Blog: Dermot Cole
50 below in the forecast
Published Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Looking for an escape from 50 below? You could try Mexico or Hawaii.
Or you could go to higher ground.
Granted, it's not exactly beach weather on Ester Dome, but it could be 35 degrees warmer than on the surface of the Chena.
The prospect for a similar gain is what leads millions to flee the Northeastern U.S. for the Sunny South in winter.
Locally, the National Weather Service predicts low temperatures of 15 below to 50 below tonight, with the coldest temperatures on the valley floor. For Wednesday, the highs are expected to be 10 below to 40 below.
Just think of what would have happened had Fairbanks been founded in a spot where the winter temperatures were warmer and where floods were not a constant threat.
Of course, the founders of Fairbanks arrived by water, relied on the rivers and realized that overland travel was no easy matter, so they really had no choice.
But I digress.
Record cold is not in the forecast, but the duration of the cold snap could create problems with mechanical equipment. Forty below is not just the number at which the temperature scales match. It also marks a dividing point, below which certain temperate zone objects refuse to function.
The longer this lasts, the greater the chance that poorly insulated pipes will freeze and that cars will decide to hibernate.
"It appears increasingly likely that an even colder airmass will progress west out of the Yukon and across the Interior Thursday and Friday," the weather service said Monday.
"This will likely send temperatures down to as cold as 60 to 70 below in a few of the normally cold spots in the eastern Interior valleys."
"In urban Fairbanks, temperatures may get as cold as 50 below in town by late in the week and 50 to 60 below in the rural valleys."
Even in the hills, the temperatures are likely to drop into the 30-below zone by late in the week.
If there is no wind, look for ice fog to develop. It's been a while since we've had bad ice fog. It's important for drivers to slow down and realize that some intersections will have close to zero visibility.
The weather service says that late next week the temperatures may start the long climb toward zero.
It's interesting that the weather service says temperatures "may start the long climb towards zero." Typically these cold snaps end quickly and as soon as clouds roll in (indicating the low pressure system that pushes the cold away), the temperatures usually make a dramatic rise (30-50 degrees overnight). Based on past history here, I doubt the end will be a long climb to warmth. Either way, I just hope it ends sooner rather than later.
Just think how cold it might be without Global Warming.
Oh, I forgot it really hasn't warmed much if any in the last five years.
once again, climate is not related to temperature. the weather might be colder but that doesn't change the fact that, as a whole, the earth is warmer.
After a week of -40 to -50 a rise to -20 feels like summer almost and when you tell that to outsiders they think your nuts.
Thanks Dermot for the update,
The warmest New Years Day I had in Ak must have been in 81 or 82 in Delta. I partially remember drinking wine and playing a great game of chess. And then I rode my snow machine back home!
Tonight the family and I watched Ice Age on the new home theater. Somehow the title felt appropriate.
A Very Happy New Year Fairbanks!!! Stay WARM
SP
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