Alaska Drops to -65 Degrees Friday
The temperature dropped to a bone-chilling cold level of 65 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) Friday across central Alaska. According to the National Weather Service office in Fairbanks, this was the coldest official temperature observed in the state since January 2012!
The NWS cooperative weather observer 15 mi northeast of Manley Hot Springs reported a low temperature of 65 degrees below zero this morning! This is the coldest official temperature in Alaska since Jan 2012, when a NWS observer in Ft. Yukon observed 66 degrees below zero. #AKWx pic.twitter.com/B0ChoKuODC
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) December 27, 2019
NWS Fairbanks shared a couple of interesting tidbits about the cold, as seen from space.
This infrared satellite image from late this morning has been enhanced to highlight the coldest temperatures. Areas highlighted in blue are colder than 40 below zero. Pink areas are the coldest valley locations with temperatures in the 60's below zero. #akwx pic.twitter.com/UBZYzn5Q71
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) December 27, 2019
This time of the year doesn’t provide much sunshine at all in this part of the world. In fact, take a look at where the sun was at noon Friday in Fairbanks.
Skies are clearing in Fairbanks and temps will fall to 30 to 40 below through the afternoon. This photo was taken at Noon from the NWS Fairbanks office. Ice fog is starting to develop over town. The coldest temps in the -50's and -60's will stay north of west of Fairbanks. #AKWx pic.twitter.com/9QlHSiGPCi
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) December 27, 2019
Sitting very far north in latitude, much of Alaska doesn’t see the sun at all this time of the year due to Earth’s tilt away from the sun. As a result, temperatures have fallen quite far. It will remain well below zero this weekend in Alaska, but an incoming storm early this week will bring warmth and snow to the region.
You may be wondering, ‘Will any of this Alaskan cold make it down to the Lower 48 soon?’ The short answer is maybe. It appears New Year’s Day will be mild in the eastern U.S. however deeper into January may start to get cold across the western U.S.
