Areas of Alaska Heading Towards -40F and it's only Oct. 26!

[Sean in New Orleans]

I don't recall ever seeing it so cold so early in the season in Alaska...this is profoundly cold weather. Check it out:

FPAK53PAFG_AKZ218
-----------------
AKZ218-261730-
SOUTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE-
INCLUDING...ARCTIC VILLAGE...WISEMAN...COLDFOOT...CHANDALAR
D.O.T. CAMP...INIAKUK LAKE
946 PM AKDT SAT OCT 25 2008

...NEAR RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE TONIGHT...
.TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY AND COLD. LOWS 20 TO 40 BELOW...COLDEST
IN VALLEYS EAST OF THE DALTON HIGHWAY. VARIABLE WINDS LESS THAN
15 MPH.
.SUNDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY AND COLD. HIGHS 10 TO 15 BELOW. VARIABLE
WINDS LESS THAN 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY AND COLD. LOWS 20 TO 40 BELOW.
VARIABLE WINDS LESS THAN 15 MPH.
.MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 10 BELOW. VARIABLE WINDS
LESS THAN 15 MPH.
.MONDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 20 BELOW. VARIABLE
WINDS LESS THAN 15 MPH.
.TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR ZERO.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 15 BELOW.
.WEDNESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR ZERO.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 15 BELOW.
.THURSDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR ZERO.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 10 BELOW.
.FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR ZERO.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 10 BELOW.
.SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR ZERO.

http://pafg.arh.noaa.gov/zonefcst.php?zone=AKZ218

[Kennethb]

from this link, coldest weather is located in the northern part of the continent:

http://www.uni-koeln.de/math-nat-fak/ge ... TTPPWW.gif

Could mean a cold November as we had back in 1991 here in south Louisiana, when that month had an early freeze and several mornings in the 20s, and as I recall, the coldest temps of the season.

[Extremeweatherguy]

I think that this is a good indication that November into December could be quite interesting this year.

[Portastorm]

I think that this is a good indication that November into December could be quite interesting this year.

Well EWG that is definitely what many pro mets are hinting to right now. However, we need to get the jet structure to transport that cold air down to the lower 48. Persistent zonal flow sure won't do it.

Once I see signs in the models of that high plunging down the Canadian prairie states and coming down the eastern slopes of the Rockies ... then, it'll be time to get excited! Come later November, we need to get us a little snowpack up north ... then one of these Arctic airmasses coming south and BOOM! Let the games begin ...

[Sean in New Orleans]

Even going to -45F tonight! It's just totally amazing to see these types of temps in October. For the record, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Alaska was at Prospect Creek, AK on January 23, 1971 when the temperature reached -79.8F.

AKZ218-271730-
SOUTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE-
INCLUDING...ARCTIC VILLAGE...WISEMAN...COLDFOOT...CHANDALAR
D.O.T. CAMP...INIAKUK LAKE
507 PM AKDT SUN OCT 26 2008
.TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY FROM THE DALTON HIGHWAY WEST...MOSTLY
CLEAR TO THE EAST. VERY COLD WITH LOWS 25 TO 45 BELOW...COLDEST
IN VALLEYS EAST OF THE DALTON HIGHWAY. PATCHY ICE FOG. VARIABLE
WINDS LESS THAN 15 MPH.