If you're in Anchorage, you are experiencing some crazy winter weather patterns! With records breaking all over the place, the weather in this city has been head-scratching. Warm temperatures and lots of snowfall have the city wondering what's happening next!
Anchorage has been experiencing above-average temperatures this entire year.
The previous summer broke records daily during July of 2019. As the city headed into winter, the warm weather continued!
Even during autumn, Anchorage smashed record high temperatures.
October 28th registered in at a balmy 54 degrees, which is 20 degrees higher than the average historical temperature for that day! A surge of subtropical wind and air, called a "Pineapple Express," warmed up much of southern Alaska on that day.
In fact, for the entire year of 2019, there have been 28 days where the high temperature has either tied or broken previous records.
It is the second warmest year on record for Anchorage. Their last record breaking year was in 2016, and the entire state is seeing progressively warmer average temperatures.
Saturday, November 16th saw a daily high temperature record of 45 degrees, recorded at a very early 3:00 a.m.
Snow began to fall later in the afternoon, reaching 8.3 inches. That broke the previous record of snowfall on that day from 1958.
Eagle River got the brunt of the snowstorm, with over 12 inches falling all day.
A record breaking high temperature day and snowfall record on the same day isn't that rare in Alaska, however. Fairbanks has seen this phenomenon happen twice!
The snow from the Saturday, November 16th snowfall didn't last very long.
In fact, Anchorage was hit with warmer temperatures, and the snow in the surrounding areas melted away. This was followed by a giant windstorm right after Thanksgiving, toppling trees in the Anchorage municipality and blowing away anything not fastened down.
We may even see some more record breaking highs before the end of the year!
It will be an interesting December to watch. Be aware that warmer temperatures and great snowfall may make for good avalanche conditions, so always practice winter backcountry safety if you're hiking in the areas experience these temperatures!
What do you think of Anchorage's winter weather patterns? Have you seen crazy weather like this before? Let us know in the comments below!
If you're in town celebrating the holidays, read more about why One Of The Best Places To Celebrate Christmas Is Anchorage, Alaska’s City of Lights!
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