- Highest mean Nov-Mar 1000-500 mb thickness (5233 m vs 5218 m in 1980-1981). Thickness is an excellent measure of integrated heat content, which means that the lower half of the atmosphere above Fairbanks indisputably saw its warmest winter on record (since 1948).
- Highest mean Nov-Mar temperature at 850 mb, 700 mb, and 500 mb. At the surface it was the 6th warmest winter on record.
- Highest mean Nov-Mar 500 mb height (pressure aloft). Last winter (2013-2014) now stands in second place. Interestingly 2011-2012 saw the lowest mean 500 mb height on record.
It's interesting to note that more than 31% of soundings reported above-freezing temperatures somewhere in the column from November through March. This is more than twice the 1981-2010 normal of 14.8%, and is very close to the 1980-1981 record. It's remarkable to consider that above-freezing air can persist in the atmosphere above Fairbanks for almost one-third of the winter.
It's interesting to note that more than 31% of soundings reported above-freezing temperatures somewhere in the column from November through March. This is more than twice the 1981-2010 normal of 14.8%, and is very close to the 1980-1981 record. It's remarkable to consider that above-freezing air can persist in the atmosphere above Fairbanks for almost one-third of the winter.
Here's a time-height cross-section of the lower tropospheric temperature anomalies.
