The Aurora So Far This Year!

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by warptman

It's been a cloudy and stormy winter here in Bethel and the west coast. When it's finally clear, no activity.

It has been the same around Fairbanks and much of the interior. The heavy snow caused power outages, and while we "maybe" get a day or so with clear skies (today), the forecast is for more clouds and snow next week. At least it warmed a little, so it's quite pleasant out there.

[RayinAK]

It was nice and sunny yesterday, so I prepared my cameras for taking photos of the Auroras. Then the clouds started moving in early in the evening, and by 10:00PM it was mostly cloudy. This morning it's snowing

[warptman]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

It was nice and sunny yesterday, so I prepared my cameras for taking photos of the Auroras. Then the clouds started moving in early in the evening, and by 10:00PM it was mostly cloudy. This morning it's snowing

Clouded up today and it's very warm, 38 above now and we're expecting rain first half of the week.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by warptman

Clouded up today and it's very warm, 38 above now and we're expecting rain first half of the week.

We went through a cold spell over a week ago, somewhere in the -20-30s, then it warmed up to the +20s and started snowing. The cloud cover hasn't made it possible to take photos of the Auroras. At this time of the year lots of Japanese tourists hang around here hoping to see the Auroras. I have seen a few of the big tour buses already, but I have no idea if they have been able to see anything recently. They do travel across the interior looking for clear spots, so maybe they have had good luck.

The forecast looks like this:
National Weather Service

Today
A 30 percent chance of snow after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 27. East wind around 5 mph.

Tonight
Snow. Areas of freezing fog between midnight and 3am. Low around 18. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Washington's Birthday
A 50 percent chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Monday Night
A chance of snow and freezing rain, mainly after 3am. Areas of freezing fog after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday
Snow likely, mainly before 3pm. Areas of freezing fog before 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 30. West wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night
A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Wednesday
A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26.

Wednesday Night
A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.

[ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?]

Good to see you guys back and posting about the Aurora. Even if you don't wind up posting pic's, it's an interesting read of the trials and tribulations one must endure to witness and photograph the Aurora.

I can just picture you all having to dodge the Japanese tourists and buses...LOL

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?

Good to see you guys back and posting about the Aurora. Even if you don't wind up posting pic's, it's an interesting read of the trials and tribulations one must endure to witness and photograph the Aurora.

I can just picture you all having to dodge the Japanese tourists and buses...LOL

It's not too bad, but since Alaska is so large there are remote locations where there won't be any tour buses loaded with tourists. This happens primarily in Fairbanks and vicinity, and specific locations. I just find spots away from the areas where the tourists are.

But again, we have another winter storm moving in by tomorrow (Wednesday), with heavy snow and strong winds. Most of Alaska is going through this as you can see in the NWS map of Fairbanks and the interior:
Fairbanks, AK

[Rance]

It's been pretty sad winter for my aurora shooting. It's either cloudy, no activity, or I'm stuck working and don't get to see them or shoot them. Still a couple months to go so I'm hoping for at least one good show before we lose dark nights.