December Weather, Updated...

According to the NWS, December 2019 was cooler and drier than normal in the Fairbanks area. The average temperature was -5.3 degrees F, which was 1.3 degrees lower than the normal temperature of 4.0 below. The highest temperature was 31 degrees above, which occurred on the 9th. The lowest temperature was 40 below which occurred on the 27th and is the coldest temperature recorded at the Fairbanks Airport this winter.

6.9 inches of snow fell at the Fairbanks Airport, which is 5.1 inches below the normal monthly snowfall of 12 inches. The total water equivalent from this snowfall was 0.38 inches. The heaviest daily snowfall was 2.0 inches and occurred on the 2nd.

The Alaska Climate Center has yet to publish their comprehensive summary chart for Dec. This is the USGS monthly data from the Little Chena River station, just down the road from our place.

Update: Alaska experienced its warmest year on record, according to NWS's 2019  climate report. Alaska had a statewide average temperature of 32.2 degrees (0.11 Celsius). That was 6.2 degrees (4.4 Celsius) above the long-term average. According to NOAA, four of the last six years in Alaska have been record warm years. Ten cities, including Fairbanks, experienced their warmest years ever. Alaska set the record despite a December where most temperatures were below average,

Finally, the climate center posted their December summary graph. Better late than never!

Updated the selfie at -30. More manly mug shot and now you can see the ice in the beard, even with the white hair! January has continued the trend to colder weather and we've not been above zero this month. Hopefully things will warm up soon.