2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook Revision 3-7-12 - Alaska ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 70 65 60 55 50 55 50 45 40 35 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Percent of Possible Sunshine 2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST Average High Temperatures (Fahrenheit) MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST Average Low Temperature (Fahrenheit) MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST Average Monthly Precipitation (Inches) MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST Skagway Juneau Petersburg Ketchikan Sitka Yakutat Yakutat Skagway Juneau Petersburg Sitka Ketchikan Yakutat Skagway Juneau Petersburg Sitka Ketchikan Yakutat Skagway Juneau Petersburg Sitka Ketchikan DAYS BETWEEN MAY 1 AND SEPTEMBER 1 WHEN: THE DRIEST TIME (no precipitation received during time period starting with date listed) Skagway June 30, 1920 31 days Yakutat June 8, 1959 25 days Ketchikan July 9, 1971 23 days Juneau May 19, 1905 20 days Petersburg May 21, 1958 20 days Sitka May 22, 1958 19 days ALL TIME HIGHEST TEMPERATURES Ketchikan June 25,1913 96 O Skagway July 11, 1900 94 O Juneau July 7, 1975 90 O Sitka August 15, 2004 89 O Yakutat August 15, 2004 88 O Petersburg July 1, 1992 83 O GREATEST RAINFALL IN ONE DAY Sitka September 1, 1967 8.50" Ketchikan August 5, 1920 8.07” Yakutat July 28, 1990 7.12” Petersburg May 3, 1992 5.07” Skagway August 7, 1945 3.68” Juneau August 12, 1961 3.38” NOTE: The data provided is obtained from recorded weather data through 2005. Data collection for Juneau begins in 1890, Skagway in 1898, Sitka in 1900, Ketchikan in 1902, Petersburg in 1940, and Yakutat in 1948. TO OBTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION: Recorded Weather Statewide Menu Within Alaska 800-472-0391 Anchorage 266-5145 Juneau 790-6850 Recorded Marine Forecasts: Cordova (907) 424-3333 Juneau (907) 586-3997 Sitka (907) 747-6011 Wrangell (907) 874-3232 Yakutat (907) 784-3654 National Weather Service Offi ces: Annette/Ketchikan (907) 886-3241 Juneau (907) 790-6800 Yakutat (907) 784-3322 SUMMER CLIMATE GUIDE TO SOUTHEAST ALASKA DATA FOR JUNEAU, KETCHIKAN, PETERSBURG, SITKA, SKAGWAY, AND YAKUTAT Julia Ruthford NOAA/NWS (907) 790-6800 www.pajk.arh.noaa.gov 238
In May of 1965, a total of 15” of snow fell in Yakutat! 2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12 Yakutat Southeast Alaska Summer Weather The archipelago that is Southeast Alaska is part of the world’s largest temperate rain forest. Ocean water and currents affect climate. Because it takes far more energy to change the temperature of water than land or air, water warms up and cools off much more slowly than air. As a result, coastal climates are insulated by nearby water and inland climates are subject to more extreme temperature ranges. Currents of the Gulf of Alaska consistently moderate the climate, allowing lush vegetation to fl ourish at high latitudes. Rainfall is abundant throughout the year, though April, May, and June mark a distinct dry season. The cloud cover and persistent rains of July mark the end of the dry season during a “typical summer” in Southeast. According to some locals, this marks the end of summer, but temperatures can reach 80 O F in August. Heat waves are rare in the Panhandle. Due to persistent cloud cover and the proximity of cool ocean water, 70 O F is considered warm. An average southeast summer can see from 5 to 40 days with temperatures 70 O F or greater, and up to 5 days with highs in the 80s. Our hottest days normally occur in June and July, when the days are longest. Temperatures at night often drop into the 40s. If you are in the mountains, near freezing temperatures are possible, so dressing in layers is important. Thunderstorms, lightning, small hail, waterspouts (weak tornados over water), high elevation snowfall, and small wildfi res—all can occur during summer in Southeast Alaska, but are rare. Juneau averages one thunderstorm every two years. Locations such as Yakutat, Sitka, and Ketchikan average two thunderstorms per year. Lightning is more common over the mountains. The safest time for navigating the waterways of Southeast Alaska is May through July. Gales (34-47 knot winds) are rare due to relatively weak weather fronts. Extreme tidal currents and cold waters usually represent the major hazards to summer mariners. Daily tides can fl uctuate over 20’ in Southeast Alaska and water temperatures generally stay below 60 O F. In August, storm systems tend to get stronger and gales occur more frequently. These storms often move in fast and catch the illprepared by surprise. Even on sunny days, light winds combined with cooler air temperatures over water make jackets a good idea. Whether you are hiking the backcountry or kayaking one of our pristine fjords, monitoring the weather forecast is a must! Skagway Haines During the record hot summer of 2004, Juneau had an incredible 42 days with high temperatures of 70 O F or more! Juneau also experienced a record 7 days with thunderstorms. The windiest summer day (since 1995) in Sitka occurred on August 28, 1999 when wind speeds at the airport averaged 20 knots. Skagway, the driest location in Southeast Alaska, received only 1.78” of rainfall during the entire summer of 1908! Haines temperatures hit a sizzling 98 O on July 31, 1976. Sitka Juneau Little Port Walter Tom Ainsworth NOAA/NWS Art Puustinen NOAA/NWS MOIST PACIFIC AIR + MOUNTAINOUS TOPOGRAPHY Air moving eastward off the ocean into Southeast Alaska is driven up in elevation by the mountains. Mountain tops in the area range from about 3,500 to 6,000 feet. As this air rises, it cools at the rate of about 5-1/2 degrees for every 1,000 feet. The colder the air becomes, the less moisture it is able to retain. This moisture condenses into clouds over ridges. Eventually, this precipitation is “wrung” out over the mountains and falls back to earth as rain, occasionally accompanied by lightning. Petersburg Wrangell Little Port Walter, southern Baranof Island, received 10.34” of rain on August 31, 1955 - highest one-day summer total for Southeast Alaska! The wettest summer for Ketchikan occurred in 2001 when 55.88” of rain fell from May through August. That is 20” inches more than Seattle averages in a year! Ketchikan LOCATIONS CHOSEN This pamphlet contains weather and climate information based on observations in Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, and Yakutat. Weather data from these cities represent the climatic variation across Southeast Alaska caused by its complex geography. Because of the geographical coverage referenced by these sites, as well as the varying terrain, information tallied from those 239cities encompasses the most indicative data for those curious about the summer climate of Southeast Alaska as a whole.
Page 1 and 2:
2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook Revisio
Page 3 and 4:
2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
GENERAL PERMIT NO. 2009DB0026 Page
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
Page 173 and 174:
Page 175 and 176:
Page 177 and 178:
Page 179 and 180:
Page 181 and 182:
Page 183 and 184:
Page 185 and 186:
Page 187 and 188:
Page 189 and 190: 2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12
Page 239: 2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12
Page 243 and 244: 2/25/2012 CPVEC Ocean Ranger Progra
Page 273: 2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12
show all

2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook Revision 3-7-12 - Alaska ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?