03.08.11

World Wide Weather #33: McGrath, Alaska

Posted in Weather News at 8:00 am by Rebekah

This week’s post in the global weather and climate series features McGrath, Alaska.

Satellite view of McGrath, on the Kuskokwim River. From the Alaska Lake Ice and Snow Observatory Network

McGrath is a town of 401 people (2000 census) on the Kuskokwim River in southwest / south central Alaska. While the village is in a valley at only 331 feet elevation, McGrath is situated on the western edge of the Alaska Range and not far from Mount McKinley.

Established as a trading post in 1904, McGrath grew with the discovery of nearby gold and the need for a supply post in interior Alaska. Today, McGrath is an important transportation hub and receives visitors every year as a result of its location along the Iditarod Trail. Mushers participating in the Iditarod race will soon be coming in to McGrath.

See the Iditarod web site for info on the current standings/locations of the teams, and see the Weather Underground Iditarod page for weather info along the trail.

 

A few more facts about McGrath (weather data from the Western Regional Climate Center):

  • Time zone: Alaska Standard Time (UTC-9) or Alaska Daylight Time (UTC-8)
  • Average elevation: 331 ft (101 m)
  • Climate zone: Boreal forest / taiga (long, cold winters and short, cool summers)
  • Average high temperature: 36 °F (2 °C)
  • Average low temperature: 16 °F (-9 °C)
  • Average annual high/low temperature range: 1 to 69 °F (-17 to 20 °C) / -17 to 50 °F (-27 to 10 °C)
  • Average annual precipitation: 17 inches (434 mm)
  • Average annual snowfall: 91 inches (230 cm)

Weather: McGrath experiences pretty cold winters with a fair amount of snowfall each year, though summers can be pleasant and drier. The high today is forecast at around 15 °F, with a low tonight of 10 to 15 below. Skies will remain clear and winds will be light. This weather is expected to continue through much of the week (might get a little colder towards the end of the week).

Bigger picture of what’s going on in Alaska, from the National Weather Service

For weather maps and information on current and forecast McGrath weather, see the National Weather Service and Weather Underground.

For a bit more information on McGrath, here’s a link to Wikipedia.

Next Tuesday I plan to take a look at the climate and weather in another part of the globe.  As always, if you have any suggestions for future cities, please leave a comment!

Comments are closed.