Since this area is in the zone of the westerly winds, moist air and relatively warm temperatures come into the area after having traveled over extensive ocean areas. This is because this area is in the storm track of the Aleutian low pressure cells that pass by from west to east with great frequency. The Aleutian Low is found in the area where the relatively warm waters of the south meet the colder waters to the north. The two primary wind directions the year around for the Unimak area are southeast and its opposite, northwest. Expect 7.8 mm of precipitation over the past 3 hours. The seasonal changes in surface air tem-perature (SAT) across the Aleutian Islands are relat-ively uniform, from 5 to 10 C in summer to near freezing temperatures in winter. 23 November 2020 at 20:00-21:00: Rain, Temperature 7, 0.5 mm, Gale, 18 m/s from south The islands experience a maritime climate. Another storm will race through the Intermountain West today with snow, arrive in the Southern U.S. on Sunday with snow, rain and thunderstorms and reach the East on Monday. Eddy energy in the Aleutian Islands region has been low from the fall 2012 through 2018, indicating the likelihood of smaller than average fluxes of volume, heat, salt, and nutrient fluxes through Amukta Pass (p. 49). The temperature and wind forecast is for 12 noon. This means that the winds will change direction and intensity as a low pressure storm passes by. Make it a Weather Favorite! During the summer, it is located farther north, and is small and impermanent to nonexistent. The chart below plots the average number of days in any month that you can expect to see rain falling. The climate profile is taken from closest available data source to Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian Low shifts position and changes in intensity with the seasons. The information presented below gives detailed historical monthly average weather conditions along with exceptional weather occurrences. Weather data, both graphic and numeric, for the Unimak area & Cold Bay can be accessed here. Some of these ALs stagnate and weaken in the Gulf of Alaska but then move to the southeast or onto the continent.3. Southwest winds are also infrequent, but when they occur they can have great intensity. The Unimak Area of Alaska shows very small seasonal changes in temperature, as seen in the map to the right. The storm track almost always leads from the west toward the east along the Aleutian chain. The graph to the right shows the mean wind direction frequency in % for Cold Bay, the nearest reporting station. Throughout the month you can expect to see rain or drizzle falling on 17 days of the month, with snow falling on 22 days. Click here for a numeric table of various weather parameters, including wind, for Cold Bay. The average monthly amount of precipitation has been recorded at around 102 mm, that's 4 inches. This image was acquired by the Landsat 7 satellite on June 16, 2000. Expect 0.7 mm of precipitation over the past 3 hours. Throughout the month of December daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 2°C that's about 36°F. Pilot Point, Aleutian Islands, Alaska weather conditions, average/minimum/maximum temperature, humidity variation graphs. Its position and size can be shown to be correlated with major indices such as ENSO, and in this manner it conveniently represents a mechanism for assessing impacts from teleconnection patterns."1. Given the small landmass, the human footprint is quite large — the region is ranked 5th out of the 13 regions for human impacts. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around -2°C, that's 29°F. Then, if the storm passes by to the north of Unimak, the winds veer towards the southwest and then west, and as the storm leaves the area, winds blow from the northwest and then start diminishing. The temperature regime for the Unimak area is documented at the Cold Bay weather station, about 30 miles northeast of False Pass on the Alaska Peninsula. The Aleutian Low is one of the principal causal factors of the weather and climate in the Unimak region. Pilot Point, Aleutian Islands, Alaska free weather widget (free script for your website or blog). Precipitation in the Unimak area occurs in all months of the year, there is no dry season. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around -2°C, that's 29°F. Their color variations are probably due to differences in temperature and in the size of water droplets that make up the clouds. According to the Köppen climate classification system, the area southwest of 53°30′N 167°00′W / 53.5°N 167.0°W on Unalaska Island have a "Subpolar Oceanic Climate" (type "Cfc" as are Reykjavík, Tórshavn, Punta Arenas, U… The regular temperature in Alaska is about 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) but the weather will change during seasons or months. The climate of the islands is oceanic, with moderate and fairly uniform temperatures and heavy rainfall. Animated monthly wind direction graphs can be seen here. For Washington The wettest month for Washington. Early North American inhabitants are thought to have crossed the land bridge over the Bering Sea from Europe thousands of years ago. A few conifers introduced by the Russians grow on the islands of Amaknak and Adak. The strongest of these storms may make their way to the west coast of North American during the winter and then move across the mid section of the U.S.. Multi-disciplinary evidence for a large, previously unrecognized caldera in the Islands of Four Mountains, Central Aleutian Arc, Alaska. An eruption of Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutians as seen from the International Space Station. Ice in the southern Bering Sea that extends as far as Isanotski Strait has a general chilling effect on temperatures in winter since the moderating effect of open water is gone. The average daily relative humidity for December is around 84%. From this a comfort level is calculated providing categories on how heat conditions might adversely affect someone. Weather Statistics in Aleutian Islands East County, AK Browse the Aleutian Islands East County, AK rain and snowfall amounts on our Weather Statistics database and learn more about clean air cities and weather damage statistics. The Aleutian Islands were no exception to the trend. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An explosive storm surpassing the intensity of 2012's Superstorm Sandy is expected to reach Alaska's western Aleutian Islands over … When he first visited Amchitka Island, he could count anywhere from 50 to 300 sea otters from the shore. Comfort Levels: Given average maximum temperatures and humidity levels generally you should not anticipate any discomfort from heat (see heat index for more information). While not a dynamically directly-driven feature, the Aleutian Low still serves as a useful proxy for storm activity. An intense low-pressure storm system packing strong winds and massive waves is expected to move over the Bering Sea and through the Aleutian Islands of Alaska this weekend, weather … The climate profile is taken from closest available data source to Aleutian Islands. June is usually the quietest month and December, January and February have 5.0 days each of winds over 50 MPH. During the winter, it is located farther south, and is large, semi-permanent, and most intense. Certain bays, like Urilia Bay, become unfishable during times of strong westerly winds. Generally, larger islands receive more precipitation than smaller ones, and coastal areas more than inland areas. This work is being done at the University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign at the Polar Research Group/ Dept. Fogs are almost constant. In recent times the highest recorded temperature in December has been 12°C that's 54°F, with the lowest recorded temperature -17°C, about 1°F. This creates a large band of atmospheric instability with rising moist air that stretches from the Kamchatka Peninsula in the west and all the Aleutian Islands chain. Weather forecast for Aleutian Islands Meteogram for Aleutian Islands Tuesday 05:00 to Thursday 05:00 Long term forecast for Aleutian Islands The forecast shows the expected weather and precipitation for the afternoon hours. The average annual rainfall is about 80 inches (2,000 mm), and Unalaska, with about 250 rainy days per … The maximum Ice Extent in the Bering Sea is shown in the maps to the right. Easterly winds are relatively uncommon. Compared to neighboring regions, the Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Islands region is categorized by a cooler, drier climate. Temperatures range from average lows of -7O°C to -20°C in winter to average highs of 10°C to 13°C in summer (Gallant et al. The chart below plots the average monthly precipitation amount. J.A. Temperature. Power et al. The climate of the islands is oceanic, with moderate and fairly uniform temperatures and heavy rainfall. Make it a Weather Favorite! The objective of this paper is to highlight those characteristics of climate variability that may pertain to the climate hypothesis regarding the long‐term population decline of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).The seasonal changes in surface air temperature (SAT) across the Aleutian Islands are relatively uniform, from 5 to 10°C in summer to near freezing temperatures in winter. In 1970, Jim Estes made his first trek up to Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.He was greeted by an ocean filled with furry faces. An old Aleut saying is:  "The wind is not a river." Since travel and work at sea depends upon favorable wind conditions, wind direction will determine where a fisherman can fish or where he can travel by sea. The average annual temperature for the inhabited islands is about 38 °F in January and 52 °F in August. The stronger ALs generally move eastward south of the Aleutian Islands. If the storm center passes to the south of Unimak, there is a backing wind shift, from SE to E, to NE and finally NW. The Aleutian Islands experience oceanic climate with heavy rainfall and moderate temperatures. Please click on the graph to see a larger version. The area of sea ice in the Bering Sea is plotted on the graph to the right, from the year 1979 to mid-April 2012. An active weather pattern will impact the U.S. this weekend into next week. The Aleutian low is "A region of generally low pressure located near the Aleutian Islands, where sub-polar cyclones reach their maximum intensity. The wind direction is very important to local fishermen and mariners. Climate. Agriculture thrives between early May and late September. The average temperature difference between July and January is only about 10 degrees F. The moderating influence of the marine environment is the primary reason for this small temperature difference. Today, the land mass has been splintered into … As a storm approaches our area from the west, the wind sets in from the southeast and builds in intensity. King Cove City, Aleutian Islands current conditions, weather forecast and climate chart (temperature and humidity). Bad weather reigns, the wind and rain conspiring to create the perfect conditions for hypothermia. If the storm center passes to the south of Unimak, there is a backing windshift, starting with southeast, then backing to east, northeast and finally northwest as the storm center moves away. The Aleutian Low's location and intensity is shown in the above three maps in relation to the stationary North Pacific High that lies to the south. The "Cradle of the Storms" is the colloquial name for the Aleutian Low area because this is the stormiest area in the north Pacific.2  These cyclonic storms generally travel eastward along the Aleutians in the zone of the westerly winds. There is little concern about whether the day will be sunny or cloudy or even rainy, it is the wind that matters most because it determines the safety of traveling by boat or skiff. These cloud formations were seen over the western Aleutian Islands. During such cold winters, the Bering Sea can be covered with ice as far as Isanotski Strait and cold Siberian air can drive the temperatures down to near zero. This feature also encompasses non-stationary systems of both low and high pressure (cyclones and anticyclones) that form and dissipate along fronts and rapidly move in a broad sub-polar band of west-to-east flowing air currents widely known as the prevailing westerlies. Weather forecasts for the Unimak area can be accessed on the Internet here. For Aleutian Islands in the coming week the average daytime maximum temperature will be around 7°C, with a high for the week of 15°C expected on the afternoon of Thursday 29th. Westerlies often occur in the fall, as shown in the wind direction rose for September. The map shows that the weaker Aleutian Lows (AL) often move into the western Bering Sea. Winds and tides can bring drift ice from the edge of the Bering Sea ice pack into Isanotski Strait and as far south as Ikatan Bay. If the storm center passes to the north of Unimak, there is a veering wind shift from SE, to SW, to W, to NW as the storm moves by. “In the early years, it was a very different place,” Estes said. The forecasts It also shows the maximum and minimum recorded temperatures. American Geophysical Union annual … The average daily wind speed in December has been around 27 km/h, that’s the equivalent to about 17 mph, or 15 knots. Although extensive data doesn't seem to be available on the southern extent of Bering Sea ice, the available data and anecdotal evidence indicates that the sea ice edge seldom goes beyond Isanotski Strait and rarely as far as Unimak Pass. Walrus also hauled out on the sand bars on the north side of the lower Alaska Peninsula and were traditionally hunted by Aleuts (Unangan) and later by the Russians.5. Precipitation varies widely, from 530mm up to 2,080mm. The Aleutian Low is one of the principal causal factors of the weather and climate in the Unimak region. The chart below plots the average daily wind speed you can expect for any month. James Estes, now an emeritus professor at the University of California Santa Cruz, has been studying the Aleutian Islands since 1970. The Alaska Stream appears to have been relatively diffuse on the south side of the eastern Aleutian Islands (p. 40). Pilot Point, Aleutian Islands, Alaska current conditions, weather forecast and climate chart (temperature and humidity). The graph on the right shows that the difference between the average high and average low is roughly 10 degrees. The Aleutian Island is mostly cone volcano’s and some are still activate, but only on one side of the Island not all of the volcano’s can still activate. The graph shows that the area of ice in the Bering Sea often fluctuates substantially from the 1979-2008 mean, usually in the range of about +-10 to 25%. Summer temperatures are also moderated by the strong marine environment so that daytime highs seldom surpass 70 degrees F.  Temperature extremes increase as one travels up the Alaska Peninsula, so that Cold Bay is slightly colder in winter and warmer in summer than Unimak Island. The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to actual air temperature. This is also the zone where the colder air from the subarctic meets the warmer moist air to the south. Precipitation falls in every month of the year but is heaviest August through December, as seen in the graph on the right. The summers are relatively quieter, but even then gale force winds usually occur. The Aleutian Low storm tracks are shown in the map to the right. The Maximum wind gust during this period was 83 MPH, but every month had gusts of 60 MPH or over. It also shows the maximum recorded sustained wind speed for each month. A total of 110 culverts are known, of which 49% have or likely to have fish passage problems. King Cove City, Aleutian Islands weather conditions, average/minimum/maximum temperature, humidity variation graphs. Wind gusts over 50 MPH occur 3 or more days per month for 7 months of the year. The chart below plots the average high and low temperature for each month of the year. To maintain relevance to current weather trends the displayed information has been calculated using data collected over the past two decades. “Despite the fact that the Aleutian Archipelago is remote and largely uninhabited, it nonetheless has a long history of predator exploitation, and is also at the front lines of climate change,” said Douglas Rasher. A combination of climate warming and loss of sea otters is harming the reefs that underpin Alaskan kelp forests in the Aleutian Islands. The 7 day weather forecast summary for Aleutian Islands: For Aleutian Islands in the … The chart below plots the average number of days in any month that you can expect to see snow falling. ... (−15 °C) respectively. The wettest time of the year is September through December. On average the month of December is affected by foggy conditions on 16 days. characteristics of climate variability that may pertain to the climate hypothesis regarding the long-term population decline of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). The Aleutian Island area has the highest average wind speed of any area in the U.S.  Average wind speeds are 15.6 MPH for Cold Bay, with the highest averages from September through May. The following charts show yearly weather trends with information on monthly weather averages and extremes. Storms over the Central Aleutian Islands will bring warm air up from the south as well as rain to the islands Monday into Tuesday. The Aleutian Islands off Alaska's southwest coast represent a true bridge over troubled water, albeit a broken one. Their website on "The Cryosphere Today" can be accessed here and it contains the most up-to-date information on ice in the Bering Sea, the Beaufort Sea and other world sea ice areas. 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