Ask a Climatologist: Remembering the record breaking July snow (2024)
When it comes to weather in Alaska, anything is possible — including snow in July.
According to Brian Brettschneider with our Ask a Climatologist segment, Alaska holds the North American record for most snow on a single day in July. Back in 1970 on July 19, it snowed 9.7 inches at the Summit weather station just south of Cantwell on the Parks Highway.
Brettschneider said 16 stations in Alaska have recorded snow in July.
Brian:To get snow in July, a lot of things have to come together, but it’s most likely to occur north of the Brooks Range. So Barrow, Utqiagvik, has recorded snow a number of days.To the west of there, Wainwright, Cape Lisburne, and east toward Kaktovik or Barter Island, also (have recorded) a number of snow days. Once you get south of the Brooks Range, the snow observations are all going to be at higher elevations. So places above 2,000 feet, so still uncommon, but not unheard of.
Annie:And what hasto come together for it to snow in July?
Brian:Usually it’s going to be associated with an upper level low pressure system— the big L’s on the map. Not necessarily one of those Gulf of Alaska storms that’s moving in.It’s going to be something that’s packing its own cold air punch at several thousand feet up. And then when you get heavy precipitation, it can actually drag that cold air down, so often you see, it will be maybe 35 or 40 degrees and rain but as the precipitation intensity increases it will drag that cold air down and transition to snow. So it’s an uncommon event, but not unheard of.
Brian:Generally July snow events are light snow events. But there are a couple of instances where there have been greater than six inches. So back in 1976, up at Cape Lisburne, they had 7.2 inches of snow on July 4. And then at the Summit weather service office in July 1970, they had 9.7 inches on July 19. That’s not only an Alaska and United States record, that appears to be a North American record. In fact it’s so unusual that it’s been flagged by the National Center for Environmental Information as an outlier — that it’s probably bad data. But there was actually a weather service staffed person there to record it, so it almost certainly did actually occur.
July snow would be an extremely rare event, and has not likely occurred in the last 300 years. Snow probably has never occurred between June 20 and August 20 since the USA took over the region in 1815."
So back in 1976, up at Cape Lisburne, they had 7.2 inches of snow on July 4. And then at the Summit weather service office in July 1970, they had 9.7 inches on July 19. That's not only an Alaska and United States record, that appears to be a North American record.
Which U.S. State Has Gotten the Most Snow in One Day? The U.S. state that had the largest recorded snowfall was Colorado, where 63 inches of snow fell more than a century ago on Dec. 4, 1913, at the Georgetown weather station. That's nearly twice the average snowfall in Colorado for the entire winter season!
As the particle cloud blew its way around the globe it reflected sunlight, causing a meteorological phenomenon to which we now refer as the “year without a summer.” From May to August of 1816, weather across the globe was unseasonably cold. It regularly snowed in New England and London was pelted with hail.
It has snowed in Minnesota during every month with the exception of July, and the state averages 110 days per year with snow cover of an inch (2.5 cm) or greater.
Are there any states where it has never snowed? Each of the 50 states have reported snowfall at some point in their history. However, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi are states where it doesn't snow or typically see snowflakes least often.
For Minnesota, the first four days of June have historically brought a number of occasions with snow flurries — and even some measurable snowfalls. The latest June snow was of June 4, 1935, at Mizpah in Koochiching County, when 1.5 inches was recorded by the observer there.
Snow in all 50 states happens on occasion: Clinching this feat is usually reliant on Florida seeing snowflakes at some point during the winter, as we mentioned earlier. Snow on the ground at the same time in all 50 states is much harder to accomplish, but it's happened before, notably in February 2010.
Is there a state in the US with all year snow? California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado have glaciers, which are permanent ice. Any place above, say, 10,000 feet can get snow any time of the year.
Snow appears white, but it is actually translucent. When light reflects off it, snow appears white. The many sides of a snowflake scatter light, diffusing the color spectrum in many directions. Snow can look dark when dust, or pollution, cover it.
Up to five inches (13 centimeters) of snow fell on the Big Island's Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, where high elevations—up to about 13,800 and 13,700 feet above sea level, respectively—are associated with cold air temperatures.
Alaska's North Slope and Brooks Range typically pick up August snow. America's northernmost city, Utqiagvik - formerly known as Barrow - averages 0.9 inches of snow each August, and can see snow year-round.
You might not believe it, but it snowed in four states this July! While summer snow in Alaska is hardly unusual (they leave year-round snow in the mountains just to impress the tourists), it was unexpected in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
For Minnesota, the first four days of June have historically brought a number of occasions with snow flurries — and even some measurable snowfalls. The latest June snow was of June 4, 1935, at Mizpah in Koochiching County, when 1.5 inches was recorded by the observer there.
"As it stands right now the latest recorded measurable snow in Minnesota remains at 1.5 inches at Mizpah in Koochiching County on June 4, 1935 and the earliest documented snow in Minnesota is a trace that fell at the Duluth Airport on August 31, 1949," the story concluded.
Looking at past records for the Twin Cities, a trace of snow falls during the month of May fairly frequently. If the snow manages to accumulate it is generally under an inch and mostly on grassy surfaces. The most recent measureable Twin Cities snow event was 0.5 inches on May 3, 2013.
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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