Why, why, why is it so warm?

After a fairly seasonable winter through the end of 2009 in Southeast Alaska, 2010 soon broke into what many old-timers call a “January thaw” that seems to want to be known as a “January-February thaw.” Ketchikan has been warm and wet, double the precipitation but ZERO snowfall in January. Juneau has had about 50 inches […]

Why is it so warm? (why #2)

Let’s look at the next level — Why does Southeast Alaska get these warm spells and what’s causing this one? The answer to this question is pretty straightforward, but still interesting. Low pressure systems that track north or northeastward off the coast of the panhandle enhance the warming influence of the Pacific Ocean by pumping […]

Diurnal temperature patterns in winter

The high temperature for the day comes in the afternoon and the low in the wee hours of the morning, right? You can probably guess that with such a leading question and the fact that we are talking about Alaska (where “we don’t care how they do it in the Lower 48”) means I am […]

Taku Wind

The Taku Blows I’m in Juneau for the Alaska Math and Science Conference and enjoying the sun and the beautiful blue sky. Blue sky does not necessarily equate to “fair” weather here. The Taku winds were blowing yesterday (10/13) and probably still are, though weakening. The photo above looks east across the Channel at Downtown. […]