Barrow, Alaska: 16 Months Above Normal and Counting

[steve2470]

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/barrow-alaska-16-months-above-normal-and-counting



Above: An aerial image of Barrow (Utqiagvik), Alaska. Barrow is located at a latitude of 71°17’26”, about 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Every month since December 2015 the temperature has averaged above normal here and, in addition, no daily record low has been set for almost 10 years now. As is obvious from the image, the unusual warmth that has occurred in recent years cannot be attributed to the “urban heat-island effect” nor to a climate cycle of some kind, at least for the city’s period of record since 1920. Image credit: Wikipedia.


It was snowing and 10°F today on Tuesday, April 25, in Barrow, Alaska (officially known as Utqiagvik). Hard to believe, but this is close to what the normal temperature should be for this time of year at this frigid outpost on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Nevertheless, this month (April 2017) is on course to close out as the 16 consecutive month with above-average temperatures at the site.

The last time that Barrow experienced a month that averaged below normal (temperature-wise) was December 2015. Here is the list of monthly departures since then:

Barrow Monthly Temperature Departure from Normal, Dec. 2015-April 2017

Apr 2017: +5.0°F (as of April 24)

Mar 2017: +5.3°F (1 daily record high)

Feb 2017: +8.0°F (1 daily record high)

Jan 2017: +13.1°F (3 daily record highs) (highest January temperature on record tied with 36°F on Jan. 1)

Dec 2016: +7.9°F

Nov 2016: +12.6°F

Oct 2016: +12.9°F (5 daily record highs) (warmest October on record) (highest October temperature on record of 44°F on Oct. 10)

Sep 2016: +1.9°F (2 daily record highs)

Aug 2016: +0.8°F

Jul 2016: +2.8°F

Jun 2016: +1.9°F (2 daily record highs)

May 2016: +7.6°F (5 daily record highs)(warmest May on record)

Apr 2016: +8.5°F

Mar 2016: +5.4°F

Feb 2016: +10.1°F

Jan 2016: +13.1°F

Dec 2015: –2.7°F