Alaska Climate Research Center
The end of February is fast approaching, and with it meteorological winter is coming to a close in the northern hemisphere. However, that does not necessarily mean that winter is over in Alaska. Below are charts of accumulated snowfall and snow depth for for Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The charts include values for the 2021-2022 […]
Saturday, January 15, 2022: The explosive eruption of Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai sent a shockwave around the world. Such extensive atmospheric gravity waves triggered by a volcanic eruption have never been observed before. The waves spread in all directions, completing a circumnavigation of the globe and producing observable pressure peaks at weather stations worldwide. The US National
Tonga Eruption Shockwave Read More »
This year, astronomical winter starts on December 21 at 6:59 AKST. The amount of daylight, as well as the timing of sunrise and sunset, vary considerably across the state on the shortest day of the year. For example, locations north of the Arctic Circle will not see the sun rise on the solstice, while the
Winter Solstice Daylight Read More »
While the contiguous United States experiences abnormally high temperatures this month, another round of bitterly cold temperatures is in store for the Interior of Alaska. Temperatures in the 30s and 40s below zero Fahrenheit occur during this time of year, however, Fairbanksans may be wondering how recent low temperatures compare to the norm. From the
December in Fairbanks Read More »
Weather conditions on Halloweens past across Alaska have covered a wide range: from mild to bitter cold, dry to rainy (or snowy). Below is a table showing the warmest and coldest recorded temperatures, as well as the highest precipitation (liquid equivalent) and snowfall totals for October 31st at 19 first-order weather stations. Table. Records of
Halloween Weather Extremes Read More »
With winter fast approaching, one commonly asked question we get is “What is the average date of the first snowfall of the season?” The answer is that it depends on the location. The table below shows the mean date of the first snowfall at 19 first-order weather stations, as well as the earliest and latest
First Snowfall Date Read More »
The world’s 3rd most prominent and 3rd most isolated mountain, Denali, in the Alaska Range, has attracted climbers since the early 20th century. Denali is known to “create its own weather” – this is due to its geographic isolation and large elevation difference between the base and summit, which affects atmospheric flow at the micro- and mesoscales. The
Denali – Mountain Weather and Climate Read More »