Take a look at this image shot on a remote camera operated by SRI International under
a grant from the National Science Foundation in northern Alaska's western Brooks
Range! That's snow in the photo shown covering the ground this past Monday (July 21)
this week. It was called to our attention by Mark Vogan who was forwarded the image
by Fairbanks, Alaska National Weather Service Lead Forecaster Rick Thoman. Rick
shares this assessment of the snowfall pictured here:
Photo courtesy of SRI International and the National Science Foundation
"Looks like we've made the transition to late summer here, with cooler temps and more
clouds and stratiform rain. Cold pool of air over NW Alaska has produced some snow in
the western Brooks Range. Attached is a pix from this (Monday) morning at Ivotuk
(elevation about 1,8000 feet MSL."
"Accumulating snow at 1,800' elevation on the north side of the Brooks Range in July is
not especially unusual; it does not happen every July, but is by no means unheard of.
There are of course no long term climate sites in the this part of the world; Ivotuk is
100 miles (or so) from the nearest community."
Thanks Rick and Mark!
One note: Subsequent pictures from the site indicate the snow has melted. It's a little
early to keep snow on the ground even at this elevation and latitude.
Photo courtesy of SRI International and the National Science Foundation
Rick points out summer has returned for the time being at the same location. Above is
Friday's image from the same location.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
