Alaska, Anchorage in November 2023 is leaving an enduring impression on as winter’s icy grip sweeps the Northern Hemisphere. Nestled in the breathtaking scenery of the Last Frontier, the city is setting records for the amount of snowfall it has received. Residents are both in awe of the sight and feeling of the winter wonderland. This year’s winter in Anchorage has broken the November snow record.
Anchorage Snow
This year’s meteorological surprise has affected the picturesque city of Anchorage. The Municipality of Anchorage is used to a seasonal blanket of about 5 inches (12 cm) of snow in the first two weeks of November. However, this year has seen a different and wilder pattern to the snowfall. There is already over 37 inches of snow received in the city at the beginning of November.
On November 8, a record-breaking nine inches of snow fell in a single day as part of a three-day snowstorm that dumped over twenty inches of snow overall.
An emergency was declared in Anchorage due to this extraordinary weather event. Because of how much snow fell, schools had to close, public transportation had to be suspended, and the number of homeless people seeking shelter increased. Sadly, reports of four deaths among residents highlight the serious consequences of this unplanned winter assault.
Anchorage November Snowfall Record
According to the images captured by MODIS, they confirmed that the previous record of Anchorage Snowfall in November was broken. The previous record of snowfall was 38.8 inches in 1994. On November 19th, the ground-based scaling by the experts recorded 39.1 inches of snowfall.
Weather predictions point to the potential for another significant snowfall early next week, solidifying November 2023 as one of the snowiest months ever recorded in Anchorage. With an astounding 52.1 inches of snowfall, February 1996 holds the record for being the snowiest month ever in Anchorage. Over the course of the winter, Anchorage receives about 77 inches of snow on average; the record amount of 134.5 inches was recorded in the winter of 2011–12.
El Niño’s Unexpected Twist:
El Niño, a climate pattern marked by warm water cycling through the Pacific Northwest, adds a twist to this tale of snow and cold. El Niño, which is usually linked to warmer temperatures and less snowfall in Alaska, had suggested that the state would experience a less snowy and warmer winter. But recent snow records in Anchorage defy these assumptions.
Anchorage and the whole of Alaska are still on track for a warmer-than-normal winter. Although records have been broken, Alaska is seeing one of the warmest November winters so far. Moreover, only Anchorage and nearby areas are getting heavy snowfall. Other stats show that only 1% of Alaska is seeing colder than normal winters.
Lake Effect Snow Blanketing the Midwest and Northeast:
The Midwest and Northeast of the United States are preparing for a different kind of snow spectacle—the infamous “lake effect” snow—while Alaska brags of its record-breaking snowfall.
The Great Lakes’ warmer waters are swept by cold air, which picks up moisture and deposits it as heavy snowfall when it reaches land. In the upcoming days, this atmospheric phenomenon is expected to unleash considerable snow accumulations, turning landscapes into wintry wonderlands.
The majority of the lake effect snowfall is predicted to fall in cities like Buffalo, Cleveland, and Syracuse. with accumulation rates possibly reaching several inches per hour. As the wintry blast develops, locals are advised to heed weather warnings and get ready for difficult travel conditions.
Conclusion
The contrast between the record-breaking snowfall in Anchorage and the predicted lake effect snow in the Midwest and Northeast provides a clear picture of winter’s unwavering arrival. With the all-time record-breaking snowfall in Anchorage in November, Alaska is seeing one of the heaviest snowfalls. Several more months are left in this winter and other records may also get toppled.
The early winter of 2023 is making headlines for all the right (or chilly) reasons, whether it’s in Alaska, where snowfall is defying the odds, or in the contiguous United States, where lake effect snow is expected to captivate locals and remote weather buffs alike.