Fairbanks, Alaska. A Climate Almanac

Transcription

1 A Climate Almanac

2 History of Climate Observations at Fairbanks Cooperative climate observations were initiated in Fairbanks by the Rev. Hudson Stuck on September!, "#$!. Observations were made with Weather Bureau supplied equipment by personnel a%liated with the Episcopal Church through June, "#"", when the station was relocated to the Agricultural Experiment Station four miles west-northwest of the city. The Weather Bureau o%ce was established in the summer of "#&# in the Horseshoe Building at the corner of First and Cushman Street. In July, "#'' the o%ce was moved to the new Federal Building on the corner of Second and Cushman Street. Except for July through November "#'', temperatures were measured at site on the south bank of the Chena River. In July, "#!&, weather and climate observations were moved to Ladd Field (later Fort Wainwright), and then in May, "#!' to Weeks Field (near the site of the present-day Noel Wien Library). On August &&, "#(", all observation programs were removed to the Fairbanks International Airport, where they have remained through the present. Instrument locations have been changed many times on the airport grounds. The current ASOS system, located near the southwest end of the main runway, was commissioned on December ", "##). The data collected during the &( years prior to the start of Weather Bureau operations are of variable quality and in some extreme cases are demonstrably in error. Since December, "#&#, observations are of high quality, though the many changes in instrument location, exposure and the extreme sensitivity of temperature to local micro-topography create a disconcertingly heterogeneous record. The climatological day begins and ends at midnight local standard time except for snowfall between December "#&# and December "#'#, when the daily amounts are for the &! hours ending at &pm Alaska ("($th Meridian) Time. A Fairbanks Climate Almanac compiles daily climate variable extremes since December, "#&# *om publicly available information. In the few cases where monthly extremes are reliably exceeded in the "#$!-"#&# record, these are so noted. Solar data is calculated for Fairbanks International Airport latitude +!º!#N, longitude "!)º (&W. Times have been rounded to the minute. compiled by Rick Thoman, September &$""

3 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :54 AM 2:55 PM 4: :53 AM 2:57 PM 4: :52 AM 2:59 PM 4: :50 AM 3:02 PM 4: :49 AM 3:04 PM 4: :47 AM 3:07 PM 4: :45 AM 3:10 PM 4: :43 AM 3:13 PM 4: :41 AM 3:15 PM 4: :39 AM 3:18 PM 4: :37 AM 3:21 PM 4: :34 AM 3:25 PM 4: :32 AM 3:28 PM 4: :30 AM 3:31 PM 5: :27 AM 3:34 PM 5: :25 AM 3:37 PM 5: :22 AM 3:41 PM 5: :19 AM 3:44 PM 5: :17 AM 3:47 PM 5: :14 AM 3:51 PM 5: :11 AM 3:54 PM 5: :08 AM 3:58 PM 5: :05 AM 4:01 PM 5: :02 AM 4:05 PM 6: :59 AM 4:08 PM 6: :56 AM 4:12 PM 6: :53 AM 4:15 PM 6: :50 AM 4:19 PM 6: :47 AM 4:22 PM 6: :44 AM 4:26 PM 6: :41 AM 4:29 PM 6:48 24 Hour Max 1.84" 15.5" 19-20th th 1937 Lowest Mean Temp -31.7º in 1971 Avg Max Temp 1.1º Precipitaiton 0.58" Highest Mean Temp 18.1º in 1981 Avg Min Temp -16.9º Snowfall 10.3" Max Precip 6.71" in 1937 Avg Mean Temp -7.9º Heating Degree Days 2260 Highest Snowfall 65.6" in 1937 Max Snow Depth 62" on 20th 1937 January

4 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :37 AM 4:33 PM 6: :34 AM 4:36 PM 7: :31 AM 4:40 PM 7: :28 AM 4:43 PM 7: :24 AM 4:47 PM 7: :21 AM 4:50 PM 7: :18 AM 4:53 PM 7: :14 AM 4:57 PM 7: :11 AM 5:00 PM 7: :08 AM 5:04 PM 7: :04 AM 5:07 PM 8: :01 AM 5:11 PM 8: :57 AM 5:14 PM 8: :54 AM 5:17 PM 8: :51 AM 5:21 PM 8: :47 AM 5:24 PM 8: :44 AM 5:28 PM 8: :40 AM 5:31 PM 8: :37 AM 5:34 PM 8: :33 AM 5:37 PM 9: :30 AM 5:41 PM 9: :26 AM 5:44 PM 9: :23 AM 5:47 PM 9: :19 AM 5:51 PM 9: :16 AM 5:54 PM 9: :12 AM 5:57 PM 9: :08 AM 6:00 PM 9: :05 AM 6:04 PM 9: :01 AM 6:07 PM 10:05 24 Hour Max 0.97" 20.1" 11-12th th 1966 Lowest Mean Temp -25.3º in 1979 Avg Max Temp 10.0" Precipitaiton 0.42" Highest Mean Temp 15.9º in 1980 Avg Min Temp -12.7º Snowfall 8.1" Max Precip 2.10" in 1944 Avg Mean Temp -1.3º Heating Degree Days 1858 Highest Snowfall 43.1" in 1966 Max Snow Depth 57" on 11th 1937 February

5 March Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :58 AM 6:10 PM 10: :54 AM 6:13 PM 10: :51 AM 6:16 PM 10: :47 AM 6:19 PM 10: :43 AM 6:23 PM 10: :40 AM 6:26 PM 10: :36 AM 6:29 PM 10: :33 AM 6:32 PM 10: :29 AM 6:35 PM 11: :25 AM 6:38 PM 11: :22 AM 7:41 PM 11: :18 AM 7:44 PM 11: :14 AM 7:48 PM 11: :11 AM 7:51 PM 11: :07 AM 7:54 PM 11: :03 AM 7:57 PM 11: :00 AM 8:00 PM 12: :56 AM 8:03 PM 12: :53 AM 8:06 PM 12: :49 AM 8:09 PM 12: :45 AM 8:12 PM 12: :42 AM 8:15 PM 12: :38 AM 8:18 PM 12: :34 AM 8:21 PM 12: :31 AM 8:24 PM 12: :27 AM 8:28 PM 13: :23 AM 8:31 PM 13: :20 AM 8:34 PM 13: :16 AM 8:37 PM 13: :12 AM 8:40 PM 13: :09 AM 8:43 PM 13:34 24 Hour Max 1.17" 12.6" 24-25th th 1963 Lowest Mean Temp -6.6º in 1959 Avg Max Temp 25.4º Precipitaiton 0.25" Highest Mean Temp 27.1º in 1981 Avg Min Temp -2.5º Snowfall 4.9" Max Precip 2.24" in 1991 Avg Mean Temp 11.4º Heating Degree Days 1660 Highest Snowfall 30.4" in 1991 Max Snow Depth 56" on 25th 1991 Extremes Exceeded : Min Temperature -56º in Monthly Precip 3.72" and Snowfall 33.1" in 1921

6 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :05 AM 8:46 PM 13: :01 AM 8:49 PM 13: :58 AM 8:52 PM 13: :54 AM 8:55 PM 14: :50 AM 8:58 PM 14: :47 AM 9:02 PM 14: :43 AM 9:05 PM 14: :39 AM 9:08 PM 14: :36 AM 9:11 PM 14: :32 AM 9:14 PM 14: :28 AM 9:17 PM 14: :25 AM 9:21 PM 14: :21 AM 9:24 PM 15: :17 AM 9:27 PM 15: :14 AM 9:30 PM 15: :10 AM 9:33 PM 15: :06 AM 9:37 PM 15: :03 AM 9:40 PM 15: :59 AM 9:43 PM 15: :55 AM 9:46 PM 15: :52 AM 9:50 PM 15: :48 AM 9:53 PM 16: :44 AM 9:56 PM 16: :41 AM 9:59 PM 16: :37 AM 10:03 PM 16: :34 AM 10:06 PM 16: :30 AM 10:09 PM 16: :26 AM 10:13 PM 16: :23 AM 10:16 PM 16: :19 AM 10:19 PM 17:00 24 Hour Max 1.06" 10.8" 25-26th st 1948 Lowest Mean Temp 20.8º in 2985 Avg Max Temp 44.5º Precipitaiton 0.31" Highest Mean Temp 43.7º in 1940 Avg Min Temp 20.6º Snowfall 2.9" Max Precip 3.06" in 2002 Avg Mean Temp 32.5º Heating Degree Days 974 Highest Snowfall 25.1" in 1948 Max Snow Depth 51" on 1st 1991 April

7 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :15 AM 10:23 PM 17: :12 AM 10:26 PM 17: :08 AM 10:30 PM 17: :05 AM 10:33 PM 17: :01 AM 10:37 PM 17: :58 AM 10:40 PM 17: :54 AM 10:43 PM 17: :50 AM 10:47 PM 17: :47 AM 10:50 PM 18: T :43 AM 10:54 PM 18: :40 AM 10:57 PM 18: :36 AM 11:01 PM 18: :33 AM 11:04 PM 18: :29 AM 11:08 PM 18: :26 AM 11:11 PM 18: :22 AM 11:15 PM 18: :19 AM 11:18 PM 18: :16 AM 11:22 PM 19: :12 AM 11:25 PM 19: T :09 AM 11:29 PM 19: T :06 AM 11:32 PM 19: T :02 AM 11:36 PM 19: T :59 AM 11:39 PM 19: :56 AM 11:43 PM 19: :52 AM 11:46 PM 19: :49 AM 11:50 PM 20: :46 AM 11:53 PM 20: T :43 AM 11:56 PM 20: T :40 AM 12:00 AM 20: T :37 AM 12:03 AM 20: T :34 AM 12:06 AM 20:32 24 Hour Max 0.88" 9,4" 26-27th th 1992 Lowest Mean Temp 38.6º in 1964 Avg Max Temp 61.0º Precipitaiton 0.60" Highest Mean Temp 55.6º in 2005 Avg Min Temp 37.8º Snowfall 0.9" Max Precip 1.96" in 2004 Avg Mean Temp 49.4º Heating Degree Days 485 Highest Snowfall 14.1" in 1992 Max Snow Depth 29" on 4th 1937 May

8 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :31 AM 12:09 AM 20: :28 AM 12:13 AM 20: T :25 AM 12:16 AM 20: T :23 AM 12:19 AM 20: :20 AM 12:22 AM 21: :17 AM 12:24 AM 21: :15 AM 12:27 AM 21: T :13 AM 12:30 AM 21: :11 AM 12:32 AM 21: :09 AM 12:34 AM 21: :07 AM 12:37 AM 21: T :05 AM 12:39 AM 21: :03 AM 12:40 AM 21: :02 AM 12:42 AM 21: :01 AM 12:44 AM 21: :00 AM 12:45 AM 21: :59 AM 12:46 AM 21: :59 AM 12:46 AM 21: :58 AM 12:47 AM 21: :58 AM 12:47 AM 21: :58 AM 12:47 AM 21: :59 AM 12:47 AM 21: :00 AM 12:46 AM 21: :01 AM 12:46 AM 21: :02 AM 12:45 AM 21: :03 AM 12:44 AM 21: :05 AM 12:42 AM 21: :07 AM 12:41 AM 21: :09 AM 12:39 AM 21: :11 AM 12:37 AM 21:26 24 Hour Max 1.52" 1.2" 11-12th nd 1931 Lowest Mean Temp 51.6º in 1949 Avg Max Temp 71.6º Precipitaiton 1.37" Highest Mean Temp 66.9º in 2004 Avg Min Temp 49.3º Snowfall 0 Max Precip 3.55" in 1949 Avg Mean Temp 60.4º Heating Degree Days 160 Highest Snowfall 1.2" in 1931 Daily Extremes Exceeded : min 28º in 1918 June

9 July Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :13 AM 12:35 AM 21: :15 AM 12:33 AM 21: :18 AM 12:31 AM 21: :21 AM 12:28 AM 21: :23 AM 12:26 AM 21: :26 AM 12:23 AM 20: :29 AM 12:20 AM 20: :32 AM 12:18 AM 20: :35 AM 12:15 AM 20: :38 AM 12:12 AM 20: :42 AM 12:09 AM 20: :45 AM 12:06 AM 20: :48 AM 12:03 AM 20: :51 AM 12:00 AM 20: :55 AM 11:56 PM 20: :58 AM 11:53 PM 19: :02 AM 11:50 PM 19: :05 AM 11:47 PM 19: :08 AM 11:43 PM 19: :12 AM 11:40 PM 19: :15 AM 11:37 PM 19: :19 AM 11:33 PM 19: :22 AM 11:30 PM 19: :26 AM 11:27 PM 19: :29 AM 11:23 PM 18: :32 AM 11:20 PM 18: :36 AM 11:16 PM 18: :39 AM 11:13 PM 18: :43 AM 11:09 PM 18: :46 AM 11:06 PM 18: :50 AM 11:02 PM 18:12 24 Hour Max 2.56" 26-27th 2003 Lowest Mean Temp 55.5º in 1959 Avg Max Temp 72.7º Precipitaiton 2.16" Highest Mean Temp 68.4º in 1985 Avg Min Temp 52.3º Snowfall 0 Max Precip 5.96" in 2003 Avg Mean Temp 62.5º Heating Degree Days 108 Highest Snowfall 0.0" Extremes Exceeded : none, as max temperatures of 99º July 28th and 95º July 29, 1919 are unreliable

10 August Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :53 AM 10:59 PM 18: :56 AM 10:55 PM 17: :00 AM 10:52 PM 17: :03 AM 10:48 PM 17: :07 AM 10:45 PM 17: :10 AM 10:41 PM 17: T :13 AM 10:37 PM 17: T :17 AM 10:34 PM 17: :20 AM 10:30 PM 17: :23 AM 10:27 PM 17: :27 AM 10:23 PM 16: :30 AM 10:19 PM 16: :33 AM 10:16 PM 16: :36 AM 10:12 PM 16: :40 AM 10:08 PM 16: :43 AM 10:05 PM 16: :46 AM 10:01 PM 16: :49 AM 9:58 PM 16: :53 AM 9:54 PM 16: :56 AM 9:50 PM 15: :59 AM 9:47 PM 15: :02 AM 9:43 PM 15: :05 AM 9:39 PM 15: T :08 AM 9:36 PM 15: :11 AM 9:32 PM 15: :15 AM 9:28 PM 15: :18 AM 9:25 PM 15: :21 AM 9:21 PM 15: T :24 AM 9:17 PM 14: :27 AM 9:14 PM 14: T :30 AM 9:10 PM 14:40 24 Hour Max 3.42" T 12th 1967 often Lowest Mean Temp 49.8º in 1969 Avg Max Temp 65.9º Precipitaiton 1.88" Highest Mean Temp 62.6º in 1977 Avg Min Temp 46.4º Snowfall 0 Max Precip 6.88" in 1930 Avg Mean Temp 56.1º Heating Degree Days 281 Highest Snowfall T often Extremes Exceeded : Min Temperature 21º in 1922; Max daily and Monthly Snowfall: 3.0 in 1922

11 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar T :33 AM 9:06 PM 14: :36 AM 9:03 PM 14: :39 AM 8:59 PM 14: T :42 AM 8:55 PM 14: :45 AM 8:52 PM 14: T :48 AM 8:48 PM 13: T :51 AM 8:44 PM 13: T :54 AM 8:41 PM 13: T :57 AM 8:37 PM 13: T :00 AM 8:33 PM 13: :03 AM 8:30 PM 13: :06 AM 8:26 PM 13: :09 AM 8:22 PM 13: :12 AM 8:19 PM 13: :15 AM 8:15 PM 12: :18 AM 8:11 PM 12: :21 AM 8:08 PM 12: :24 AM 8:04 PM 12: :27 AM 8:00 PM 12: :30 AM 7:57 PM 12: :33 AM 7:53 PM 12: :36 AM 7:49 PM 12: :39 AM 7:46 PM 12: :42 AM 7:42 PM 12: :45 AM 7:38 PM 11: :48 AM 7:35 PM 11: :51 AM 7:31 PM 11: :54 AM 7:27 PM 11: :57 AM 7:24 PM 11: :00 AM 7:20 PM 11:20 24 Hour Max 1.21" 9.0" 16th th 1992 Lowest Mean Temp 31.7º in 1992 Avg Max Temp 54.6º Precipitaiton 1.10" Highest Mean Temp 52.8º in 1995 Avg Min Temp 35.1º Snowfall 1.8" Max Precip 3.05" in 1960 Avg Mean Temp 44.9º Heating Degree Days 605 Highest Snowfall 24.4" in 1992 Max Snow Depth 13" on 18th 1992 Extremes , Normals NCDC September

12 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :03 AM 7:17 PM 11: :06 AM 7:13 PM 11: :09 AM 7:09 PM 11: :12 AM 7:06 PM 10: :15 AM 7:02 PM 10: :18 AM 6:58 PM 10: :21 AM 6:55 PM 10: :24 AM 6:51 PM 10: :27 AM 6:48 PM 10: :30 AM 6:44 PM 10: :33 AM 6:40 PM 10: :36 AM 6:37 PM 10: :39 AM 6:33 PM 9: :42 AM 6:30 PM 9: :46 AM 6:26 PM 9: :49 AM 6:23 PM 9: :52 AM 6:19 PM 9: :55 AM 6:16 PM 9: :58 AM 6:12 PM 9: :01 AM 6:08 PM 9: :05 AM 6:05 PM 9: :08 AM 6:01 PM 8: :11 AM 5:58 PM 8: :14 AM 5:55 PM 8: :18 AM 5:51 PM 8: :21 AM 5:48 PM 8: :24 AM 5:44 PM 8: :27 AM 5:41 PM 8: :31 AM 5:37 PM 8: :34 AM 5:34 PM 7: :37 AM 5:30 PM 7:53 24 Hour Max 1.17" 12.5" 10-11th th 1946 Lowest Mean Temp 13.2º in 1996 Avg Max Temp 31.9º Precipitaiton 0.83" Highest Mean Temp 37.8º in 1938 Avg Min Temp 16.5º Snowfall 10.8" Max Precip 3.40" in 1935 Avg Mean Temp 24.2º Heating Degree Days 1265 Highest Snowfall 26.2" in 1935 Max Snow Depth 22" on 29th 1935 Extremes , Normals NCDC October

13 November Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :41 AM 5:27 PM 7: :44 AM 5:24 PM 7: :47 AM 5:20 PM 7: :51 AM 4:17 PM 7: :54 AM 4:14 PM 7: :58 AM 4:10 PM 7: :01 AM 4:07 PM 7: :04 AM 4:04 PM 6: :08 AM 4:01 PM 6: :11 AM 3:58 PM 6: :15 AM 3:54 PM 6: :18 AM 3:51 PM 6: :22 AM 3:48 PM 6: :25 AM 3:45 PM 6: :29 AM 3:42 PM 6: :32 AM 3:39 PM 6: :35 AM 3:36 PM 6: :39 AM 3:33 PM 5: :42 AM 3:30 PM 5: :46 AM 3:27 PM 5: :49 AM 3:24 PM 5: :52 AM 3:22 PM 5: :56 AM 3:19 PM 5: :59 AM 3:16 PM 5: :02 AM 3:14 PM 5: :05 AM 3:11 PM 5: :08 AM 3:09 PM 5: :12 AM 3:06 PM 4: :15 AM 3:04 PM 4: :18 AM 3:02 PM 4:43 24 Hour Max 0.94" 14.6" 18th-19th th 1970 Lowest Mean Temp -10.5º in 1963 Avg Max Temp 10.9º Precipitaiton 0.67" Highest Mean Temp 20.1º in 1979 Avg Min Temp -5.7º Snowfall 13.2" Max Precip 3.32" in 1970 Avg Mean Temp 2.6º Heating Degree Days 1872 Highest Snowfall 54.0" in 1970 Max Snow Depth 42" on 29th 1970 Extremes , Normals NCDC Extremes Exceeded : Min Temperature -54º in 1909

14 Temperature Extremes, ºF Normals, ºF Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Solar :21 AM 2:59 PM 4: :24 AM 2:57 PM 4: :26 AM 2:55 PM 4: :29 AM 2:53 PM 4: :32 AM 2:52 PM 4: :35 AM 2:50 PM 4: :37 AM 2:48 PM 4: :39 AM 2:47 PM 4: :42 AM 2:45 PM 4: :44 AM 2:44 PM 4: :46 AM 2:43 PM 3: :48 AM 2:42 PM 3: :50 AM 2:41 PM 3: :51 AM 2:41 PM 3: :53 AM 2:40 PM 3: :54 AM 2:40 PM 3: :55 AM 2:40 PM 3: :56 AM 2:40 PM 3: :57 AM 2:40 PM 3: :58 AM 2:40 PM 3: :58 AM 2:41 PM 3: :59 AM 2:41 PM 3: :59 AM 2:42 PM 3: :59 AM 2:43 PM 3: :59 AM 2:44 PM 3: :58 AM 2:46 PM 3: :58 AM 2:47 PM 3: :57 AM 2:49 PM 3: :57 AM 2:50 PM 3: :56 AM 2:52 PM 3: :55 AM 2:54 PM 3:59 24 Hour Max 1.25" 14.7" 18-19th th 1968 Lowest Mean Temp -28.1º in 1956 Avg Max Temp 4.8º Precipitaiton 0.64" Highest Mean Temp 7.6º in 1985 Avg Min Temp -12.9º Snowfall 12.1" Max Precip 3.23" in 1984 Avg Mean Temp -4.1º Heating Degree Days 2141 Highest Snowfall 50.7" in 1984 Max Snow Depth 46" on 29th 1990 Extremes , Normals NCDC December