Fifty below zero in Fairbanks?

[JERSEY MAN]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Well, it happens almost every time you all get a cold spell! Really!

The jet stream dumps warm air into Alaska, and that pushes the cold Siberian air to the north. The air movement around the Arctic is counter-clockwise, and that cold air would normally land in Alaska. But since it's so far north, it ends up in Canada and pushes all that cold continential air out of Canada into the US. It might hit just about out anywhere, but more often than not it is felt from North Dakota on over to Wisconsin more than other places.

Incidentally, one of the very nice attributes of the climate in Barrow is that we don't get none of that above freezing stuff! It makes a big mess in places like the Interior and South Central Alaska. Here, this heat wave has so far brought us +6F temperatures, and some 25-30 mph winds today. That's very easy to live with... :-)

I guess you guys get used to the colder weather. In New Jersey it's supposed to be 6 degrees tomorrow with 20 mph wind and people are panicking. All you hear on the news is be careful you'll freeze to death. The authorities are out looking for the homeless to prevent them from freezing to death. Layers of clothing is my answer.

[mal_flisk]

Currently about 45 here in Anchorage, but the winds off of Hillside last night were HOWLING!

[starlite9]

In Nenana, +47 and blowing wind, melting snow.... Sure beats the -57 or colder for the last few weeks....

That is/has been between 80 to 100 degree temp rise!!!

Like a summer breeze right now!

[blue_eyedgirl]

Its in the lower 30s here on my side of town. Its fabulous!!!!! I actually got to go without a coat today and not only that the sun is shining! Ah, its a good day.

[warptman]

Bethel, Alaska (Airport)
Updated: 2:53 PM AKST on January 15, 2009
Light Rain
33 °F
Light Rain Mist
Windchill: 29 °F
Humidity: 96%
Dew Point: 32 °F
Wind: 5 mph from the NNE
Pressure: 29.18 in (Steady)
Visibility: 0.8 miles
UV: 0 out of 16
Clouds:
Few 400 ft
Overcast 2200 ft
(Above Ground Level)

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Well, it happens almost every time you all get a cold spell! Really!

The jet stream dumps warm air into Alaska, and that pushes the cold Siberian air to the north. The air movement around the Arctic is counter-clockwise, and that cold air would normally land in Alaska. But since it's so far north, it ends up in Canada and pushes all that cold continential air out of Canada into the US. It might hit just about out anywhere, but more often than not it is felt from North Dakota on over to Wisconsin more than other places.

Incidentally, one of the very nice attributes of the climate in Barrow is that we don't get none of that above freezing stuff! It makes a big mess in places like the Interior and South Central Alaska. Here, this heat wave has so far brought us +6F temperatures, and some 25-30 mph winds today. That's very easy to live with... :-)

I would take your 6 degrees in a heartbeat...this January thaw is not pretty...I thing I learned to despise really fast here last spring was the thaw and ice rink effect...Went to stock up today and on the way home, though the roads were dealt with well here) the ice that could not be seen right before our turnoff from the Sterling and was down to 10 mph as no one behind me and hit ice and could not do the turn...needless to say had to back up to be able to turn...Do not like the fast thaw...even in MN never saw slippery ice like in AK...new experience my BP and adrenaline could do without...here is to a slow thaw...

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Bruce 01

I'm a weather-extremes junkie and check worldwide temps every day, thanks to the internet.

So far this season, the NWS lowest official temp in AK was -58 on Dec. 31 and Jan 1 in Chalkyitsik. SOURCE (December's temps are on a previous page.)

I love that chart: -72º, but "Real Feel" is only -- only --- -57º!
I have a pdf somewhere of a summer day in Phoenix like that, it was 119º but "Real Feel" was somewhere around 120º. I swear, with our summer winds here, it's like standing in front of an oven with the broiler on, using a blow dryer on your face. So, Bruce, would we call that 119º with a "Wind Heat" factor of 124º?

Actually, I'm just putting Phoenix summer temps on here in a feeble attempt to warm y'all up through the internet... Sending warm thoughts! Stay warm and stay online. We'll keep you entertained.

[Barkingowl]

The low is going to be 13* here tonight & people are panicking about their pipes bursting.

[Alex2009]

Originally Posted by JERSEY MAN

I guess you guys get used to the colder weather. In New Jersey it's supposed to be 6 degrees tomorrow with 20 mph wind and people are panicking. All you hear on the news is be careful you'll freeze to death. The authorities are out looking for the homeless to prevent them from freezing to death. Layers of clothing is my answer.

So true.

[craywise]

I am attempting to gain info on the average wind speed out north of Fairbanks on the Elliot.
The elevation is 1500'.... so I thought the area might get more than the minimal winds in town.
There is NE exposure... a hill top...
Any idea (even a guess) at the wind there.... it's near Olnes....

I am trying to get the statistics to see if a wind generator would even keep batteries up in the winter...