April 2017 Statewide Summary

Alaska Statewide Climate Summary

April 2017

 

Temperature

 

In a reversal of March 2017, the mean monthly temperature for April 2017 was notably above normal. The mean temperature of all First Order Stations was 35.5°F, 5.0°F above the normal of 30.5°F. This is 2.8°F below the April 2016 mean of 38.3°F. Calculating the mean daily temperatures of the First Order Stations, all 30 days of the month were above the 30-year normal. The greatest deviation occurred on the 12^th with 9.1°F above normal (see Figure). Monthly mean temperatures were above normal for all 19 of the First Order Stations (see table). Kotzebue held the spot with the greatest positive deviation in April with a significant 11.0°F above its normal of 13.3°F. Other stations with deviations greater than 8°F were Nome (9.9°F) and Bethel (8.9°F). All three stations are located in western Alaska.

 

 

 

The highest daily maximum temperature of the First Order Stations for April was 69°F reported at Annette on the 22^nd. Annette also held the spot for the highest mean temperature for the month at 48.7°F. The lowest temperature of -21°F was observed at Barrow on the 3^rd, and Barrow also reported the lowest April mean monthly temperature with a value of 6.6°F.  

 

Daily mean temperature deviation from the normal temperature for the mean of the First Order Stations for April 2017.

 

There were a fair number of record event this April, and all were new record daily highs. Many of the records were set in the Southeast during the nice weather spell mid month. St. Paul set three new daily highs.

 

 

 

Precipitation

 

Like March 2017, April's precipitation was decidedly below normal, with the overall precipitation calculated as 56% below the average; this calculation was based on the mean of the deviations in percentage of the First Order Stations. All but one of the First Order Stations and 26 days of the month reported below normal values. This is notably drier than April 2016, which reported a precipitation deviation of 3% above normal. The greatest daily precipitation amount occurred on the 27^th. The only station with a greater than normal monthly precipitation amount was Kodiak with 7.35", or 27% above normal of 5.81". The driest stations were Barrow and Delta Junction with just a trace amount of precipitation reported. Bettles, Gulkana, Kotzebue, and Talkeetna also reported less than 20% of their normal precipitation amounts.

 

 

 

Daily mean precipitation deviation from the normal for the First Order Stations for April 2017.

 

 

April's highest monthly precipitation total reported for a First Order Station was 7.35" at Kodiak, and Kodiak also reported the highest daily total of 2.04" on the 5^th, a new daily record, breaking the old record of 1.52" from 2004. Two more precipitation records set during April: on the 11^th, St. Paul received a total of 0.38", breaking the 1972 record of 0.25", then Kodiak set a second record of 1.23" on the 22^nd, breaking the 1.13" from 1999.

 

For Delta Junction, the trace of precipitation for April ties (with four other years: 2001, 1995, 1990, 1976) for the lowest on record. It was the second driest April for Northway with 0.1" after the trace record set in 2005, 2004, 2003 and 1991. It was the third driest April for Nome (0.15") and the fourth driest for Kotzebue (0.05").

 

Snowfall

 

Snowfall was significantly below normal due to warmer than normal temperatures, and less overall precipitation during April. Based on the mean of the deviations from all 15 stations, which measure snowfall, the overall deviation from the normals was 78% below the expected amount. This is even less than the snowfall deviation from April 2016, which had a 42% deficit. All 15 of the First Order Stations reported below normal snowfall. Anchorage, Annette, Juneau all reported no measurable snowfall during April. King Salmon reported the greatest snowfall amount for the month of a meager 2.9", and King Salmon also reported the highest one-day snowfall at 2.8" on the 1^st. The greatest snow depth was 46" and was reported at Kotzebue during the first week of the month. There no snowfall records recorded. Overall snowpack continued to be lower than normal with less than half expected amount.

 

 

 

Newsworthy Events

 

Fairbanks broke 50°F on the 1^st of April for the first time since October 12^th, 2016. On the 4^th, avalanche warnings were issued for Turnagain Arm, Kenai and Chugach Mountain areas. On the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th, avalanche reduction efforts were conducted along the Seward Highway around the Turnagain Pass area. Hazardous driving conditions were reported along the northern end of the Dalton Highway on the 5^th, then on the southern end the next day. Hazardous conditions extended into the next day for much of the Elliott and Dalton Highways.

 

On the 4^th, gusts up to 72 mph were recorded at Cape Decision, 47 mph at Annette Island, and 39 mph at Ketchikan. The high winds continued into the next day with 69 mph recorded at Lincoln Island and Cape Decision, 63 mph at Hydaburg, 59 mph at Ketchikan, 48 mph at Annette Island, and 41 mph at Yakutat.

 

On the 10^th, hazardous driving conditions were reported on the Top of the World and Taylor Highways. Temperatures dropped in the Interior on the 18^th with -4°F reported at Eagle and ‑2°F at Circle Hot Springs. High winds were reported around the Interior and western Alaska on the 19^th with 43 mph at Shaktoolik River, 40 mph at Ruby, 39 mph at Unalakleet, 38 mph at Tanana, 34 mph at Livingood and 32 mph at Fairbanks.

 

For Fairbanks the 3^rd longest stretch of days (205) where the minimum temperature was less than 30°F ended on April 22^nd. The longest stretch was 213 days that ended May 5^th, 2013. The next day ended the 207-day stretch of temperatures below freezing. The snowy winter in the Juneau area helped the Eaglecrest Ski area stay open 95 days, longest stretch since 2012.

 

Dry conditions resulted in a small grass fire on Douglas Island, on the 24^th. The next day, a burn suspension was issued for the Tok area due to dry, windy conditions. Smoke jumpers fought their first wildfire of the season near Delta Junction on the 27^th.

 

 

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.