Thursday, August 27, 2015

Nation's First Winter Storm Warning of Season Issued Wednesday

August 27, 2015

Winter Storm Warning for northeastern Alaska
The calendar may still say August, but the first winter storm warning was issued Wednesday in the U.S.. and you guessed it – the warning is in far northern Alaska.
There was snow last week in Glacier National Park, but winter storm warnings were not issued. Temperatures dipped into the 30s into much of northern Montana, including Cut Bank, where the low hit 32 degrees Aug. 23.
(MORE: Summer Snow Blankets Mountains of Alberta, Northwest Montana)

Snowfall Forecast

Current Conditions and Radar






























Now, at the end of August, there is a winter storm warning for the northeastern Brooks Range above 2,000 feet in northern Alaska until 6 a.m. local time Friday. Heavy snow will make travel difficult. Snow totals of 4 to 7 inches are expected. About 3 inches has already fallen Wednesday night. The heaviest snow will be in Atigun Pass.
Strong and gusty winds will also accompany the snow with sustained winds up to 35 mph.
(FORECAST: Anaktuvuk Pass | Arctic Village)
This snow is courtesy of ample moisture and an eastward advancing cold front.
According to Stu Ostro, senior director of weather communications at The Weather Channel, this system in Alaska is not directly a part of former Super Typhoon Atsani, but there does appear to be a moisture connection from that area that also includes former Hurricane Loke.
(MORE: 10 Stunning images of Super Typhoon Atsani and Typhoon Goni)
Snow in northern Alaska is not rare in late August. Barrow saw its first measurable snow of the 2015-16 snow season on Aug. 18 when 0.2 inches of snow fell and a trace of snow has been recorded a few time since then. On average, 0.7 inches of snow is observed in August in Barrow.
This current system, however, has brought mild temperatures and rain to Barrow and a daily rainfall record was set Tuesday with 0.55 inches of rain. The high in Barrow on Tuesday reached 52 degrees, 10 degrees above average. It has also been warm in southern Alaska where Cold Bay set a daily record high of 70 degrees Wednesday.
MORE: Montana, Wyoming Snow July 27, 2015 (PHOTOS)

No comments:

Post a Comment