Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Denali, Alaska

2008-12-27 to 2008-12-31 · Denali, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A significant cold snap developed across interior Alaska on December 27th and continued into January. A cold upper level low across Siberia moved into northern Alaska on December 26th, and remained in place through the end of the month. Although no new temperature records were established, it brought the first widespread significant cold to interior Alaska. Temperatures at the Fairbanks International Airport dropped to 40 below on the 28th, and reached a low of 43 degrees on the 31st. The cold temperatures produced significant ice fog in Fairbanks, and the visibilities were frequently reduced to 1/4 mile or less in Fairbanks on New Year's Eve. The coldest temperatures were observed on the Yukon Flats, where temperatures dropped into the 50s below on New Year's Eve.

Here are some of the coldest temperatures that were observed through December 31st:

Zone 218:

Arctic Village: 49 below

Zone 219:

Bettles: 45 below

Zone 220:

Chalkyitsik: 58 below

Beaver Creek: 57 below

Circle Hot Springs: 55 below

Fort Yukon: 54 below

Central: 50 below

Zone 221:

Nenana: 44 below

Zone 222:

North Pole KJNP: 55 below

Fairbanks International Airport: 43 below

Zone 223:

Delta Junction: 44 below

Zone 224:

O'Brien Creek: 57 below

Tok: 52 below

Chicken: 52 below

Eagle: 50 below

Northway: 49 below

Zone 225:

Denali Park HQ: 34 below

Zone 226:

Dry Creek: 50 below

Chisana: 47 below

All of these low temperatures were observed on either December 30th or the 31st.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 141929. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.