shower to the W-NW coming from a TCU and the freezing level dropped from 2100 feet during the day to 1900 feet on tonight's RAOB launch....and noticed an MCV dropping southeast with enhanced cloud tops on the IR SAT....obs are below........

PACD 111042Z 34014KT 10SM FEW019 BKN030 OVC065 03/01 A2993 RMK AO2 PK WND 33033/1023 RAE05B24E42SNB30E42PLB33E42 P0001

PACD 111033Z 34017G30KT 7SM SNRAPL SCT019 BKN026 BKN036 03/01 A2993 RMK AO2 PK WND 33033/1023 RAE05B24SNB30PLB33 P0001

Those are beauts, I was just noticing tonight that the two systems moving in concert on water vapor is stunning.

another beauty off the coast of BC

Good stuff, thanks for sharing!

Good evening everybody !

-2.4/8.4 today, now -0.2c with a risk of snow for tomorrow !

Here are some pictures I took on the Alaska Highway between Whitehorse and the lake of Kluane. Sunny conditions, only 2C at 1000m high.

You can see St-Elias Mountains, I love the colors at this season with blond grass, first snow on the peaks, glaciers, ...

Some elks:

Ciao for now!

OK, here is a much better picture now that the sun isn't behind the mountains.

Freezing level on the 12Z sounding today at 4200ft. Snow levels on the Chugach look to be down around 3500 or so.

Got a nice low level jet pushing into Prince William Sound this morning. Shows up real well on the Middleton Island radar (paih)

Lots of freshies on the front range this morning, doesn't show up great in the webcam pic. Maybe later in the day. Freezing level down to 2300ft.

1.3C this morning, with some light rain (snow?).

1.4 mm.

If you want to see some snow (I am not sure, but think there will be), just have a look at the webcams in the territory

http://meteowhitehor...a/wxwebcam.php.

It is still dark, but should be fine in one hour !