The Big Diurnal

Courtesy of NWS Alaska Region

So you probably have read of the big temperature swing on Thursday at Fairbanks, with a low of 24 below and a high of 31 above, for a daily temperature range of 55 degrees, the largest calendar day  temperature range in the Weather Bureau/NWS era (since Dec 1929). Slightly larger ranges were observed at other locations in the area, including 57ºF at Eielson and North Pole and 59ºF at Goldstream Creek and Woodsmoke. Meanwhile, 25 degree range here at Keystone Ridge.

On the NWS Facebook page, there are, unsurprisingly. claims of 110 and 120ºF one day temperature ranges. Considering that the US record is evidently 103 degrees at Loma Montana, that would be something. My response is: what day? My guess is that people are either telescoping changes that occurred over a few days or a simply exaggerating, which, believe or not, does happen with weather. 

So what is the Alaska record for one day temperature change? That's a good question. I'm sure it's over 70 degrees, and will update when I find some examples. If you know of any documented 70+ degrees ranges in one day, let us know.