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steve2470

(37,457 posts) Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:21 PM Dec 2012

Weather nerd question about Alaska versus northern Canada

Why does it seem to get colder in interior Alaska than in northern Canada ?

Example:

-49 F at Galbraith Lake, AK

versus:

-34 F at Mary River Camp, Nunavut, Canada.

The Brooks Range ? The presence of too much water near some of northern Canada ?

Thanks.

(see here for reference, full screen mode: http://www.wunderground.com/ )

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Weather nerd question about Alaska versus northern Canada (Original Post) steve2470 Dec 2012 OP

My guess, purely uninformed so pretty worthless. Denninmi Dec 2012 #1

yea there's a -49 F reading in Siberia on the map right now steve2470 Dec 2012 #2

Yep. Same reason it's colder in Montana than Washington Major Nikon Dec 2012 #3

I can't speak about northern Canada, Blue_In_AK Dec 2012 #4

Moderating effect of the jet stream TrogL Dec 2012 #5

There is a difference??? They both sound way too fricking cold to me. madinmaryland Dec 2012 #6

same here brrrr nt steve2470 Dec 2012 #7

Denninmi

(6,581 posts)

1. My guess, purely uninformed so pretty worthless.

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:28 PM

Dec 2012

That it is the mountains, which would deflect or block relatively mild maritime air masses from reaching the interior.

But, I think most of Siberia is flat plains and it gets colder yet.

steve2470

(37,457 posts)

2. yea there's a -49 F reading in Siberia on the map right now

Reply to Denninmi (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:29 PM

Dec 2012

oops spoke too soon, -60 F at Sejmchan, Russia.

I've read your explanation before on a weather site, so kudos to you. It makes perfect sense to me. I guess "some"
heat from the Arctic Ocean is better than "no heat".

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

3. Yep. Same reason it's colder in Montana than Washington

Reply to Denninmi (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:32 PM

Dec 2012

Montana:

MONTH: High / Low
JAN: 29 / 9
FEB: 36 / 15
MARCH: 44 / 22
APRIL: 56 / 31
MAY: 65 / 40
JUNE: 74 / 47
JULY: 83 / 52
AUG: 82 / 51
SEP: 70 / 41
OCT: 58 / 31
NOV: 42 / 21
DEC: 32 / 12

Washington:

MONTH: High / Low
JAN: 44 / 31
FEB: 49 / 33
MARCH: 53 / 33
APRIL: 59 / 36
MAY: 66 / 41
JUNE: 71 / 47
JULY: 77 / 49
AUG: 77 / 49
SEPT: 72 / 45
OCT: 61 / 40
NOV: 50 / 35
DEC: 45 / 33

Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts)

4. I can't speak about northern Canada,

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 09:40 PM

Dec 2012

But I think the north slope of Alaska isn't as cold as the interior because of proximity to the coast? Just a guess. It's what keeps Anchorage relatively mild when Fairbanks is in the deep freeze. Sometimes there is a 100 degree spread in Alaska's temperatures on any given winter day ... mid 40s in Southeast, -55 in the Interior.