Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-09-03
CLIMATE OF ALASKA.
THE CHIEF OF WEATHER BUREAU
MAKES OFFICIAL REPORT.

utive Days When the Mean TeTN-
perature Was II Degrees below
Zero.
Under the direction of Secretary
Wilson, Willis L. Moore, Chief of the
Weather Bureau, issues the following
statement:
The general conception of Alaskan
climate is largely due to those who fol-
low the sea, and this is not strange
when we consider the vast extent of
shore line, over 10000 miles, possessed
by that territory. The climates of the
coast and the interior are unlike in
many respects, and the differences are
intensified in this as, perhaps, in few
other countries, by exceptional physi-
cal conditions. The natural contrast
between land and sea is here tremen-
dously increased by the current of wa
ter that impinges on the coast of Brit
ish Columbia, one branch flowing
northward toward Sitka and thence
westward to the Kadiak and Shumagin
islands. The fringe of islands that
separates the mainland from the Pa
cific ocean from Dixon sound north.
ward, and also strip of the mainland
for possibly twenty miles back from
the sea, following the sweep of the
coast as il curves to the northwestward
to the western extremity of Alaska,
form distinct climatic division, which
may be termed temperate Alaska.
The temperature rarely falls to zero;
winter does not set in till about De-
cember !, and by the last of May the
snow has disappeared, except on the
mountains. The mean winter tenn
perature of Sitka is 1926, but little
less than that of Washington, ID. c.
While Sitka is fully exposed to the sea
influence, places further inland, but
not over the coast range mountains,
as Killisnoo and Juneau, have also
mild temperature throughout the win
ter months. The temperature changes
from month to month in temperate
Alaska are small, not exceeding 25 de-
grees from midwinter to midsummer.
The average temperature of July, the
warmest month of summer, rarely
reaches IS degrees, and the highest
temperature for single day seldom
reaches IS degrees.
The rainfall of temperate Alaska is
notorious the world over not only as
regards the quantity that falls, but
also as to the manner of its falling,
viz: in long and incessant rains and
drizzles. Cloud and fog naturally
abound, there being on an average but
sixty-six clear days in the year.
Alaska is land of striking con-
trasts, both in climate, as we'll as in
topography. When the sun shines
the atmosphere is remarkably clear,
the scenic effects are magnificent, all
nature seems to be in holiday attire.
But the scene changes very quickly;
the sky becomes overcast; the winds
increase in force; rain begins to fall;
the evergreens sigh ominously; and
utter desolation and loneliness prevail.
North of the Aleutian islands the
coast climate becomes more rigorous
in winter, but in summer the differ
ence is much less marked. Thus, at
St. Michaels, a short distance above
the mouth of the Yukon, the mean
summer temperature is so degrees,
only 4 degrees cooler than at Sitka.
The mean summer temperature at
Point Barrow, the most northerly
point in the United States, is 1868,
only four-tenths of degree less than
the temperature OF the air flowing
across the summit of Pixies Peak, Col.
The rainfall of the coast region
north of the Yukon delta is small, di-
minishing to less than ten inches
within the Arctic circle.
The climate of the interior, includ-
ing within that designation practically
all the country except narrow fringe
of coastal margin and the territory be-
fore referred to as temperate Alaska,
is one of extreme rigor in winter, with
brief, but relatively hot summer,
especially when the sky is free from
clouds.
In the Klondike region in midwinter
the sun rises from $50 to 10 o'clock
A. NJ. and sets from 2 to 3 p. NJ, the to-
tai length of daylight being about four
hours. Remembering that the sun
rises but few degrees above the hori-
zon, and that it is wholly obscured on
a great many days, the character of
the winter months may be easily imag-
ined.
We are indebted to the United
States coast and geodetic survey for a
series of six months observations on
the Yukon, not far from the site OF
the present gold discoveries. The OBJ
servations were made with standard
instruments, and are wholly reliable.
The mean temperature OF the months
Octohor 1890 60 Arr;l 1900 both in.