Forget about a warming trend in Barrow this weekend

As frequent readers of this blog know, I like checking out the weather in Barrow, Alaska, from time to time. Barrow is the northernmost permanent settlement in the United States.  It suffers unbearable cold and considerable darkness depending on the time of year.

Here in Tennessee, we will enjoy something of a warming trend this weekend.  The weather people say it will be 70 on Saturday and in the upper 60s on Sunday.  No such luck for Barrow.  It will be cloudy this weekend with a high of 18 on Saturday and a high of 15 on Sunday.

So, here is a cyber tip of the cap to the folks there.  It must be tough, but I'm sure they must love it there to put up with it.

Too hot, too early.....Barrow?

I enjoyed the mild winter, but it has gotten too hot for early April. The predicted high for Monday is 88 degrees, and it is expected to be 86 on Tuesday. For some perspective, the average high this time of year is 65 degrees. Usually, when it gets too hot, I check out the temperatures in Barrow, Alaska, just to make me feel cooler. However, the high there tomorrow is expected to be 13 degrees below zero. That is just too dang cold. It is supposed to be a balmy minus three there on Thursday. Me no like.

Think it's been cold lately? Look at Barrow, Alaska

The temperatures thawed a bit today, and it ended a week or so of highs in the 20s and 30s. Temperatures that low are rough stuff for us in Tennessee, but if you really want to talk cold weather, look toward Barrow, AK.

Barrow is the northernmost permanent settlement in the United States. I occasionally post information about the town when it is really hot here in the summer, and I need a dose of cool weather.

Right now, it is brutally cold there. The high there on Friday is forecasted to be minus three degrees. Saturday it will warm up to a balmy zero degrees. The high Sunday is expected to be minus three degrees again.

I do not know how the folks up there do it. However, the cold they deal with on a day-to-day basis puts our cold snap in perspective.

Right?

Oh, to be in Barrow now that summer is here

If it is summer, then it is time to check on the weather in Barrow, Alaska. Barrow is the northernmost permanent settlement in the United States. Because of this, people there experience the worst weather has to offer in the winter.

However, during summer, Barrow catches a break. At least, I look at it from that perspective here in Tennessee. While we experience heat and humidity during the summer, Barrow often experiences mild temperatures that make me envious.

Other than a brief hot stretch in mid-June, Middle Tennessee has not had a brutally hot stretch yet this year. Temperatures have been around normal, but that is still a bit much for me. Highs around 90 degrees with high humidity on a regular basis is not my idea of fun.

This week, Barrow will experience high temperatures in the 60s with lows in the 40s. Tuesday will be partly sunny with a high of 65. The forecast is the same for Wednesday, but on Thursday, it will be mostly cloudy with a high around 60.

In other words: perfect.

Time for an update on our friends in Barrow, Alaska

Even though summer is a few weeks away, temperatures this week are sizzling above 90 degrees for the first time this year. It may still be spring, but it doesn't feel like it outside.

As I've done before, when the heat gets to me I like to take a look at the temperature in Barrow, Alaska. Barrow is the northernmost permanent settlement in the United States and just knowing it is cool somewhere in our country makes me feel better.

The forecast there for the rest of the week calls for temperatures in the upper 30s with a chance of rain.

Interestingly, Barrow is currently going through a cycle where they have daylight for all 24 hours of the day.

Personally, I think this is pretty neat, but I bet it drives the owls crazy.

The hearty people of Barrow, Alaska

If nothing else, I respect people who have patience and endurance. You know, the type of people who get put in situations that are beyond their control and have to just sit there and take it as it all plays out.

This is probably why I have always had a fixation with Barrow, Alaska. Barrow is the northernmost permanent settlement in the United States, and the folks there face an assortment of challenges.

The current challenge they are facing is that they are in the midst of approximately two months of darkness. The darkness began on November 18 and will end on January 24. The sun does not rise or set during this time though there is some twilight.

I think I would have a hard time handling that. The town of 4,000 borders the Arctic Ocean so coldness is its biggest challenge, but add continuous darkness to that and it all becomes a bit much to take. Therefore, you have to respect the tenacity it requires to live there.

On the bright side, they experience continuous daylight from mid May to early August, but I think that would be hard to handle, too. Perhaps the Barrow Chamber of Commerce should adopt the motto: "Welcome to Barrow! Land of Excesses."

Hang in there Barrow. We are thinking of you.