October 2016 Statewide Summary

Alaska Statewide Climate Summary

October 2016

Temperature

October 2016 marks the thirteenth month in a row with statewide mean temperatures above normal. The monthly mean temperature of all First Order Stations was 36.1°F, 4.1°F above the normal of 32.0°F. This is 1.4°F below the October 2015 mean of 37.5°F. Calculating the mean daily temperatures of the First Order Stations, 28 days of the month were above the 30-year normal, with three days (16^th, 17^th and 23^rd) below normal (see Figure). The peak positive deviation for the month occurred on the 31^st at a very significant 21.1°F. Monthly mean temperatures (see table) were above normal for 16 of the 19 First Order Stations. The only stations with a below normal mean monthly temperature were Gulkana with -6.6°F below its normal of 26.6°F, Juneau (-2.2°F) and Yakutat (-0.2°F). Barrow had the greatest positive deviation with an impressive of 12.9°F above its normal of 45.3°F. Kotzebue had the next greatest positive deviation with 11.0°F. The other stations with deviations greater than +6°F were: Nome (+9.0°F), Bethel (+7.4°F), King Salmon (+6.9°F) and St. Paul (+6.2°). Note that that the stations with greatest positive deviations are coastal stations stretching from Bristol Bay to the Arctic Ocean.

The highest daily maximum temperature of the First Order Stations for October was 63°F reported at King Salmon on the 13^th and Annette on the 24^th. Annette also held the spot for the highest mean temperature for the month at 49.5°F. The lowest temperature of -17°F was observed at Gulkana on the 24^th and Gulkana reported the lowest October mean monthly temperature with a value of 20.0°F.

Daily mean temperature deviation from the normal temperature for the mean of the First Order Stations for October 2016.

There were a quite a few daily temperature record events in October, and most were high events, and occurred during the warm spells during the first half of the month, and during the last week of the month. Many of the events were focused in the southwestern area of the State. St. Paul had 19 events both set and tied high records. King Salmon had nine such events. Kodiak had two new low records, while Juneau had one new low record temperature. The high of 44°F at Barrow on the 10^th not only set a daily record, but was the warmest temperature in October on record. The average temperature at Fairbanks dropped to 32°F on the 13^th, giving a total of 194 days (start on April 3^rd) where the temperature was greater than or equal to 32°F, breaking the old record of 188 days from 1943.

The table below lists the stations that set new monthly average high records. In addition, it was the second warmest October for Cold Bay with 45.3, 0.7°F below the 2013 record. It was the fourth warmest October for Bethel and the fifth warmest for King Salmon and Homer.

Precipitation

October's precipitation was significantly below normal, with the overall precipitation calculated as 45% below the average; this calculation was based on the mean of the deviations in percentage of the First Order Stations. Fifteen of the First Order Stations and 25 days of the month reported above normal values. There were no days during the month without any measureable precipitation at all of the 19 First Order Stations. This is quite a bit drier than October 2015, which reported a negative deviation of -4% below normal. The greatest daily deviation of 105% occurred on the 28^th. The leading station with a greater than normal monthly precipitation amount was St. Paul with 5.29", or 170% of normal.

Daily mean precipitation deviation from the normal for the First Order Stations for October 2016.

October's highest monthly precipitation total reported for a First Order Station was 11.58" at Kodiak, and Kodiak also reported the highest daily total of 2.76" on the 11^th, a new daily record.

Given the overall low precipitation in October, only one daily record was set and that was at Kodiak on the 11^th with 2.76", breaking the old record from 1999 with 2.15". In addition, Juneau set a new record for consecutive days with no rain in October, with 14 days from October 1 to October 14, topping the old record of 12 days from October 19 to October 30, 2012. October is the normally wettest month of the year for Juneau. Barrow did hot have a permanent snow pack until the 21^st, a new record, breaking the old record of October 12^th, set in 1998. The snowfall in Juneau on the 15^th marks the first time measureable snowfall was record at Juneau before Fairbanks, and the 6^th time this has occurred at Juneau before Anchorage.

The table below lists the stations that set new monthly low precipitation records. In addition, it was the second driest October for Talkeetna with 0.48", 0.36" above the 1967 record. It was the fifth driest October for Bettles and Big Delta. Opposing the trend seen in the Southeast, St. Paul set a new monthly precipitation high record with 6.21", topping the 5.74" from 2004.

Newsworthy Events

Seasonal maintenance on the Denali highway, Taylor Highway and the new road to Tanana ended on October 1^st. The glacial dam above the Skilak Lake broke on the 6^th. No significant impacts were reported on the lake, or downstream on the Kenai River, which did rise a couple feet and crested on the 11^th. The glacial dam traditionally breaks in late fall every other year.

A late season wildfire was reported near the Northwestern village of Noorvik on the 12^th. The fire posed no problems and was last reported at over 300 acres. On the 15^th the dry conditions and high winds raised the fire danger in the Interior and residents were requested to cease open burning and use extreme caution. Also on the 15^th, the Moose Creek wildfire was reported near the Glen Highway north of Palmer. The fire was fought, but hampered by the winter weather with high winds and the low temperature freezing the water and equipment used to fight the fire. Efforts were also hampered by a lack of personnel and ready equipment due to the end of the wildfire season. Even so, more than 40 firefighters were dispatched. The fire was not fully contained until the 21^st and was estimated at 300 acres. The firefighters were aided by about 2" of new snow. The fire did come within 75' of the Glen Highway.

This VIRUS satellite image shows a plume of dust being blown out of the Copper River Basin of Alaska by high winds on the 13^th of October.

Strong wind warnings were issued for the Interior areas for the 15^th and 16^th. Winds up to 51 mph were reported at Sheenjek River and Hodzana. Tanana reported gusts up to 48 mph, 47 mph at Kaltag, and 38 mph at McGrath and Fort Yukon. Numerous power outages were reported on the night of the 16^th and into the 17^th. Considerable amounts of airborne glacial dust was seen along the Tanana River and a number of trees were reported down.

The first significant snowfall impacted the Southcentral on the 17^th with over 3" at Seward, 2" at Cordova and Girdwood. More snow fell in the Southcentral on the 21^st with more than 12" at Hatcher and Indian Passes. Eagle River reported more than 7", Palmer and Potter marsh received more than 4" and Kenai reported 1". The snow created poor driving conditions in the area and numerous auto accidents and stuck vehicles were reported in Anchorage. Blizzard warnings were issued for Thompson Pass due to snow and high winds. Fairbanks received its first measureable snowfall on the 21^st, with up to 5" reported near town. The snowfall for the 21^st totaled 5.1" at Harding Lake and 3.2" at Circle Hot Springs.

This NWS satellite image shows the storm generating hurricane force winds along the Aleutian Islands areas of Alaska on the 30^th.

A freezing rain advisory was issued for Fairbanks and Nenana areas on the 29^th. Driving conditions did deteriorate and a portion of the Chena Hot Springs Road was closed for a couple hours. High winds, up to Hurricane Force, high seas and coastal flooding warnings were issued for Western Alaska and Bering Sea on the 29^th. The high winds at Nome damaged buildings with roofs blown off and some boats were lost. On the 30^th Adak reported a wind gust over 90 mph, Nokolski and Akutan 76 mph and Unalaska reported 98 mph. More icy roads affected Anchorage drivers on the 31^st.

This information consists of preliminary climatological data compiled by the Alaska Climate Research Center, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. For more information on weather and climatology, contact the center at 907-474-7885 or visit the center web site at http://akclimate.org. Please report any errors to webmaster@akclimate.org. This summary is based on the 19 First Order Stations in Alaska operated by the National Weather Service. Extreme events of other stations are also mentioned.