beavis1729

Good stuff! Thanks Blackjack.

For Las Vegas, I wonder what their lowest relative humidity on record is. Yesterday at 2:00 PM, it was 99/-1, which translates to a RH of 2%.

This is very interesting: Record Cold in Arctic Canada http://ak-wx.blogspot.com/2017/03/record-cold-in-arctic-canada.html#comment-form

There is some incredible warmth in northern Alaska now. There is only one day on record between October 25 and April 13 where the high temps at Barrow, Deadhorse, and Kotzebue were all above 35F...and that day was January 1, 2017. Crazy... http://ak-wx.blogspot.com/2017/01/extremely-warm-day-in-arctic-alaska.html

Wow, that's crazy. 9 degrees and heavy snow, with insane winds.

Agree - Fairbanks and many other places in AK are challenging to forecast for. Here is a very informative Alaska weather blog that may interest you: http://ak-wx.blogspot.com/?m=1

Time to revive this thread after 2 years While winter is nowhere to be found in the lower 48...it looks like some deep winter cold will occur in Alaska toward Christmas. Fairbanks could hit -40. SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 543 AM AKST SUN DEC 20 2015 AKZ222-202115- MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY- INCLUDING...FAIRBANKS...FORT WAINWRIGHT...EIELSON AFB...ESTER... NORTH POLE...MOOSE CREEK...TWO RIVERS...FOX...CHATANIKA... CHENA HOT SPRINGS...SOURDOUGH CAMP 543 AM AKST SUN DEC 20 2015 ...VERY COLD LATER THIS WEEK IN FAIRBANKS... AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT ALONG THE BROOKS RANGE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTH OF FAIRBANKS ON TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL TO 30 BELOW ZERO BY WEDNESDAY WITH 40 BELOW POSSIBLE BY THURSDAY.

If I'm reading this correctly, Healy AK had an 81-degree temperature increase in 24 hours. PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1100 AM AKST FRI NOV 22 2013 PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT DRAMATIC TEMPERATURE INCREASES AND FLUXUATIONS FELT ACROSS THE INTERIOR AS A RESULT OF STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW THROUGH THE ALASKA RANGE. HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES....TIIMES REPRESENT A 24 HOUR CHANGE HEALY.....................UP 81 DEGREES...41 BELOW TO 40ABOVE...FOLLOWED SEVERAL HOURS LATER BY A RAPID DROP OF 32 DEGREES IN UNDER 4 HOURS. ANTLERCREEK..............UP 55 DEGREES....14 BELOW TO 41 ABOVE....FOLLOWED SEVERAL HOURS LATER BY A RAPID DROP OF 36 DEGREES JUST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE WINDS SHIFTED FROM SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST. MCKINLEY PARK.............UP 59 DEGREES....27 BELOW TO 32 ABOVE. GOLDSTREAM CREEK..........UP 41 DEGREES....37 BELOW TO 5 ABOVE. FAIRBANKS INT AIRPORT.....UP 39 DEGREES....25 BELOW TO 14 ABOVE. EIELSON AFB...............UP 53 DEGREES....38 BELOW TO 15 ABOVE.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 945 AM AKST FRI NOV 15 2013 ...A PATTERN CHANGE WILL PLUNGE MAINLAND ALASKA INTO A DEEP FREEZE... THE RECENT LARGE SCALE WEATHER PATTERN HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY A PERSISTENT RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC WITH TROPICAL-LIKE AIR RIDING OVER TOP OF THE RIDGE ACROSS THE BERING SEA INTO MAINLAND ALASKA. A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN PATTERN WILL BEGIN THIS WEEKEND AS THIS RIDGE BEGINS TO BREAK DOWN WHILE A NEW RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN BERING AND EASTERN RUSSIA. THIS WILL SHIFT THE FLOW TO NORTHERLY ACROSS MAINLAND ALASKA AND MUCH OF THE BERING SEA AND ALLOW ARCTIC AIR TO PLUNGE SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE STATE. TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN TO FALL ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA TONIGHT AND CONTINUE TO TREND DOWNWARD OVER THE WEEKEND. REINFORCING SHOTS OF COLD AIR WILL THEN MOVE IN OVER THE COURSE OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL BE THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON THUS FAR. FOR INTERIOR AREAS MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN TO DROP BELOW ZERO BY EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES GENERALLY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO TEENS. FOR MOST COASTAL AREAS MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL BOTTOM OUT IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO TEENS WITH DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE TEENS TO 20S. THIS PATTERN LOOKS LIKE IT WILL HOLD THROUGH THE END OF NEXT WEEK AND PERHAPS BEYOND. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MOSTLY CLEAR AND DRY. HOWEVER...UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES TRANSITING THE AREA MAY BRING OCCASIONAL CLOUDS AND A BRIEF CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES TO THE REGION. FOR THE LATEST TEMPERATURE FORECASTS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC AREA PLEASE VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ANCHORAGE.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1102 PM AKDT THU AUG 8 2013 ...ANOTHER DAY ABOVE 80 IN FAIRBANKS... THE HIGH THURSDAY IN FAIRBANKS WAS 82 DEGREES. THIS WAS THE 36TH DAY THIS SUMMER WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 80 DEGREES OR WARMER. WEATHER RECORDS STRETCHING BACK OVER 100 YEARS SHOW NO OTHER SUMMER HAS HAD MORE THAN 30 DAYS OF 80 DEGREES OR WARMER IN FAIRBANKS. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS EACH SUMMER OF 80 OR ABOVE IS 11.

The NWS statement posted above for Talkeetna was issued at 4:15 PM local time yesterday. A couple of hours after that, the temp hit 96. That shattered their all-time record by 5 degrees. 17 17:53 Vrbl 7 G 16 10.00 Fair CLR 96 46 18% NA 92 29.89 1012.0 McGrath hit 94 yesterday, and it was 84 in Nome. RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NOME AK 357 PM AKDT MON JUN 17 2013 ...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR JUNE... AT 353 PM THE TEMPERATURE IN NOME REACHED 84 DEGREES BREAKING THE RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN THE MONTH OF JUNE. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 83 SET BACK ON JUNE 7TH 2004. THE HIGHEST RECORDED TEMPERATURE EVER IN NOME IS 86 SET BACK IN JULY OF 1977 AND 1968.

Nenana Ice Classic - latest ice break-up on record, going back to 1917! http://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com/ The 2013 Jackpot was $318,500.00 The Tanana River ice officially broke up on May 20th at 2:41 pm Alaska Standard Time The latest time on record the ice has ever gone out. Congratulations to the winners!!! Warren and Yvonne Snow

RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VALDEZ AK 1036 AM AKDT MON MAY 20 2013 ...MORE COLD WEATHER RECORDS FOR MAY IN VALDEZ... THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN VALDEZ SET A NEW REORD LOW ON SUNDAY MAY 19 OF 30 DEGREES...THE OLD RECORD WAS 31 SET IN 1992. ALSO THE SNOW DEPTH WAS 28 INCHES...BREAKING THE REORD OF 6 INCHES FROM 1964. THIS MORNING THE LOW TEMPERATURE WAS 29 DEGREES WHICH IS A DEGREE LOWER THAN THE OLD RECORD FOR MAY 20TH OF 30 SET IN 1966. THE SNOW DEPTH TODAY IS 24 INCHES...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 4 INCHES FROM 1968.

Some of these records are incredible. PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1149 AM AKDT SUN MAY 19 2013 ...TEMPERATURE RECORDS CONTINUE TO FALL IN INTERIOR ALASKA... STRONG COLD AIR FROM THE ARCTIC PUSHED TEMPERATURES DOWN ACROSS THE INTERIOR THE LAST FEW DAYS TO RECORD LEVEL. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE RISE TODAY THOUGH A FEW RECORDS COULD FALL TODAY BEFORE THE COLD AIR EXITS THE STATE. RECORD MINIMUM HIGH TEMPERATURES ON SATURDAY MAY 18TH... MAX TEMPERATURE PREVIOUS RECORD FAIRBANKS....................................................35 44 (1918) TANANA........................................................34 41 (1918) FORT YUKON.................................................30 44 (1944) COLLEGE OBSERVATORY AT UAF.....................32 37 (1964) BETTLES........................................................27 35 (1975) EAGLE COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.....................32 40 (1992) DELTA JUNCTION...........................................29 39 (1992) EIELSON AFB..................................................34 42 (1992) NORTHWAY...................................................33 38 (1992) DENALI PARK VISITOR CENTER.......................36 39 (1992) NORTH POLE (KJNP)......................................35 43 (1992) MCGRATH.......................................................36 52 (1993) RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR MAY 19TH... FORT YUKON..................................................21 26 (1941) EIELSON AFB..................................................23 29 (1966) NORTHWAY.....................................................21 25 (1966) TANANA...........................................................14 18 (1975) BETTLES.........................................................10 14 (1975) COLLEGE OBSERVATORY AT UAF......................20 26 (1983) MCGRATH.......................................................20 28 (1985) NORTH POLE (KJNP)......................................21 25 (1996) DELTA JUNCTION...........................................19 30 (1999) TOK.................................................................19 TIED 19 (1999)

RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VALDEZ AK 913 AM AKDT SAT MAY 18 2013 ...MORE VALDEZ WEATHER RECORDS FALL ... THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON FRIDAY MAY 17TH 2013 REACHED ONLY 39 DEGREES AT THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD OF 41 DEGREES SET ON MAY 17TH 1966. THE RECORD FOR LIQUID PRECIPITATION FOR THE 17TH TOOK A BIG LEAP WITH 1.05 INCHES. THE OLD RECORD OF 0.70 INCHES WAS SET IN 1997. THE SNOW SEASON THIS YEAR REPORTED ANOTHER RECORD WITH 0.5 INCHES OF SNOW FOR THE DAY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SNOW HAS BEEN MEASURED ON THE 17TH OF MAY. THE SNOW DEPTH WAS 32 INCHES...WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE OLD RECORD OF 12 INCHES FROM 1964.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1254 PM AKDT SAT MAY 18 2013 ...COLD WAVE SETS A NUMBER OF NEW RECORDS FOR INTERIOR ALASKA... ON THE HEELS OF A COLD FRONT THAT SWEPT SOUTHEAST OVER THE INTERIOR FRIDAY AND EARLY SATURDAY...A NUMBER OF LONG STANDING TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE BROKEN OR TIED. RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY MAY 17TH: DELTA JUNCTION................34 (OLD RECORD 37 SET IN 1964) DENALI PARK VISITOR CENTER....31 (OLD RECORD 35 SET IN 1989) EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE........36 (OLD RECORD 37 SET IN 1964) GALENA........................34 (OLD RECORD 35 SET IN 1964) NORTH POLE....................40 (OLD RECORD 41 SET IN 1992) TANANA AIRPORT................34 (OLD RECORD 38 SET IN 1964) UAF COLLEGE OBSERVATORY.......36 (OLD RECORD 40 SET IN 1992) RECORD LOW MINIMUM TEMPERATURES ON SATURDAY MAY 18TH: BETTLES AIRPORT...............10 (OLD RECORD 25 SET IN 1975) DELTA JUNCTION................19 (OLD RECORD 22 SET IN 1992) DENALI PARK VISITOR CENTER....14 (OLD RECORD 23 SET IN 1979) EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE........23 (OLD RECORD 30 SET IN 1996) FAIRBANKS AIRPORT.............24 (OLD RECORD 27 SET IN 1943) NORTH POLE....................26 (TIED OLD RECORD 26 SET IN 1992) NORTHWAY......................23 (OLD RECORD 26 SET IN 1966) TANANA AIRPORT................18 (OLD RECORD 22 SET IN 1935) UAF COLLEGE OBSERVATORY.......21 (OLD RECORD 25 SET IN 2003)

Yep. Anchorage Airport did report 0.2" on 5/22/1964...and their 2nd latest measurable snow was 0.2" on 5/17/1989. The latest 1" snowfall was 5/9/1963. Data here: http://pafg.arh.noaa.gov/cliMap/akClimate.php Also, it looks like Fairbanks may drop into the teens tonight. If so, it will be their latest sub-20 temp on record.

RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MCGRATH AK 638 AM AKDT SAT MAY 18 2013 ...NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE FOR MCGRATH... MCGRATH SET A NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 15 DEGREES THIS MORNING. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 28 DEGREES SET IN 1975. RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KOTZEBUE AK 418 AM AKDT SAT MAY 18 2013 ...RECORD LOW MINIMUM TEMPERATURE... ON MAY 17, KOTZEBUE BROKE THE RECORD LOW MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE THE LOW TEMPERATURE WAS 3 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS LOW MINIMUM OF 4 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO SET IN 1992. RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VALDEZ AK 647 AM AKDT FRI MAY 17 2013 ...RECORD SNOWFALL IN VALDEZ FOR MAY 16... THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN VALDEZ MEASURED 1.3 INCHES OF SNOW THURSDAY...NO SNOWFALL HAS BEEN MEASURED ON MAY 16 OF ANY YEAR.

...WINTER RETURNING TO THE INTERIOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY... A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT NOW IN THE WESTERN INTERIOR OF ALASKA WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH FAIRBANKS FRIDAY AND CONTINUE EAST TO THE CANADIAN BORDER BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW...WINDS AND RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES WILL ACCOMPANY THE COLD FRONT. AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES ARE ONLY IN THE TEENS ALONG THE WEST COAST OF ALASKA BEHIND THE COLD FRONT TODAY. HEAVY SNOW WILL FALL OVER THE ALASKA RANGE AND THE BROOKS RANGE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY WITH STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES. THE HILLS OF THE INTERIOR ABOVE 1500 FEET WILL HAVE 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE WILL ALSO BE BLOWING SNOW OVER HILLS AND IN PASSES. TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT IN THOSE AREAS. IN FAIRBANKS...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ON FRIDAY MORNING WILL CHANGE TO SNOW BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL MELT AFTER ITS HITS THE GROUND AT LOWER ELEVATIONS...BUT HILLS ABOVE 1500 FEET WILL HAVE 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. GUSTY WEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH HIGHS SATURDAY IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1034 AM AKDT WED MAY 15 2013 ...MORE RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES BROKEN... AN ARCTIC AIR MASS OVER ALASKA CONTINUES TO BREAK COLD TEMPERATURE RECORDS IN THE INTERIOR. SEVERAL LOCATIONS BROKE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON. MANY LOCATIONS BROKE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES THIS MORNING. FOR COMPARISON...THE NORMAL HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY IN FAIRBANKS IS 61 DEGREES AND THE NORMAL LOW IS 38 DEGREES. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM TUESDAY AND LOW TEMPERATURES FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING. ONLY LONG TERM STATIONS WITH A SUFFICIENT PERIOD OF RECORD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IF A RECORD LOW WAS BROKEN. AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES TUESDAY MAY 14TH: ATIGUN PASS...................10 ABOVE AMBLER........................18 ABOVE CHANDALAR SHELF DOT...........20 ABOVE SHUNGNAK......................23 ABOVE BETTLES.......................32 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 36 IN 1964) GALENA........................33 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 36 IN 1966) NORTHWAY......................35 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 39 IN 2000) COLDFOOT......................36 ABOVE EAGLE.........................39 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 42 IN 2010) DELTA JUNCTION................40 ABOVE* (TIE RECORD 40 IN 1967) TANANA........................41 ABOVE EIELSON AFB...................42 ABOVE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT.............42 ABOVE MORNING LOW TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY MAY 15TH: CHANDALAR SHELF DOT............8 ABOVE ARCTIC VILLAGE.................9 ABOVE DENALI PARK VISITOR CENTER....12 ABOVE COLDFOOT......................13 ABOVE SMITH LAKE....................13 ABOVE GOLDSTREAM CREEK..............14 ABOVE BETTLES.......................14 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 19 IN 1965) CHENA HOT SPRINGS.............16 ABOVE HUSLIA........................16 ABOVE FORT YUKON....................17 ABOVE TANANA........................21 ABOVE UAF COLLEGE OBSERVATORY.......21 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 25 IN 1970) EIELSON AFB...................24 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 25 IN 2001) FAIRBANKS AIRPORT.............24 ABOVE (RECORD IS 23 IN 1937) * INDICATES NEW OR TIED RECORD

Fairbanks has had 43 consecutive days with below normal temperatures, going back to April 4.

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 613 AM AKDT FRI MAY 17 2013 .DISCUSSION... AN UPPER TROUGH WITH UNSEASONABLY VERY COLD AIR ALOFT EXTENDS FROM BRISTOL BAY NORTHWARD INTO THE ARCTIC OCEAN...WITH AN UPPER LOW CENTER NEAR CAPE LISBURNE. THE TROUGH WILL GRADUALLY BECOME ORIENTED SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST...BY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING THE TROUGH AXIS WILL EXTEND FROM THE NORTHWESTERN PANHANDLE TO NORTH AND WEST OF WRANGEL ISLAND. THIS WILL ALLOW THE VERY COLD AIR MASS TO SPREAD EASTWARD ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF NORTHERN ALASKA. THE UNSEASONABLY VERY COLD AIR MASS WILL MODIFY A LITTLE BUT STILL BE EXTREMELY COLD FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. 850 MB TEMPERATURES OVER THE WESTERN INTERIOR COULD BE AS COLD AS -18 DEGREES CELSIUS TONIGHT. THE 850 MB TEMPERATURE AT FAIRBANKS COULD FALL TO AROUND -14 DEGREES CELSIUS SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS TEMPERATURE...IF IT OCCURS...WOULD BE THE COLDEST EVER OBSERVED AT 850 MB THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 700 PM AKDT TUE MAY 7 2013 ...FAIRBANKS COLDEST APRIL 3RD THROUGH MAY 7TH... IF YOU THINK...OR FEEL...THAT THE PAST 5 WEEKS IN FAIRBANKS HAS BEEN ONE OF COLDEST 5 WEEK PERIODS THIS LATE IN SPRING...YOU ARE CORRECT. THE 5 WEEKS ENDING MAY 7, 2013 WILL GO ON THE RECORD BOOKS AS THE COLDEST APRIL 3RD THOUGH MAY 7TH IN FAIRBANKS RECORDED HISTORY. RECORDS DATE BACK 109 YEARS TO 1904. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FROM APRIL 3RD THROUGH MAY 7TH OF THIS YEAR IS 19.9 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT...AS OF 7 PM TUESDAY EVENING. IN SECOND PLACE IS THE YEAR 1924 WITH 20.6 DEGREES...3RD IS 1911 WITH 22.6...4TH IS 1927 WITH 23.6...AND 5TH IS 1948 WITH 24.6 DEGREES. FAIRBANKS COLDEST APRIL 3RD THROUGH MAY 7TH PERIODS ON RECORD: YEAR........AVERAGE TEMPERATURE(F) 1. 2013........19.9 2. 1924........20.6 3. 1911........22.6 4. 1927........23.6 5. 1948........24.6

From NWS Fairbanks...very impressive. PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 412 PM AKDT WED MAY 1 2013 ...MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY FOR FAIRBANKS ALASKA... WINTER REFUSED TO LOOSEN ITS GRIP ON THE INTERIOR IN APRIL. APRIL 2013 WILL GO DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS THE 3RD COLDEST OUT OF 108 YEARS OF RECORDS AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT. AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS 30.4 DEGREES WHICH WAS 14.1 DEGREES BELOW THE NORMAL HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 44.5 DEGREES. THE AVERAGE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE WAS 5.5 DEGREES WHICH WAS 15.1 DEGREES BELOW THE NORMAL MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 20.6 DEGREES. THIS INCLUDED 6 DAYS WITH MINIMUM TEMPERATURES OF 10 BELOW OR COLDER. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR APRIL WAS 17.9 WHICH WAS 14.6 DEGREES BELOW THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 32.5 DEGREES. THE WARMEST TEMPERATURE FOR APRIL WAS 48 DEGREES WHICH OCCURRED ON THE 23RD. THE LAST TIME THAT THE TEMPERATURE FAILED TO REACH 50 DEGREES OR WARMER DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT WAS IN 1972. THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE FOR APRIL WAS 21 BELOW WHICH OCCURRED ON THE 11TH...HOWEVER THIS TEMPERATURE DID NOT BREAK THE DAILY RECORD FOR THAT DATE OF 32 BELOW WHICH OCCURRED IN 1911. 32 BELOW IS ALSO THE RECORD COLD LOW TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT. A RECORD LOW WAS SET ON THE 12TH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 15 BELOW. ANOTHER RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE WAS SET ON THE 28TH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 2 ABOVE. THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 2 ABOVE ON THE 28TH AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT IS THE THIRD LOWEST TEMPERATURE THAT LATE IN THE SEASON. THE LAST TIME IT WAS THAT COLD THAT LATE IN THE SEASON WAS ON MAY 9TH 1964 WHEN THE TEMPERATURE AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT DROPPED TO 1 BELOW. A RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 29 DEGREES WAS TIED AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT ON THE 27TH WHICH WAS SET IN 1935. APRIL 2013 RANKED AS THE 8TH SNOWIEST ON RECORD WITH 9.9 INCHES OF SNOW FALLING AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT. THE ABOVE NORMAL APRIL SNOW FALL BRINGS THE SEASON TO DATE TOTAL AS OF 30 APRIL TO 64.1 INCHES WHICH IS 1.2 INCHES ABOVE THE NORMAL SEASON TO DATE SNOWFALL. NORMAL SNOWFALL FOR APRIL IS 2.9 INCHES. APRIL 2013 WAS INDEED SNOWY HOWEVER IT PALES IN COMPARISON TO APRIL 1948 WHEN 25.1 INCHES OF SNOW FELL. THE WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL SNOW FALL PUT THE BREAKS ON SNOW PACK MELT ACROSS THE INTERIOR. SNOW PACK DEPTH AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT ON THE 30TH OF APRIL WAS 18 INCHES WHICH WAS THE THIRD GREATEST SNOW PACK DEPTH RECORDED FOR THAT DATE. THE GREATEST SNOW PACK DEPTH RECORDED AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT IS 29 INCHES WHICH OCCURRED IN 1937. THE SECOND MOST SNOW PACK DEPTH OF 19 INCHES OCCURRED IN 1918. THE LATEST DATE ON RECORD FOR THE LAST DAY OF CONTINUOUS SNOW COVER AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT IS THE 19TH OF MAY WHICH OCCURRED IN 1937. THE SECOND LATEST DATE FOR THE LAST DAY OF CONTINUOUS SNOW COVER AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT IS THE 8TH OF MAY WHICH OCCURRED IN 1985. CONSIDERING CURRENT SNOW PACK AND LONG RANGE TEMPERATURE FORECASTS...SETTING A NEW RECORD FOR THE SECOND LATEST DATE OF CONTINUOUS SNOW COVER AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKELY. LOOKING FORWARD TO MAY...POSSIBLE SUNSHINE INCREASES BY NEARLY 7 MINUTES PER DAY WITH DAY LIGHT HOURS INCREASING FROM 17 HOURS AND 6 MINUTES ON THE 1ST TO 20 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES ON THE 31ST. CONTINUOUS CIVIL TWILIGHT BEGINS ON MAY 16TH. THE AVERAGE DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURE INCREASES FROM 54 DEGREES ON THE 1ST OF MAY TO 67 DEGREES ON THE 31ST. THE AVERAGE DAILY LOW TEMPERATURE INCREASES FROM 31 DEGREES ON THE 1ST TO 44 DEGREES ON THE 31ST. THE FORECAST FOR THE MONTH OF MAY FROM THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER CALL FOR INCREASED CHANCES FOR BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES FOR THE FAIRBANKS AREA. OBSERVED LAST MONTH...04/2013 OBSERVED RANK AVG MAX TEMP (F) 30.4 2ND COLDEST OF 108 YEARS AVG MIN TEMP (F) 5.5 3RD COLDEST OF 109 YEARS AVG TEMP (F) 17.9 3RD COLDEST OF 108 YEARS TOTAL PRECIP (IN) 0.66 11TH WETTEST OF 100 YEARS TOTAL SNOW (IN) 9.90 8TH SNOWIEST OF 98 YEARS

While we're all aware of the incredibly cold March-April in the Northern Plains, Alaska has had a frigid April too. Fairbanks still has 17" of snow on the ground; their snow pack is usually gone by mid-April. From NWS Fairbanks: PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 351 PM AKDT SUN APR 28 2013 ...RECORD COLD MORNING IN INTERIOR ALASKA... COLD TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO GRIP NORTHERN ALASKA. MANY STATIONS IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR SHATTERED RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES THIS MORNING. FOR EXAMPLE...THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 1 ABOVE ZERO AT EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 16 ABOVE WHICH WAS SET IN 1945. THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 2 ABOVE ZERO AT THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT IS THE THIRD LOWEST TEMPERATURE THIS LATE IN THE SPRING. THE LAST TIME IT WAS THIS COLD SO LATE IN THE SEASON WAS ON MAY 9TH 1964 WHEN THE TEMPERATURE AT THE AIRPORT BOTTOMED OUT AT 1 BELOW ZERO. THE NORMAL LOW TEMPERATURE FOR APRIL 28TH IN FAIRBANKS IS 30 ABOVE. IN ADDITION TO NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES OBSERVED THIS MORNING...MANY STATIONS TIED OR BROKE RECORDS FOR THE COLDEST HIGH TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES FAILED TO CLIMB OUT OF THE 20S ACROSS MUCH OF THE INTERIOR ON SATURDAY. THE FAIRBANKS AIRPORT REACHED 29 ABOVE ON THE 27TH...WHICH TIES THE COLDEST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THAT DAY WHICH WAS SET IN 1935. NORMAL HIGHS IN LATE APRIL ARE IN THE UPPER 40S AND LOWER 50S. THE EXTENDED COLD SPELL THIS MONTH HAS PUT THE BREAKS ON SNOWMELT AND THE BREAKUP OF RIVER ICE IN NORTHERN ALASKA. THIS APRIL IS CURRENTLY EXPECTED TO BE THE THIRD COLDEST ON RECORD. THE LAST TIME FAIRBANKS HAS SEEN AN APRIL THIS COLD WAS BACK IN 1924. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF LOW TEMPERATURES REPORTED THIS MORNING. ONLY LONG TERM STATIONS WITH A SUFFICIENT PERIOD OF RECORD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IF A RECORD LOW WAS BROKEN. CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS............9 BELOW SALCHA RIVER-MILE 25..........9 BELOW CHENA HOT SPRINGS.............8 BELOW GOLDSTREAM CR (FAIRBANKS).....6 BELOW SMITH LAKE (UAF)..............6 BELOW TOK...........................6 BELOW EAGLE.........................5 BELOW* (OLD RECORD 2 ABOVE 1927) LIVENGOOD.....................3 BELOW DENALI VISITOR CENTER.........2 BELOW EIELSON AFB...................1 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 16 ABOVE 1945) COLLEGE OBSERVATORY...........2 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 18 ABOVE 1992) FAIRBANKS AIRPORT.............2 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 8 ABOVE 1924) DELTA JUNCTION................3 ABOVE* (OLD RECORD 15 ABOVE 1972) * INDICATES NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE