May Weather Trends in Alaska: A Cooler Month with Mixed Precipitation
May brought a cooler climate to Alaska, as analyzed by the Alaska Climate Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Although monthly mean temperatures were only marginally below normal, the shift was noticeable enough to spark conversation among residents. Of the 19 monitoring stations surveyed, most reported temperatures ranging from two-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit to 2.4 degrees below normal. Notably, Homer, McGrath, and Nome were the exceptions, reporting warmer-than-average conditions.
Lea Hartl of the Alaska Climate Research Center noted, “Neither the cool nor the warm anomalies were very large this month, but it was quite consistently a bit cooler than average.” In Fairbanks, roughly three-quarters of the month was cooler than the 1991-2020 climate normal, with the few warm days not straying far above average.
Center Director Martin Stuefer highlighted that cooler conditions on the North Slope delayed snowmelt, with some areas north of the Brooks Range still snow-covered in early June. “There is some concern about flash flooding,” he stated, warning that rapid warming could lead to a swift snowmelt.
Other notable May developments included:
- Fairbanks did not record its first day of temperatures reaching 70 degrees, a rarity for the month.
- Precipitation showed varied patterns: drier conditions in the north and northwest versus above-average rainfall in the south and southeast.
- Flood advisories were issued for the Kuskokwim River due to an ice jam, although flooding remained minimal.
As Alaskans continue to adapt to these evolving weather patterns, insights from the Alaska Climate Research Center underscore the ongoing dialogue around climate variability in the region.
Source
Photo credit www.gi.alaska.edu
