patrick7032

That's interesting. I'll have to try using that method...compared to the one I used as a student volunteer when I was at DTX and GRR. The way that I was taught was to take the height (in meters) of the freezing level...and multiply by 0.013. I still use this today...but just add 5 to whatever value the VOD was and it seems to work good. At my office we pay more attention to the height of the 50 dbz echos and have certain thresholds that we pop the SVR warning on.

On a side note...congrats to Cold Bay and King Cove on getting Tsunami Ready and Storm Ready. More information and other interesting stories...about different events/forecasts...can be found on the page below. http://www.facebook....vice.Alaska.gov

One of the videos from when I launched a radiosonde in moderate winds at Cold Bay before getting promoted/transferring to Texas. At the time we had southeast winds of 38G46KT.

You're correct bud....975mb there is like 1002mb in the midwest....wait for the winter when you get the sub 950 or even 940mb lows and have Hurricane Force warning in the Bering. Remember one last year we had winds SE 70kt gusts to 80kt seas of 34 building to 42 feet. You're gonna have a blast forecasting those storms.

Been loving the heat....had several days of afternoon storms too. This week will be another hot one as temps will be in the 103-107 range. Norm is 96....but with the mid level high over the pandhandle....what can ya do.

You'll enjoy it bud. You're up there and now I'm down here. Seems we tend to move about the same time....lol.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLD BAY AK 708 AM AKDT TUE APR 3 2012 ...A RECORD MONTH IT WAS IN COLD BAY... THE MONTH OF MARCH WAS ONE OF THE COLDEST AND SNOWIEST MONTHS IN RECENT MEMORY. THERE WERE 9 RECORDS SET DURING THE MONTH INCLUDING 7 OF THEM FOR TEMPERATURE. THE MONTH ENDED WITH 43.3 INCHES OF SNOWFALL WHICH WAS JUST 1.2 INCHES SHORT OF THE ALL TIME RECORD FOR THE MONTH. THIS BROUGHT THE SEASONAL SNOWFALL TOTAL TO 108.5 INCHES WHICH PLACES THIS YEAR IN SECOND PLACE. THE SEASONAL SNOWFALL RECORD IS 115.9 INCHES WHICH WAS SET DURING THE 1983-84 SEASON. RECORDS FOR THE MONTH: DATE: CATEGORY: NEW RECORD: MONTHLY PRECIPITATION 7.13 INCHES MARCH 2ND SNOWFALL 7.40 INCHES MARCH 13TH LOW TEMPERATURE +3 DEG F MARCH 13TH LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE +15 DEG F MARCH 19TH LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE +11 DEG F MARCH 20TH LOW TEMPERATURE +5 DEG F MARCH 20TH LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE +13 DEG F MARCH 21ST LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE +11 DEG F MARCH 22ND LOW TEMPERATURE - 3 DEG F $$ DOLL APR 12

Okay enough is enough....we have more than doubled our monthly snowfall and the month is half over....a record low temperature earlier in the month....and for the second time this month this.... SXAK78 PACD 201005 RERCDB RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLD BAY AK 205 AM AKDT TUE MAR 20 2012 ...RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE SET AT THE STATE AIRPORT IN COLD BAY... A NEW RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE WAS SET YESTERDAY IN COLD BAY WHEN THE MERCURY ONLY ROSE TO 11 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 15 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO. $$ DOLL MAR 12

Glad we can help....although I'm hoping to be back in the lower 48 soon....been bidding on jobs.

After a relatively warm month here in most of Alaska (even the southwest in central interior spent a week in the 30s-40s) a return to a wet and snow pattern looks to continue. Here in Cold Bay for the month of February we had 6.01 inches of precip which is well above or normal of 3.06. we also had 27.3 inches of snow which again was well above the 12.9 average. As we enjoyed the warmer weather especially last week a large chunk of energy dived down into the lower 48 which helped the Tornado outbreak. After the nice respite it looks like the pattern is begging to "reload" up here and perhaps "calm down" some in the lower 48 as the jet pattern changes..

Nice pics MTBLANC....every month I fly from Cold Bay, Alaska to Detroit, Michigan and the last return trip at about 1am and 36,000 ft looking towards your area seen a great display. Listed below are some links to the pictures/movies of Northern Lights in Alaska this past few weeks. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000552091561&ref=tn_tnmn#!/media/set/?set=a.301604916559575.83400.137686999618035&type=3

Interesting weather pattern continues for the Aleutian chain....and quite an interesting pattern at 500 mb....have another storm impinging on the Alaska peninsula with another very respectable system expected Sunday....fun times out here and hopefully some of the energy will spill south in time to give the lower 48 some much needed snow.

After a month where we averaged 8.9 degrees below normal on highs and 11.0 degrees below normal on lows with 4 records set for snow....low temps....and a record low minimum high....this also involved 10 BLIZZARD WARNINGS and 2 HIGH WIND WARNINGS (out here we don't issue HIGH WIND WARNINGS in the Aleutian chain until they meet hurricane force criteria)....you would think it may calm down some....nope....we had a blizzard Tuesday where winds peaked at 89 with damage to a building (see attached pictures)....then another blizzard Thursday with a record low temp of 1 above....the blizzard lasted 18 hours....then a 6 hour break before a 48 hour long storm with winds of 45-70....looks like our anemometer on the ASOS got damaged from it as it's down (not working for over a day now)....love how active it has been as the shifts go by fast.

One word....BBBRRRR.... WWAK41PAFG_AKZ203 ----------------- AKZ203-261500- /X.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120126T1500Z/ CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK 946 PM AKST WED JAN 25 2012 ...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY... A WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY. * LOCATION...ALONG THE COAST. * WIND CHILL VALUES...TO 85 BELOW. * WINDS...WEST TO 15 MPH. * TIMING...WIND CHILLS WILL BECOME LESS HARSH THURSDAY MORNING AS THE WINDS DECREASE. * IMPACTS...EXPOSED FLESH WILL FREEZE IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES RESULTING IN FROSTBITE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THAT DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILLS WITH SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF 15 MPH OR MORE ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. IF OUTDOORS...COVER EXPOSED SKIN TO PREVENT FROSTBITE. && $$ FPAK51PAFG_AKZ203 ----------------- AKZ203-261545- CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK 334 PM AKST WED JAN 25 2012 ...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY... .TONIGHT...INCREASING CLOUDS. PATCHY ICE FOG. LOWS 50 TO 55 BELOW. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH...STRONGEST NEAR THE COAST. WIND CHILL TO 85 BELOW NEAR THE COAST. .THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY ICE FOG. HIGHS 40 TO 45 BELOW. WEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH. WIND CHILL TO 85 BELOW IN THE MORNING ALONG THE COAST. .THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED FLURRIES IN THE EVENING. PATCHY FOG THROUGH THE NIGHT. LOWS 40 TO 45 BELOW. WEST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH. WIND CHILL TO 70 BELOW. .FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FOG. HIGHS 30 TO 35 BELOW. SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH. .FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 40 TO 45 BELOW. SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH. .SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 40 BELOW. .SATURDAY NIGHT...CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 45 BELOW. .SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 40 BELOW. .SUNDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 45 BELOW. .MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 35 BELOW. .MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 40 BELOW. .TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 35 BELOW. .TUESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 40 BELOW. .WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 35 BELOW.

Had a good Blizzard that lasted roughly 24 hours....although there were many more occurrences....here are a few observations.

Nope that's a brown bear....we don't have grizzly bears in Cold Bay.

One thing with the temperature when it's sunny it feels way warmer than what the temp actually is....for instance 65 degrees is actually hot and at 70 you're sweating....because in the spring and summer the sun is at a higher angle....instead of a 38 degree angle in say the central plains....it's at about 60 degree angle so it's "beating down" on you more....when my mom and daughter came up here we were having a record warmth spell of 8 days and it was 65-70 degrees and they were hot as was I. The brown bears aren't that bad....esp if you stay within 50 ft of your car....I have been down at Russel Creek fishing with a bear 150 ft from me doing the same....he looks at me....I look at him....and we each do our own thing....if you sit in your car they will come within 40-60 feet of you then just run by....now the black or polar bears in mainland Alaska....DIFFERENT STORY.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 949 AM AKST SAT DEC 31 2011 COLD MORNING IN INTERIOR ALASKA... A COLD AIRMASS COVERS INTERIOR ALASKA THIS MORNING. THE LOWEST TEMPERATURES THUS FAR HAVE BEEN IN THE WESTERN INTERIOR...WHERE SKIES HAVE BEEN GENERALLY CLEAR FOR A DAY OR MORE. IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR...CLOUD COVER IS MORE WIDESPREAD...AND THIS IS HELPING TO KEEP VALLEY TEMPERATURES FROM FALLING ESPECIALLY LOW. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES IN THE HILLS ARE QUITE COLD. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES THROUGH 9AM SATURDAY INCLUDE... HUSLIA...............54 BELOW RUBY 14 NE...........51 BELOW BETTLES..............49 BELOW KALTAG...............48 BELOW GALENA...............47 BELOW MCGRATH..............46 BELOW RUSSIAN MISSION......45 BELOW IN THE FAIRBANKS AREA.... FAIRBANKS AIRPORT....36 BELOW GOLDSTREAM CREEK.....36 BELOW UAF WEST RIDGE.......32 BELOW EIELSON AFB..........32 BELOW KEYSTONE RIDGE.......29 BELOW CLEARY SUMMIT........23 BELOW $$ RT DEC 11

It's been a favorable pattern for them to get lots of snow "dumps"....very often the North Pacific lows have been bombing out as they skirt Kodiak making out as the get south of the Anchorage or Cape Suckling area. The pattern remains favorable with a persistent 500 low that is entering week 2 of it's "residence" along with the cold air. Large area of with temperatures <-30. The station in the upper right that the line runs through is at -43 for their temperature.

So close but yet SO FAR....wish I had westerly upper level winds to gain experience in ash forecasting....one of the volcanoes erupted. AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice Volcano: Cleveland (CAVW #1101-24-) Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH Previous Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Previous Aviation Color Code: YELLOW Issued: Thursday, December 29, 2011, 7:55 AM AKST (20111229/1655Z) Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory Notice Number: 2011/A7 Location: N 52 deg 49 min W 169 deg 56 min Elevation: 5676 ft (1730 m) Area: Aleutians Alaska Volcanic Activity Summary: A detached drifting ash cloud to approximately 15,000 ft ASL has been detected at Cleveland Volcano in satellite images from 1402 UTC, Dec 29. As of 1445 UTC the ash cloud was approximately 80 KM/50 miles moving ESE from the volcano. Based on the presence of an ash cloud, AVO has raised the aviation color code at Cleveland Volcano to ORANGE and alert level WATCH. Satellite data indicate that this is a single explosion event, however, more sudden explosions producing ash could occur with plumes exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level. Such explosions and their associated ash clouds may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours. However, in cooperation with the University of Washington, AVO has implemented a lightning alarm system that may detect significant ash-producing events within minutes of onset. If a large explosive event occurs, seismic signals may be recorded on AVO seismic networks at nearby volcanoes. There is no real-time seismic monitoring network at Cleveland. Additional information on Cleveland Volcano and the current activity may be found at this link: http://www.avo.alask...y/Cleveland.php Please see http://www.avo.alask...color_codes.php for complete definitions of Aviation color codes and Volcano alert levels. Recent Observations: [Volcanic cloud height] 15,000 ft [Other volcanic cloud information] detached plume moving ESE from the volcano Remarks: Cleveland volcano forms the western half of Chuginadak Island, a remote and uninhabited island in the east central Aleutians. It is located about 75 km (45 mi.) west of the community of Nikolski, and 1500 km (940 mi.) southwest of Anchorage. The volcano's most recent significant eruption began in February, 2001 and it produced 3 explosive events that produced ash clouds as high as 12 km (39,000 ft) above sea level. The 2001 eruption also produced a rubbly lava flow and hot avalanche that reached the sea. The most recent minor ash emissions were observed in January and June 2009. Contacts: John Power, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS [email protected] (907) 786-7497 Chris Nye, Acting Coordinating Scientist [email protected] (907) 474-7430 Next Notice: A new VAN will be issued if conditions change significantly or alert levels are modified. While a VAN is in effect, regularly scheduled updates are posted at http://www.avo.alaska.edu The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

Thanks....I hope you and your family also have a Merry Christmas....wish I could send you some snow for Christmas.

Looks like it will cool down for you next week.

You and me both...it was ALMOST like it was possessed....lol.