Fairbanks, Alaska A Climate Almanac

Fairbanks, Alaska A Climate Almanac

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 +!? !#N, longitude "!)? (&W. Times have been rounded to the minute.

compiled by Rick Thoman, September &$""

Fairbanks, Alaska

January

Date 1 2 3 4 5

Temperature Extremes, ?F Max Year Min Year

41 1937 -60 1969 41 2011 -61 1969 29 1968 -57 1969 40 1977 -56 1975 33 1960 -57 1975

Normals, ?F Precip & Snow Extremes, inches

Solar 2012

Max Min Precip Year Snow Year Sunrise Sunset Duration

2 -16 0.40 1950 4.5 1950 10:54 AM 2:55 PM 4:00

2 -16 0.17 1950 6.0 1961 10:53 AM 2:57 PM 4:04

2 -16 0.22 1950 5.8 1973 10:52 AM 2:59 PM 4:07

2 -16 0.32 2005 6.0 1938 10:50 AM 3:02 PM 4:11

1 -16 0.27 1980 4.2 2005 10:49 AM 3:04 PM 4:15

6

34 1934 -57 1975

1 -17 0.29 1993 5.8 1993 10:47 AM 3:07 PM 4:20

7

33 1944 -55 1975

1 -17 0.28 1951 4.2 1989 10:45 AM 3:10 PM 4:24

8

40 1930 -53 1952

1 -17 0.38 1960 6.0 1960 10:43 AM 3:13 PM 4:29

9

40 1937 -56 1952

1 -17 0.37 1947 7.3 1935 10:41 AM 3:15 PM 4:34

10

40 1937 -56 1952

1 -17 0.31 1937 3.6 1960 10:39 AM 3:18 PM 4:39

11

37 1940 -53 1934

1 -17 1.01 1937 9.6 1940 10:37 AM 3:21 PM 4:44

12

39 1984 -56 1934

0 -17 0.40 1963 5.6 1963 10:34 AM 3:25 PM 4:50

13

33 1984 -65 1934

0 -17 0.75 1993 10.1 1993 10:32 AM 3:28 PM 4:55

14

44 2009 -66 1934

0 -18 0.21 2005 3.4 1937 10:30 AM 3:31 PM 5:01

15

50 1981 -64 1934

0 -18 0.16 1937 4.8 1954 10:27 AM 3:34 PM 5:06

16

52 2009 -58 1934

0 -18 0.32 1933 3.7 1933 10:25 AM 3:37 PM 5:12

17

48 2009 -57 1947

0 -18 0.33 2000 4.0 2008 10:22 AM 3:41 PM 5:18

18

38 1965 -60 1971

0 -18 0.87 1937 8.6 2000 10:19 AM 3:44 PM 5:24

19

42 1981 -60 1971

0 -18 1.01 1937 15.5 1937 10:17 AM 3:47 PM 5:30

20

45 1961 -56 1934

0 -18 1.33 1937 10.5 1937 10:14 AM 3:51 PM 5:37

21

47 1961 -60 1934

1 -17 0.37 1933 8.2 1933 10:11 AM 3:54 PM 5:43

22

37 1962 -55 1934

1 -17 0.30 1963 4.1 1963 10:08 AM 3:58 PM 5:49

23

39 1981 -55 1971

1 -17 0.39 1950 6.8 1950 10:05 AM 4:01 PM 5:55

24

46 1977 -58 1971

1 -17 0.27 1937 3.0 1937 10:02 AM 4:05 PM 6:02

25

45 1991 -59 1934

1 -17 0.29 1968 4.2 1968 9:59 AM 4:08 PM 6:08

26

39 1948 -60 1934

2

27

39 1945 -58 1933

2

28

42 1945 -60 1933

2

29

35 1931 -58 1933

2

30

38 1985 -56 1947

3

31

42 1940 -51 1947

3

24 Hour Max

---Monthly Extremes---

Lowest Mean Temp -31.7? in 1971

Highest Mean Temp 18.1? in 1981

Max Precip

6.71" in 1937

Highest Snowfall

65.6" in 1937

Max Snow Depth

62" on 20th 1937

-17 0.56 1968 9.4 1968 9:56 AM 4:12 PM

-17 0.42 1975 8.2 1975 9:53 AM 4:15 PM

-17 0.51 1991 8.3 1991 9:50 AM 4:19 PM

-16 0.23 1934 4.0 1973 9:47 AM 4:22 PM

-16 0.34 1979 5.5 1979 9:44 AM 4:26 PM

-16 0.48 1932 5.9 1932 9:41 AM 4:29 PM

1.84"

15.5"

19-20th 1937 19th 1937

---Monthly Normals---

Avg Max Temp 1.1? Precipitaiton

Avg Min Temp -16.9? Snowfall

Avg Mean Temp -7.9? Heating Degree Days

6:15 6:21 6:28 6:35 6:41 6:48

0.58" 10.3" 2260

Extremes 1930-2011, Normals NCDC 1981-2010

Fairbanks, Alaska

February

Date 1 2 3 4 5

Temperature Extremes, ?F Max Year Min Year

43 1940 -54 1947 43 1981 -58 1993 39 1941 -58 1947 42 1941 -56 1947 39 1954 -56 1947

Normals, ?F Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Max Min Precip Year Snow Year

3 -16 0.41 1977 9.5 1977 4 -16 0.27 1977 7.3 1977 4 -15 0.77 1932 7.1 1932 5 -15 0.38 1984 6.7 1984 5 -15 0.31 1931 2.4 1932

Solar 2012 Sunrise Sunset Duration 9:37 AM 4:33 PM 6:55 9:34 AM 4:36 PM 7:01 9:31 AM 4:40 PM 7:08 9:28 AM 4:43 PM 7:15 9:24 AM 4:47 PM 7:22

6

40 1935 -52 1953

6 -15 0.22 1957 2.9 1957 9:21 AM 4:50 PM 7:28

7

37 1964 -51 1979

6 -14 0.20 1959 4.6 1945 9:18 AM 4:53 PM 7:35

8

39 1986 -50 1979

7 -14 0.17 1956 2.8 1956 9:14 AM 4:57 PM 7:42

9

39 1980 -50 1936

7 -14 0.21 1935 6.9 1962 9:11 AM 5:00 PM 7:49

10

44 2004 -52 1932

8 -14 0.33 1996 6.4 1996 9:08 AM 5:04 PM 7:56

11

46 2004 -53 1932

8 -14 0.86 1966 16.0 1966 9:04 AM 5:07 PM 8:02

12

44 1942 -53 1932

9 -13 0.41 1949 10.9 1966 9:01 AM 5:11 PM 8:09

13

41 1942 -52 1950

9 -13 0.31 1966 7.7 1966 8:57 AM 5:14 PM 8:16

14 38 1942 -50 1950 10 -13 0.28 1944 3.5 1944 8:54 AM 5:17 PM 8:23

15 44 1941 -50 1950 10 -13 0.18 1966 3.9 1966 8:51 AM 5:21 PM 8:30

16 44 1947 -45 1965 11 -12 0.39 1932 3.9 1932 8:47 AM 5:24 PM 8:37 17 37 1941 -49 1965 11 -12 0.11 1996 3.0 1996 8:44 AM 5:28 PM 8:43 18 39 1943 -50 1937 12 -12 0.56 1996 11.3 1996 8:40 AM 5:31 PM 8:50 19 42 2006 -50 1956 12 -12 0.21 1962 3.0 1962 8:37 AM 5:34 PM 8:57 20 41 2008 -51 1932 13 -12 0.31 1944 6.7 2011 8:33 AM 5:37 PM 9:04

21 41 1977 -54 1932 13 -11 0.62 2011 11.9 2011 8:30 AM 5:41 PM 9:11 22 46 1997 -50 1932 14 -11 0.24 1960 4.2 1956 8:26 AM 5:44 PM 9:17 23 48 1945 -50 1932 15 -11 0.07 1956 2.5 1968 8:23 AM 5:47 PM 9:24 24 50 1943 -52 1932 15 -11 0.12 2008 2.6 2008 8:19 AM 5:51 PM 9:31 25 44 1943 -51 1932 16 -10 0.40 1989 5.0 2011 8:16 AM 5:54 PM 9:38

26 42 1975 -53 1932 16 27 42 1968 -51 1932 17 28 45 1938 -51 1932 17 29 40 1988 -43 1932 17 24 Hour Max

---Monthly Extremes---

Lowest Mean Temp -25.3? in 1979

Highest Mean Temp 15.9? in 1980

Max Precip

2.10" in 1944

Highest Snowfall

43.1" in 1966

Max Snow Depth

57" on 11th 1937

-10 0.24 2006 4.3 2006 8:12 AM 5:57 PM

-10 0.20 1997 8.6 1938 8:08 AM 6:00 PM

-10 0.24 1951 6.5 2009 8:05 AM 6:04 PM

-10 0.16 1944 1.9 1944 8:01 AM 6:07 PM

0.97"

20.1"

11-12th 1966 11-12th 1966

---Monthly Normals---

Avg Max Temp 10.0" Precipitaiton

Avg Min Temp -12.7? Snowfall

Avg Mean Temp -1.3? Heating Degree Days

9:45 9:51 9:58 10:05

0.42" 8.1" 1858

Extremes 1930-2011, Normals NCDC 1981-2010

Fairbanks, Alaska

March

Date 1 2 3 4 5

Temperature Extremes, ?F Max Year Min Year

53 1938 -49 1956 50 1938 -46 1956 46 1957 -44 1956 44 1957 -41 1951 44 1984 -45 1956

Normals, ?F Precip & Snow Extremes, inches Max Min Precip Year Snow Year

18 -9 0.20 1971 4.7 1971 18 -9 0.17 1934 4.8 1934 19 -9 0.17 1945 1.9 1945 19 -9 0.30 1950 3.1 1950 20 -8 0.69 2009 9.0 2009

Solar 2012 Sunrise Sunset Duration 7:58 AM 6:10 PM 10:12 7:54 AM 6:13 PM 10:18 7:51 AM 6:16 PM 10:25 7:47 AM 6:19 PM 10:32 7:43 AM 6:23 PM 10:39

6 44 1941 -40 1956 20 -8 0.24 1985 3.5 1943 7:40 AM 6:26 PM 10:46 7 46 2008 -38 1956 21 -8 0.15 1967 2.7 1932 7:36 AM 6:29 PM 10:52 8 48 1949 -45 1956 21 -7 0.22 1962 4.3 1962 7:33 AM 6:32 PM 10:59 9 50 1949 -39 1956 22 -7 0.12 1943 2.1 1973 7:29 AM 6:35 PM 11:06 10 50 1992 -41 1930 22 -6 0.31 1963 4.4 1943 7:25 AM 6:38 PM 11:12

11 47 1970 -41 1930 23 -6 0.09 1967 3.5 1935 8:22 AM 7:41 PM 11:19 12 42 1981 -35 1959 23 -6 0.13 1941 2.2 1941 8:18 AM 7:44 PM 11:26 13 46 1947 -38 1966 24 -5 0.17 1930 3.3 1996 8:14 AM 7:48 PM 11:33 14 44 1981 -43 1964 24 -5 0.27 1943 4.8 1930 8:11 AM 7:51 PM 11:39 15 45 1933 -46 1964 25 -4 0.21 1952 2.1 1952 8:07 AM 7:54 PM 11:46

16 46 1937 -40 1959 25 -3 0.14 1960 3.1 1960 8:03 AM 7:57 PM 11:53 17 46 1981 -41 1964 26 -3 0.50 1935 6.8 1935 8:00 AM 8:00 PM 12:00 18 50 1981 -44 1930 26 -2 0.12 1942 1.3 1976 7:56 AM 8:03 PM 12:06 19 51 1947 -32 1959 27 -2 0.21 1935 2.2 1966 7:53 AM 8:06 PM 12:13 20 55 1998 -37 1959 27 -1 0.34 1954 3.6 1935 7:49 AM 8:09 PM 12:20

21

51 1998 -31 1959 28

0 0.22 1967 4.9 1967 7:45 AM 8:12 PM 12:26

22

48 1987 -30 1995 29

0 0.66 1935 9.7 1935 7:42 AM 8:15 PM 12:33

23

50 1998 -35 1995 29

1 0.50 1991 9.5 1991 7:38 AM 8:18 PM 12:40

24

50 1998 -38 1935 30

2 0.34 1963 4.6 1963 7:34 AM 8:21 PM 12:47

25

50 1999 -39 1935 30

3 0.97 1991 12.6 1963 7:31 AM 8:24 PM 12:53

26 48 1970 -30 1935 31 27 53 1940 -34 1938 31 28 55 1939 -31 1963 32 29 55 1994 -33 1944 33 30 52 1993 -40 1944 33 31 56 1994 -28 1944 34 24 Hour Max

---Monthly Extremes---

Lowest Mean Temp -6.6? in 1959

Highest Mean Temp 27.1? in 1981

Max Precip

2.24" in 1991

Highest Snowfall

30.4" in 1991

Max Snow Depth

56" on 25th 1991

3 0.18 1986 2.0 1953 7:27 AM 8:28 PM

4 0.33 2001 4.9 2001 7:23 AM 8:31 PM

5 0.18 1948 2.1 1948 7:20 AM 8:34 PM

6 0.12 1965 2.1 2005 7:16 AM 8:37 PM

7 0.40 1967 5.8 1967 7:12 AM 8:40 PM

8 0.21 1967 2.4 1967 7:09 AM 8:43 PM

1.17"

12.6"

24-25th 1991 25th 1963

---Monthly Normals---

Avg Max Temp 25.4? Precipitaiton

Avg Min Temp -2.5? Snowfall

Avg Mean Temp 11.4? Heating Degree Days

13:00 13:07 13:14 13:20 13:27 13:34

0.25" 4.9" 1660

Extremes 1930-2011, Normals NCDC 1981-2010 Extremes Exceeded 1905-1929: Min Temperature -56? in 1911. Monthly Precip 3.72" and Snowfall 33.1" in 1921

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