In the SoCal area, we call the wind from inland a Santa Ana wind, if it is strong. I did not know that Sitka also had an offshore wind, but it makes sense.
Sitka Airport is on Japonski Island and the ASOS is on the ocean side of the runway, so it regularly runs cooler in the summer and milder in the winter than in town, though of course not to the same extreme as e.g. Santa Monica to Glendale, CA
Thanks, this was really interesting to read after experiencing that day in Sitka. It was especially interesting because I don't think we usually see the temperature peak so late in the day. It was ~73 for much of the afternoon, and 70s in Sitka always feels hot. People are surprised how many heat-related rescue calls we've had over the years when it gets into the 70s.
I went out that evening right at 6pm, and it was starting to feel cooler. I was really surprised to look down and see 83 on my truck's thermometer. I thought it was from engine heat, or having been parked in the sun earlier. Do you have any explanation why it felt cooler at 83 at 6pm than it did at 73 at ~4pm? I don't think it was just shade; if I remember right, the shade felt warmer in the 70s than when the temps read in the 80s. Was that warm air mass drier or something?
Yes indeed. From the Sitka Airport, the relative humidity was around 50 percent most of the afternoon, then when the east wind kicked in and the temperature spike, the RH dropped down to ~25 percent. This was partly a function of the higher temperature but also the dew point (an absolute measure of the amount of moisture in the air) also dropped. Also the lower sun angle by 6pm compared to early also likely played a role.
Interesting article about the high temps in SE AK May 17-19. Would you have a guess as to why the temps are warmer along (near) western SE Ak (Sitka, West Chichagof, Prince of Wales) as apposed to Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell & Ketchikan? -Rich Lomire-
Thanks Rich. My guess is that the low level east to southeast flow was stronger Prince of Wales & Baranof Island areas, so more able to overwhelm the sea breeze. Also by the 18th the core of the warmest air aloft had moved north of southernmost SE.
In the SoCal area, we call the wind from inland a Santa Ana wind, if it is strong. I did not know that Sitka also had an offshore wind, but it makes sense.
Sitka Airport is on Japonski Island and the ASOS is on the ocean side of the runway, so it regularly runs cooler in the summer and milder in the winter than in town, though of course not to the same extreme as e.g. Santa Monica to Glendale, CA
Thanks, this was really interesting to read after experiencing that day in Sitka. It was especially interesting because I don't think we usually see the temperature peak so late in the day. It was ~73 for much of the afternoon, and 70s in Sitka always feels hot. People are surprised how many heat-related rescue calls we've had over the years when it gets into the 70s.
I went out that evening right at 6pm, and it was starting to feel cooler. I was really surprised to look down and see 83 on my truck's thermometer. I thought it was from engine heat, or having been parked in the sun earlier. Do you have any explanation why it felt cooler at 83 at 6pm than it did at 73 at ~4pm? I don't think it was just shade; if I remember right, the shade felt warmer in the 70s than when the temps read in the 80s. Was that warm air mass drier or something?
Yes indeed. From the Sitka Airport, the relative humidity was around 50 percent most of the afternoon, then when the east wind kicked in and the temperature spike, the RH dropped down to ~25 percent. This was partly a function of the higher temperature but also the dew point (an absolute measure of the amount of moisture in the air) also dropped. Also the lower sun angle by 6pm compared to early also likely played a role.
Interesting article about the high temps in SE AK May 17-19. Would you have a guess as to why the temps are warmer along (near) western SE Ak (Sitka, West Chichagof, Prince of Wales) as apposed to Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell & Ketchikan? -Rich Lomire-
Thanks Rich. My guess is that the low level east to southeast flow was stronger Prince of Wales & Baranof Island areas, so more able to overwhelm the sea breeze. Also by the 18th the core of the warmest air aloft had moved north of southernmost SE.
Thanks Rick !
-Rich-