October snow in Fairbanks almost doubles the seasonal average for this time of year
On October 22, 2023, Fairbanks, Alaska experienced a notable increase in snowfall, with the National Weather Service (NWS) Fairbanks office recording 8.9 cm (3.5 inches) of snow on that day alone. The snow depth in the region has reached 22.9 cm (9 inches), pushing the seasonal total to a remarkable 36.3 cm (14.3 inches), which is nearly double the usual amount for this time of year.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Fairbanks, reported a significant snowfall event on October 22, 2023, with 8.9 cm (3.5 inches) of snow recorded in a single day. This unusual snowfall event has pushed the seasonal snow accumulation to 36.3 cm (14.3 inches), which is nearly double the average snowfall expected around this time of the season in Fairbanks. Following this event, the snow depth in the area is now 22.9 cm (9 inches). NWS Fairbanks also projected an additional snowfall of 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) on the night of October 23.
🎶 Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland🎶
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) October 23, 2023
We picked up 3.5" of snow yesterday 10/22 with an additional 0.5" expected in Fairbanks tonight.
Our snow depth currently is 9" and our season total is 15.4" which is nearly double our normal value by this time in the season🌨️☃️#akwx #snowy pic.twitter.com/jImYknE4QZ
The unseasonal accumulation of snow is not a regular occurrence in Fairbanks. Typically, by late October, the region experiences a total snowfall of around half the current recorded amount. This unexpected surge in snowfall could pose challenges to local authorities and residents, especially if such weather patterns continue. However, it’s important to note that this data is merely observational and does not indicate a long-term trend or change in climatic patterns.
As winter sets in, the community and local authorities in Fairbanks are advised to stay prepared for any further unusual weather occurrences.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Weather Advisory on October 19, set to last until the evening hours of Monday, October 23. Following this, the NWS office in Fairbanks escalated the warning to a Blizzard Warning for the eastern Beaufort Sea Coast, encompassing Point Thompson and Kaktovik, effective from the morning of Friday.
This warning marks the season’s first Blizzard Warning in the US. It follows an 182-day hiatus since the last Blizzard Warning, which was declared in eastern Montana, thereby ending the national pause.
References:
1 Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland – NWS Fairbanks – October 23, 2023
Featured image credit: NWS Fairbanks
I live in Fairbanks Alaska and this is not true. We got three inches which is very normal for this time of year. We have not had 14 inches of snow. What we have is not at all unusual for us. It didn’t even stop construction projects that are going on in our area or shut roads or keep people from doing their normal routines.
NWS said ‘season total’