Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-08-20
The Climate Of Alaska.

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territory. The climate Of the coast and
the interior are unlike in many respect,
and the differences are Intensified IN
this as perhaps in few other countries
by exceptional physical conditions.
The natural contrast between land and
sea is here tremendously increased 10y
the current OF. warm water that impinges
on the coast of British Columbia, one
branch flowing northward toward Sitka,
and thence westward 20 the kadiak and
Shumagin islands. The fringe OF islands
that Sc parates the mainland from the
Pacific Ocean from Dixon Sound north
ward, and also q strip Of the nlalniAnd
for possibly 20 miles back from the sea,
curves to the northwestWard to the
western extremity of Alaska, form a
distinct climate division which may be
termed temperate Alaska.
The temperature rarely falls to zero;
winter does not set i'll until about
December !, aud by the last OF May
The snow has disappeared except on
the mountains. The mean winter
temperature Of SiL}Sa is $3.50, but little
less than that Of Washington, D. 4.
While Sitl1a is full exposed to the sea
influence, places farther inland, but not
over the coast range Of mountains, as
killisnoo and Juneau, have also a MI"
temperature throughout the winter
months The temperature changes
from month to month in temperate
Alaska are small, not exceeding 2)'
from midwinter 10 midsummer. The
average temperature for a single day
seldom reaches 75o.
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 drlzzles.
Clouds and fog naturally abound, there
being on an average but 66 clear days
in the year.
Alasks is land of striking contrasts
both in climate as we'll as topography.
When the sun shines, the atmosphere
Is remarkably clear, the scenic effects
in holiday attire. But the scene may
change very quickly; the SKY becomes
overcast; the ilrffsrs fdcfease in force ;
rain begins -. asn; the evergreens Sigh
Jna6o usly, and utter disolation and
loneliness prevail
North Of Aleutiun Island the coast
climate becomes more rigorous in win
Ter, but in summer the difference is
much less marked Thus, St. Mlchaels,
2 short distance above the mouth of the
Yukon, the mean summer temperature
is 500, but 4 cooler than Sitka. The
mean summer. temperature or Point
Barrow, the most uortlerly point in the
V aited .t,tes, is 1888, but four tenths
Of 3. degree less than the temperature Of
the air flowing across the summit o!
Pixies Peak, Colorado. The rainfall Of
the coast region nortl: Of the Iukon
aalta is small, diminishing to less than
10 inches within the Arctic circle.
The climate Of the interior, Including
in that designation practically all Of the
country. Except q narrow fringe Of coastal
margin and the territory before referred
20 as temperate Alaska, is one Of ez-
treme rgor in winter, with a britf but
relatively hot summer, especially when
The sky IS free from cloud.
In the Klondke region in mid inter
The sun rises from $50 to loco a. IL and
sets from 200 to 800 p. m, the total
length Of daylight being about four
hours. Rememb ering that The sun rises
but few degrees above the horizon
and it is wholly cbscureG on a great
many Gays, the character o. the winter
months may easily be imagined.
We are indebted to tie United St&tes
Coast and Geodetic Survey for a seris.s
# six months observations on the
Yukon, not far from the site Of the.
presett gold discoveries. Ihe o!,ser.a-
lions we're made with standard in5;ru-
.nents and are wholly reliable. The
mean Temperatures Of the months Ccto-
Der, 1889, to April, 1890, both inclusive.
are as:folow5: October, 333o (be!ow zcro)
November, 50 (above zero); December,
lie (below zero); January, 17o (beIoW
sero); February, 15o (below zero)
March, 60 labove zero); April, 20o
,aboye zero). The daily mean tempera-
iure fell and remained below the freez-
ing point (32o} from November 4, 1889,
10 April q, 1890, thus giving 1853 days
as ihe length of the closed season 1889
80, assuming that outdoor operations
are controlled by tenn perature only,
being suspended when the daily mean
falls to or below the freezing point.
d The lowest temperatures reglstered
during the winter were:
lp32o below zero in November; 10
below zero in December; 500 below zero
IN January; $50 below zero in February !;
35o below zero in March; 26o below zero
in April.
The greatest continuous cold occurred