GeekStorm 2009 – Unleashing the Weather Geeks

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Who knew that the photos I posted of a Davis Weather Station showing -80 degrees and another showing -71 degrees would unleash a veritable storm of debate about the veracity of the temperature reading. Not only that, it sparked one heck of a heated argument about whether or not global warming – or climate change – is real (see comments on NPR’s site).

Even the fabulous weather geeks on Talk Weather chatted about the reading.

Now I have government types contacting me curious about the readings and wanting to see the computer data from the computer attached to the Vantage Pro 2 of said readings. That interest has resulted in a guy from NOAA coming to Tok next Friday and chatting with some folks here about the readings, the weather, and why/why not those readings may or may not be accurate.

All I can say is…

WOW!

All weather geeks welcome!

I’ll report back once the data has been analyzed and give you all the inside skinny.

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The -71 Degrees Temp Reading in Tok Alaska

I had mentioned previously that I had a photo on my phone that my hubby texted me from his phone that I couldn’t figure out how to get off the phone and onto the Web but FINALLY figured it out.

Of course, the solution involves AT&T and their viewing web site for multimedia files and the pic is tiny, but hopefully it will show up well enough to make out that it does indeed say -71. This is the day before the -80 registered, I believe.

There are interested parties who will be looking at the Davis weather station data soon. Hopefully, I’ll have those updates.

Davis won’t vouch for these kind of readings, of course. What do YOU think? Malfunction? Or just pretty darn cold?

And For Those Who Need Proof…Minus 80 Degrees F

This is a shot of the weather station temp gauge at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge offices in Tok, Alaska.

I’m still looking for a thermometer for the house that will register lower than -60 degrees. Any ideas?

Driving Through Tok in the Minus 60s (or Colder)

Yesterday, I did a quick little video as I was driving to the Tok General Store. By the way, yesterday morning was minus 71 (at least), and we had 4 hours and 27 minutes of daylight. Don’t even want to do the math on how much dark we had.

NOTE TO SELF: It will only get lighter and lighter each day. Lighter and lighter. Lighter and lighter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpehMkZG78g

Burying the Needle in Tok Alaska

Yesterday…

Me: How cold is it this morning?

Husband: I think it is 60 below.

Me: Think? Did you check?

Husband: I did but the needle is buried.

Me: Under snow?

Husband: No. Haven’t you ever heard the expression “Bury the needle?”

Me: Err…no.

Husband: Oh, you must not have been a teenage boy in Montana.

Me: Not that I know of.

Husband: You know, racing your dad’s Pontiac and getting up past 120 miles per hour. It only went up to 120. If you went past that, you were burying the needle.

Me: Is it colder than 60 below?

Husband: Could be. It buried the needle.

What To Do in Tok When It is Nearing 50 Below Zero

Here is an example of what kids do in Tok when it is too cold to go outside…

Here’s an example of what grownups should NOT do when it is nearing 50 below…

…that is, don’t leave your wine stash in the pickup truck outside in the winter in Tok…