Utqiagvik - Hottest Decades
Ranked here are the hottest decades on record for Utqiagvik, Alaska, previously called Barrow. This is the northernmost weather station in the United States, sitting far above the Arctic Circle at 71.3° North latitude. The lists include decades when Utqiagvik had the highest average temperatures and the fewest cold days. These extremes are for temperatures observed at the Wiley Post—Will Rogers Memorial Airport in Utqiagvik and cover nine decades, from the 1930s to the 2010s.
That is when Utqiagvik had weather measurements that are consistent and complete enough to compare decades. Each decade comprises a standard 10-year range. For instance, the 1990s includes measurements from Jan 1, 1990 to Dec 31, 1999. Links to the data behind these lists are in the References section on this page.
Hottest High Temperatures
| High °F | Decade | High °C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | 21.4 | 2010s | -5.9 |
| Runner-up | 18.2 | 2000s | -7.6 |
Warmest Low Temperatures
| Low °F | Decade | Low °C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | 10.8 | 2010s | -11.8 |
| Runner-up | 7.6 | 2000s | -13.6 |
Fewest Freezing Days
| Days | Decade | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest | 288 | 2010s |
| Runner-up | 307 | 2000s |
Fewest Cold Days
| Days | Decade | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest | 132 | 2010s |
| Runner-up | 154 | 2000s |
How Much Hotter are 2010s?
Compared with averages for the previous 50 years (1960 to 2009), the 2010s in Utqiagvik had:
- 29 fewer days a year with freezing temperatures
- 5.4 °F higher daily maximum temperatures (3.0 °C)
- 5.6 °F higher daily minimum temperatures (3.1 °C)
- 34 fewer days a year with temperatures of 0 °F or less
References
Current Results. 2020. Utqiagvik AK Temperature Averages by Decade
Jay Lawrimore, Ron Ray, Scott Applequist, Bryant Korzeniewski, Matthew Menne. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.