In Fairbanks the average temperature for December was -17.3°F, an astounding 13.2°F below the long-term mean, and the second coldest December in the last 30 years, just behind December 2010. The lowest temperature for the month was bone chilling -48°F on the 17th, while the highest temperature was a balmy 34°F on the 31st, an increase in temperature of 82°F in two weeks. The month started off continuing the cold spell from November, warmed up for five days around the 11th, then stayed cold until the last week of the month. Ten days hit lows at -40°F or colder. No new record temperature events were recorded.
Precipitation was above normal in December, with a total of 1.19", 0.55" above the expected value of 0.64". Snowfall totaled 18.5" for the month, 12.1" above normal, with 18.2" of the total snowfall hitting between the 9th and 14th. A new record snowfall occurred on the 12th with 9.5", topping the old 1972 record of 5.7". In conjunction, the 12th saw new record precipitation total of 0.72", shattering the old record of 0.17", also from 1972. With the protracted winter storm, Fairbanks had nearly eliminated its winter snow deficit. The mean wind speed was 1.1 mph, with a maximum gust of 26 mph on the 13th, blowing from a westerly direction.
Anchorage was cooler than normal in December, with an average temperature of 14.6°F, 4.4°F below the expected temperature. The maximum temperature (47°F) occurred on the 30th, while the minimum temperature (-9°F) occurred on the 17th. December temperatures tended to be colder than normal with the exception of a few days around the 11th, and then at the end of the month.
Precipitation was high at 1.83", 65% above the normal of 1.11". Snowfall totaled 18.2", just 1.5" above the expected amount. A new snowfall record occurred on the 12th with 8.6" falling, breaking the 6.8" record set just last year. In addition, the snowfall generated a water-equivalent equivalent record of 0.95", also breaking the record from last year of 0.53". With heavy snowfall from the 8th to the 12th, Anchorage had nearly eliminated its winter snow deficit. The average wind speed was 6.6 mph, with a maximum wind speed of 43 mph reported on the 29 and blowing from a southerly direction.
For Barrow December was the first month in the last nine with a below normal mean temperature. The mean value was -9.5°F, a deviation of 1.7°F below the normal of -7.8°F. Temperatures started the month warm, then stayed colder than normal till about the 20th. The lowest temperature (-32°F) occurred on the 15th, while the highest temperature (11°F) was reported on the 1st.
Precipitation in Barrow (0.07") was light at half of the normal value of 0.14". The average wind speed was 11.8 mph, while the maximum gust (43 mph) occurred on the 24th, blowing from an easterly direction.
In Delta Junction the mean temperature for December (-7.9°F) was an astonishing 10.0°F below the long-term normal of 2.1°F. The highest temperature (40°F) was observed on the 29th, while the lowest temperature of -43°F was observed on the 4th. Temperatures started the month with below normal values, followed by a brief warm spell around the 11th, and then stayed cold until the last few days of the month. No new records were set, and
Precipitation was very light with a reported total of 0.13", a mere 34% of the expected amount (0.38").
The average temperature in Juneau for December was 23.5°F, 6.4°F below the long-term mean of 29.9°F. This is also the eighth consecutive month with below normal temperatures. The maximum temperature of the month was 39°F on the 13th, while the minimum was 3°F and occurred on the 21st and 22nd.
Total precipitation was lower than normal at 4.92"; this represents only 84% of the expected amount of 5.84", and the third month in a row with below normal precipitation. Despite the low total precipitation, there was a record rainfall on the 30th of 0.81", topping the 1989 record of 0.77". Total snowfall for the month was 27.0", 11.4" above normal. Due to the below normal temperatures more precipitation fell as snow then expected, which explains the below normal precipitation, but the above normal snowfall. The average wind speed was 6.7 mph, and the maximum wind speed of 41 mph occurred on the 14th, blowing from a southeasterly direction.
Ketchikan reported an average temperature this December of 34.0 °F, 1.3°F below the long-term mean of 35.3°F. The maximum temperature for the month was 45°F, which occurred on the 31st, while the minimum (19°F) was reported on the 23rd and the 26th. For half of the month, temperatures stayed around normal, and were mixed after that.
Precipitation was light, totaling 9.86", or just 69% of the long term mean of 14.23".
In King Salmon the average temperature for December was 12.4°F, a significant 6.2°F below the long-term mean of 18.6°F. Temperatures were mixed and varied wildly thought the month. The minimum temperature (-22°F) for the month was reported on the 21st, while the maximum temperature occurred on the 28th at 43°F.
King Salmon experienced a greater than normal amount of precipitation with a total of 2.05", 0.82", or 67%, above the long-term mean. Total monthly snowfall was 7.0", 2.5" below normal. The average wind speed was 10.7 mph, and the highest gust of 64 mph occurred on the 8th, blowing from an easterly direction. This is also a new record wind speed for this day, breaking the 2005 record of 43 mph. Two other daily wind speed records were also set in December.
Kodiak was colder than normal for December, with a mean temperature of 28.8°F, 2.4°F below the expected mean of 31.2°F. Temperatures varied throughout the month, with a protracted cold spell from the 14th to the 25th. The maximum temperature for the month (48°F) was observed on the 12th, and this marks a new record high for this day, breaking the record of 47°F from 1967. The minimum temperature was a chilly 3°F, reported on Christmas Day (25th), and this tied the daily low record originally set back in 1957.
Precipitation was light at just 65% of normal with a total of 5.64", 3.09" under the normal amount of 8.73". Snowfall was also light at just 62% of the normal of 13.8". The average wind speed was 14.7 mph, while the highest wind gust occurred on the 12th at 59 mph, blowing from a westerly direction.
Nome had a mean temperature for December of 3.3°F, a substantial 6.2°F below the normal value of 9.5°F. Temperatures stayed mostly below normal until the last five days of the month. The maximum temperature was reported at 34°F on the 29th and the 30th. The minimum temperature for the month was observed on the 18th and 19th at -30°F.
Like the previous three months, December had below normal precipitation with a total of 0.62". This is just 57% of the normal amount of 1.08". Snowfall totaled 14.7", slightly (1%) above the normal of 14.5". The average monthly wind speed was 6.5 mph, while the maximum wind speed was 45 mph, and occurred on the 30th of the month, blowing from a northeasterly direction.