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1992 WEATHER OBSERVATIONS Taconite Inlet Project Abbreviations [Day of Year] * no specific time, range of times, or time not specified c approximately (in reference to time) esp. especially est. estimated ht. height min. minimum max. maximum temp. temperature (all in degrees C) Cloud types; number following type abbreviation is cloud extent, in tenths: AC Altocumulus ACL Altocumulus (lenticularis) AS Altostratus CC Cirrocumulus CI Cirrus CS Cirrostratus CU Cumulus SC Stratocumulus SF Stratus (fractus) ST Stratus OVC Overcast (10/10 cloud extent) 16 May 1992 [137] 1800 low ST creeps in 2100 in the fog 17 May [138] 0500 clear AM overnight min., about 50 cm off snow on box = -24°ree; * no clouds, at all, all day; winds less than 1 mph 18 May [139] * absolutely cloudless and still all day 19 May [140] 0700 almost clear; ST over the inlet and in patches 0900 clouds more extensive, nearly overcast; disk of sun visible 1100 climb through ST top at ~1000 ft; 200 ft was ceiling 1700 ST thickens 1900 ST 10 at 1000 ft; sun dimly visible, calm 2400 slight wind from the east 20 May [141] 0700 ST with 300 ft ceiling; sun not visible; winds light; * light riming on the delta during the night 0900 feels like a white-out, due to clouds and lighting 1630 clouds have been unchanged, very light snow currently 1900 very light snow; ST 10 * weather unchanged through rest of day; slight thinning PM 21 May [142] 0700 ST 10 at 300 ft, seem thinner; very light snow 0900 shadows and disk of sun now visible 1000+ lots of riming at snow surface, between 300 and 1200 ft 1400 from Echo, low ST below summit until now, then clear on lake; ST north of Lake C1 1900 clear 2141 -16°ree; 22 May [143] 0700 clear 0800 CI and CS moving into SE sky 1025 still and clear at Echo 1300 still warm and clear at Echo 1900 clear; ice crystals in atm. visible below sun; surface hoar growing on surface by Delta met sta. * PM gloriously still and sunny; feels winter-like 23 May [144] 0630 cloudless and still 0730 first breeze from N-NE 0900 was windy, now calm period 1000 winds lighter 1300 Mike arrives; winds variable, 5-10 mph; still very clear 1600 western half of sky AS 10, winds picking up 1700 overcast, AS 10 (JPH notes say OVC by 1630); windy, generally from the south, and warm 1800 AS 10; snow surface has changed - esp. new dust 1900 AS 10, winds 10-15 from SSE * Eureka reports 35 mph winds at 1900 2000 wind continues, fairly constant; very warm * feels like winter ended this afternoon; snow has changed from squeaky cold to spring-like 24 May [145] * windy during overnight 0530 ceiling unchanged, winds howling from S and E; snow in motion close to the ground; warm, like +2°ree;; feels like summer 0700 more of the same; AS 10, ceiling to north looks lower 0730 ceiling to N, W and S lowering fast; dust blowing 0745 visibility reduced, snowing * by mid-morning winds lighten 1900 clouds lift somewhat; maybe 0.25/10 clear, otherwise AS * on Echo mid-afternoon, winds were 25 mph * Radio reports very wintry weather at Hot Weather Creek (38 mph gusts, heavy snow, max. -9°ree;) * beginning to clear as we head for bed 25 May [146] 0700 mostly clear, almost calm [notes] 0700 PCSP weather form says AS 9, 6000' broken 1000 4/10 clouds, CI except CS and AS to south; feels totally summery 1030 CS blocks the sun, advancing from the SE 1400c overcast, spitting snow, winds veer 1900 ST 6, AS 4 2100c snow starts, winds from N 26 May [147] 0700 skiff of snow covers ground; light snow, SC 10 * variable weather all day - shifting winds, changing clouds: mostly thin with 6-7/10 * mostly overcast by evening 1900 SC 9, fog to north 2200 light snow; maybe ice crystals 27 May [148] * skiff of snow overnight 0700 AC 4, AS 3 * AM 6/10 mid-level clouds 1020 JPH notes: AS and AC 5, sunny and calm * variable clouds all day; lots of diffuse radiation 1600 light snow 1900 overcast: ST 3, SC 7 28 May [149] 0700 scattered (4/10) CI and CS 0800 clearing up to 2/10 1100 clear 1800 still clear, beautiful 2100 few CI, basically clear 29 May [150] 0700 thin AS 10 0800 thinning, shadows visible; some clear patches, no wind 0930 4-5/10 AS; calm, light wind 1200 clear and still; en route to Echo, on south slope, notice first sign of snow dimpling 1900 AC 5, AS 3 * evening partly cloudy, some ST 2200 spitting snow, yet sunny 30 May [151] 0700 very light snow; many layers of clouds, incl. ST at 1500 ft, sun disk visible; maybe 1 cm overnight * clouds thicken, snows until 1900c (about another cm), little visibility 1900 light snow, ST 4, AS 3 * partly clearing in evening, winds from east; cold 31 May [152] 0700 broken SC 9 0830 some clearing, est. 8/10 SC, with sun 1100c clearing all morning, now clear 1900c 2/10; AS 1, CI 1; -8°ree; 2000 overcast, windy 1 June [153] 0700 snowing, SC 7, AS 2; sky obscured by snow; stops shortly after 7, sky brightens * intermittent snow, with occasionally gusty winds, all day; little accumulation. Too snowy and windy to print met data from micrologger. * indefinite ceiling ~2000 ft all day 1900 light snow 2 June [154] * 2 cm of very light snow accumulates overnight; drifting fills footsteps and paths. 0700 snow, ST 10 0815 some brightening of sky; ceiling ~2000 ft, indefinite 1100 intermittent varying intensity snowfall lets up 1430 on Echo, in the clouds, with droplets at -6°ree;; calm, radiation bouncing around; new snow around (0-10 cm) and equipment rimed on north side 1900 light snow, ST 10 2100 light snow falling and blowing since 1600c - hard to measure; ceiling drops from 2000 to 500 ft 3 June [155] 0700 sky 9/10 thin ST, wants to clear; calm 1000 4-5/10 thin ST with lots of ice crystals visible below sun, creating a hazy, almost white sky below the sun and a small diameter ring around it. 1600 6/10 thin ST, est. between 1500 and 2000 ft (echo clear?) 1900 2-3/10 ST at 2000 ft, 1/10 CI 2100 beautiful evening; warm sun with a few wisps of ST 4 June [156] 0100 clear, very still 0700 cold, v. thin wisps of ST over Taconite Inlet 1000 witness amazing micrometeorology display by a snowy owl feather rising and falling in convection above the upper delta slope - yet no perceptible air in motion. 1045 0.5/10 CI 1200 from Echo, watch lead in ocean just beyond fast ice (with floating ice and current), marked by ST clouds proportional to lead width 1415 dead calm * sky remains clear remainder of day; 1/10 CI in evening 5 June [157] * clear sky during all outside ventures during the night 0700 clear, -11°ree; 0730 few licks of ST over the inlet 1530 CI reduces incoming radiation slightly (JPH notes clouds had not influenced incoming by 1500); ST hanging around some peaks, started forming to west and south 1710 ST blocks sun - bright disk but weak shadows 1810 thin ST at 2000 ft 1915 overcast, wind from the north (was broken at 1900) 2000 overcast, possibly snowing on Black Peak 6 June [158] * JPH notes say cloudy all night 0700 ST 8 at about 2000' 0800 1-2/10 ST; ice crystals around sun 1011 clear 1111 clear, few ST on isolated peaks to the West 1700 clouds have moved in: 9/10 ST at 3000 ft 1900 very light snow, ST 10 2100 (and maybe earlier) 10/10 ST; damp and cold 7 June [159] 0700c 2000 ceiling, OVC; light snow, ST 10 0800 light snow, ST 10 0830 blue sky patches to N; disk of sun visible AM weather changes little: 2000-3000 ft ceiling, OVC 1200 ST 10 at about 2000', -5.1°ree; 1400 9/10 clouds 1900 7/10 SC with some AS and ACL 2030 clouds to north ACL; Black Mtn. visible first time in awhile, with dusting of snow 2100 clearing * steady wind all day, and during the night 8 June [160] 0600 very clear, with a few CS to SE; little wind 1030 totally clear; maybe clearest sky of season thus far 1200 very clear to north from Echo (clearest seen) 1415 at 200m south slope dye site, sun intensely hot yet -6°ree; 1500 clear 1600c CS appear on NW horizon 1700c CS advance from NW over the sun; thin; JPH notes say no effect of clouds on solar radiation until 1745c, otherwise clear all day 1800 CS 4, calm 2100 partial dissipation of CS; beautiful CI streak across the sky in a variety of forms; another amazing TI evening 9 June [161] * clouds invade overnight; Mike reports 10/10 AS at 0000 0600 flat gray OVC of AS; sun dimly visible; feels damp 1000 very light snow * clouds up and down through 1300 1300 light snow begins; 10/10 AS 1400 brightening 1430 snow stops 1500 sun out, shadows visible; thin AS * clouds thicken shortly after 1500 1800 overcast AS and AC 10 2100 10/10 AS or CS; some holes in clouds to S and overhead * JPH notes say lots of snowpack changes today, and ablation 10 June [162] 0600 calm; other Ellesmere camps report high winds (30 kts); AS 5, CS 2 0800 bright sun and shadows, 4 or 5/10 clouds mostly on all horizons: CI, CS, and AS 1030 CS with small clear holes * after lunch, snow on Echo south slope feels much wetter than on 8 June 1530 7/10 AS, obscuring sun; spitting snow; winds picked up from the north about 1500 1715 Echo goes into ST cloud, wind picks up 1800 light snow, ST 10 * wind picks up in evening; clouds lower to 1000 ft late 11 June [163] 0630 uniform OVC with ST at c2000 ft; skiff of new snow on old snow surfaces 0930 snow surface on Echo south slope frozen enough to walk on 1000 on Echo, uniform ceiling of ST is 200-500' above; 1-2 cm rime on some instruments 1600 light snow begins; ceiling variable but < 1500 ft in places (Echo in thin clouds); almost clear through thin clouds to East 1800 very light snow, ST 10 * little change in clouds through 2130 1900 starts snowing, continues through 2130 12 June [164] 0600 still snowing; est. 1 cm accumulation on old snow surfaces only. Ceiling ~2500 ft; OVC SC or ST 0800 snowing very lightly; disk of sun visible, clouds lifting: 1/10 ST, 9/10 SC or AS 0830 faint shadows, K= increasing 1045c from Echo, ceiling at 2000 ft, disk of sun visible, 2 cm new snow 1100 clouds thicken, light snow begins 1312 OVC ST at 1000-1200 ft, blowing snow 1500 blowing and falling snow 1630 snowing hard, disk of sun visible 1800 snow and fog, ST 10 1900c snowfall slows down, N facing plants and rocks plastered; Black Peak visible, tiny holes in clouds 13 June [165] * snow fell most of night, to 0500 0600 AS and AC 10 1000c sun getting through enough to cast shadows; 10/10 OVC but 3/10 of cover very thin 1030 4 cm new snow measured on old snow crusts 1145 feels like lots of diffuse solar radiation; shadows sharply defined, thin ST 1400 clouds block sun (9.5/10 ST and SC mostly); wind changes to N and picks up; temp. drops 1800 very light snow, ST 10 2000 snowing lightly, ceiling 2000 ft same as all afternoon 2100 snowing steadily, sun visible, faint blue sky overhead 14 June [166] 0600 10/10 (AS 4 and CS 6), ice crystal precip v. light 0840 1/10 ST; have had ~0.5 cm new snow in past 12 hrs., which melted quickly off bare spots 1324 to N from Echo is clear, with patches and bits of ST hanging around; to S about same; overhead is v. thin ST 1512 clear; wisps and puffs of ST wafting about at 1000-2000 ft 1715 more ST; enough to cast shadows on the lake 1730 tiny ice crystal precip 1840 irregular layers of ST, coming in from N and mostly dissipating by Lake C3. Ceiling 200-300 ft but thin. Clouds around some peaks all day 2000 Blue visible overhead through thin ST; sun bright. Base of ST over inlet ~200 ft, higher on south side of Echo 2100 ST clouds over the inlet much thicker than in camp 15 June [167] 0100c Janet reports clearing over mountains 0600 clear and calm, -5°ree;; few licks of ST over Inlet (very thin), and over Lake C1 0730 notice AS advancing from south 0900 snow crust, under new snow, on Echo south slope (locally supports my weight) leading edge of clouds right at sun, continuous to south 0912 AS or AC block sun; shadows still visible; riming observed, south slope Echo, on grass and surface 1020c sun is in and out, no shadows 1312 est. AC, with stratiform base; mostly no shadow 1513c sun now mostly out of clouds continuously 1530c clouds had advanced north of T.I. (blue visible to north all day), now seem to be moving east 1545 broken AC to east, clear to west 1630 only 0.5 to 1/10 AC, under and in front of sun 2012 clear, except ice crystals 2112 clear 16 June [168] early clear and calm 0812 very clear 0920 clear, no wind 1100 same 1212 very clear 1400 clear 1915 absolutely clear, very calm 2045 clear 2200 clear 17 June [169] 0345 broken clouds 0600 broken AS, some CS 0900 mostly AS 10, faint shadows visible 1115 sun coming through clouds, wasn't previously 1230 AS 10, shadows in and out; from Echo: some ACL, incl. towards Ward Hunt Island; calm, clouds thin? 1300c tops of a few peaks have a formless cloud cap 1413 fewer and thinner clouds: CI, CS, ACL, some ice crystals. 1513 sun through very thin mid-level clouds 1800 AC 5 * sun was in and out all day; felt very hot at times 18 June [170] 0140 AS 10, snow surface frozen * skiff of snow fell prior to 0600 0600 flat, thick AS 10; lower than usual; light snow 0645 note clouds seem very thick 0715 ceiling and visibility lowering to north; light snow, wind from south 0900 blowing snow, ST 10 1530 continues much the same: wind 2-5 mph variable direction, snow with drifting and scour, visibility to about 5 miles 1700 snow stopped, after about 1 cm with drifting; ceiling now 2500-3000 ft, visibility up; clouds overhead thinner? 1800 light snow, SC10 19 June [171] * windy and snowing overnight 0700 much the same: ceiling ~2500', blowing and drifting snow, thick SC and AS clouds, sun dimly visible mid-AM very windy and snowy on Echo Peak; decide to not dump data to computer; spindrift into any opening in clothing; snow stings face walking into the wind * Snow all afternoon, with accumulation; wind varies from calm to throbbing. 1830 first non-solid precip.; thereafter type changes back and forth rapidly; snow surface soggy 1915 light rain, 3.4°ree; 2100 first clouds with form, moving by quickly at about 2000'; dark, but sun visible as bright spot; winds esp. strong last hour, can also hear high winds up higher; now dying * Today was greatest amount of snow recalled, in previous time at Taconite: heavy snowfall, and drifting 20 June [172] 0200 Janet reports clearing 0600 calm, with CI 2, CC 2, 3.4°ree;; melting action Snow surface looks rained on; much ablation around snowcover-tundra margins; wet new snow blankets old, so appears very white. 0745 CI and CS 5, including over sun 0815-0830 first mid-level clouds obscure sun; patchy 0845 AS and AC 9.5, moved in from the west; very fast change; air still feels dry 1115 At Echo, AS and SC 10 1400 gray AS or SC 10 1430 at Echo, overcast, 7.4°ree;, winds from south and 58% RH 1530 clouds higher, sky brighter; mostly AC to west, some SC 1800 AS 10 (JPH on PCSP obs) 1900 dark SC 10: flat and featureless base; 5 minutes light rain 2200c no change in clouds 21 June [173] 0515 hear water or wind to east 0600 AS 10 at 6000', 7°ree; and RH 67%; gusty wind 1345 intensely hot on Echo south slope, with clear sky patch overhead; very soggy snow [N.B. working hard when that was written] 1920 sky very dark (darkest yet seen at T.I.?), esp. to south; SC 10, cold wind from north 22 June [174] 0600 dark, SC 10, windy 0750 light rain 0850 still light rain 1000 rain; tundra wet 1020 rain changes to wet snow 1345 ceiling 300-500' stratus 1400 snowing hard, and has been since about 1100 1500 fog, esp. to north, light drizzle, little wind 1840 ice pellets 2200 sun visible, bit of brightening; was snowing hard up to this time; SC at a couple 100' 23 June [175] 0600 overcast at 400'; other PCSP camps warm, with high pressure 0800 feels like trying to clear, air drier despite light drizzle; variable low ceiling (ST 10) with holes to blue sky 1149 stratus looks thin 1245 light drizzle starts, ST variable at 300-500' 1645 at Echo, feels like we may go clear: clouds sinking; big change in snowcover at met site! 1750 cloud top at about 1500', with fragments higher Notice snow surface starting to freeze as we descend 1800 ST 6 at 400' (Mike on PCSP) 1820 winds pick up approaching base of ST clouds (~300 m) 2320 thin ST, cloud ceiling at 600-700'; thicker to north 24 June [176] 0545 very thin ST with holes, 8/10 Snow surface frozen on most of delta 0715 clearing; ST and SF 3 0814 clear, with only ST remnants at horizons 0914 clear, some wisps of ST to east 1200 clear, no clouds near echo 1314 clear, few wisps of CI to west 1345 sun feels intensely hot 1500 clear, only clouds on north horizon 1614,1814 very clear; great clear sky day 2015 very clear 2215 lots of ice forming along stream edges (radiative cooling) 25 June [177] 0600 clear 0620 notice CI to southeast 0814 CS thin, very thin CI all but to northwest (JPH notes say CI 4) * snow crust on south slope of Echo firm, supporting weight until about 1100 1414 2-3/10 CI, mostly to north; sun clear except ice crystals or haze 1514 4 or 5/10 CI, not in front of sun 1800 CI 1 2113 clear except SF over inlet 2214 few SF, otherwise clear 26 June [178] 0600 clear; few SF over Inlet and scattered around 0630 all clear 1100 clear, few CI to southwest 1314 CI 1 1514 clear except tiny CI amount to north 1800 clear 2114 overcast to north: CS and some AS overhead and to south: 2/10 CC, CS both thin * this was the third basically clear day in a row 27 June [179] 0114 clear, warm sun 0600 CI 1 to northeast; calm 0714 thin 3 or 4/10 CI 0814 thin CI 4 to southeast 0943 from Echo, calm, extremely clear to north through east; CI and CS to southwest 1144 at 300 m on Echo south slope: water flowing everywhere 1524 clear, probably was at 1514 1642 air feels cooler, sky clear 1715 clear 2330 clear 28 June [180] 0250 sun goes behind Echo Peak, viewed from stream gage 0300 very slight amount of thin CI to northeast blocking sun 0600 clear and still; 0.5/10 CS and AS to north 0914 clear; few AS near south horizon 1000 clear 1300 slightly cloudier 1530 CC blocks sun, no shadows 1630c clouds gone 1800 CI 1 (JPH on PCSP obs) 1835 clear, no clouds visible 1915 clear 2114 clear except 0.5/10 CI to east, 1 puff SF over Inlet 29 June [181] 0200 totally clear 0600 clear 0714 CS and moisture in front of sun; sky less blue 1605 hazy sun, thin CI 2, not blocking sun 1650 some ST around peaks to east 1800 one lick of ST coming up the inlet, tens of m thick 1830 ST thickening fast 1852 ST 10 1930 stratus have really reduced the solar radiation getting through - check Echo; base at about 100 m on Echo, but to the deck over the Inlet 1950 ST lower east, higher west 2030 clouds very low over Inlet; thick - only disk of sun visible 2040 stratus right to the ground; other side of lake faintly visible, can look at bright spot of sun; RH feels very high 2000-2100 snow surface on lake goes hard to mushy (Mike) 2400 fog, sun faintly visible; can't see to edge of lake 30 June [182] 0530 clear 0714 clear 0914 clear, normal haze or ice crystals 1300 clear 1640 clear, and has been 2145 clear 2314 AC 3, not blocking sun; appeared within last hour 1 July [183] 0200 AC 10, with slivers of blue between cloud elements 0600 AC 9 0930 at Echo, AS and AC 9, calm 1130 no clouds at surface to north, except some fog on west side of Bromley Island; AS and AC 10 [apparently], with SC and C to south as well; clear to northeast; v. warm 1500 sky clearing; although low AC to west and south 1616 edge of clouds about at sun, AS and AC 3-4/10; puffy CU clouds to south 1716 sun clear, AC 2 to west 1816 AC 1 to west on horizon 1942 clear 2016 clear 2200 some AS to north 2216 clear, except some AS and ST to north, low 2 July [184] 0200 cold; ST base about 200 m, looks thin; Inlet has finger of ST, base at est. 75 m, top at 125 m 0616 ST 10, as at 0200; sun a bright spot 0700 no change in clouds 0740 tiny hole in clouds over Inlet reveals blue 0816 same 0916 top of Echo Peak visible, still ST 10, base at 100 m 1116 clouds same; can see Echo and Little Dhaulagiri Mtn. are clear 1216 thin layer of ST, maybe 50 m thick; 10/10 to south of sun, 4/10 to north 1515 ST 6 to 7; clouds not to east, or very thin over mountains; sun on lake but not radiometers 1605 Echo looks sunny; in camp ST 10 blocks sun 1716 ST 10, thick 1916 ST 10, dense; sun not visible, can almost feel droplets 2117 ST 10; thinner to northwest 2400 foggy to east looking into canyon, can see across lake; cannot even locate sun; ST 10 3 July [185] 0200 ST 10, variable base ht 0600 ST 10 0716 ST 10 with hole to northeast; maybe higher clouds; faint shadows 0800 ST thinned to east, can see AC above 0916 ST 10, summit of Echo visible, revealing higher clouds 0940 sun, shadows 1216 AC 5 to north, with wispy ST, to south and over sun, AC and AS, ST 9 1800 ST 3; fog over inlet 2200 on Echo, clear and still; ST were on the deck at Delta, and cloud top was at about 300 m 4 July [186] 0500 report fog to the deck 0600 ST 10 and thinning fast 0700 thinning, some sun getting through 0916 to south ST 10 to north 7 or 8/10 1125 almost clear 1800 AC 1 2000 AS has moved in quickly from northwest; now 10/10 to north, clear only to far south 2100 AS 10, thin; brief light snowfall 5 July [187] 0600 overcast: flat, uniform AS, few licks of ST 1116 clouds thinning, sun shortly 1316 1/10 clouds but very hazy 1350 ST moving up the Inlet, sky almost white 1430 snow begins 1616 AS 10, light snow 1800 light snow, ST 2, AS 8 1900 snowing, ground wet 1945 snow wet 2100c changeover to light rain 2200 real rain 6 July [188] 0300 still raining; ceiling about 2000'; south wind 0330 no sign of solid precip below at least 1500' * rain much of night 0600 overcast, SC clouds at 2000-2500', no sign of snowfall 0730 looks like clearing to north; wind from south, gusty 0745 rain slacking off; air feels drier 0816 no rain; CS and ST to north, same and AS to south, 10/10 0900 clearing, and breaking up to south as well, still OVC 1000 ST dissipating, CS and/or AS 10 1210 CS 10; sun or even location not visible 1300 tundra drying 1639 sun is out; clearing from northeast; AC to northwest and solid AS to south 1720 2-3/10 to north, 8/10 south 1830 5-6/10 AC; sun in and out 2005 nearly clear, except southeast 2116 clear 2300 clear 7 July [189] 0600 AC 3, warm 0916 CC and AS 9 * From Echo about 0930, trace of new snow visible to north at >1000 m on one peak 1400 stratus and high AS moving in 1547 ST 10, base about 100 m 1830 same 2100 same, ceiling less than 100 m 2340 ST breaks up to east slightly; see CS 10 above 8 July [190] 0015 hole in ST overhead; most of sky CS; very light rain 0400 frozen rain 0600 light snow, dusting above 1000-1200'; ST 10 0817 ST or SC 10, v. light snow 1100 new snowcover has melted very little on Little Dhaulagiri 1217 ST, fog almost to ground, v. light rain 1330 drizzle to above 1500' 1510 v. light snow 1800 light snow, ST 10 2100 snowing 9 July [191] 0600 ST and AS 10, v. light snow 0900 thin skiff of new snow on old snow surfaces 1545 ST and AS 10, ceiling about 2500' variable 1645 snowing 1740 light snow 2130 v. light snow, ceiling 3000-4000', ST 10 10 July [192] 0021 hard snow; visibility only partly across lake; delta surface more white than brown 0600 light snow, OVC with some fog; variable winds to 35 kts. 0650 snowing so hard that worried about chart recorder for stream getting wet during change 1000 windy, snowing hard 1230 snowing hard, tundra mostly white; wind more intermittent 1400 snowing, limited visibility 1640 sun, clouds 10/10 1700 no precip, radiometers mostly dry 1717 ST or SC 10, no sign of sun; snowcover on delta melted, increasing to 50% above 100-150 m 2200 SC 10, no precip 2300 light snow 11 July [193] 0600 ST 10, light snow Freeze crust on delta snow surfaces 0950 on Echo, light snow, calm, in ST with water droplets; rime on everything: least functional equipment has been in 2 years - appears to have fallen as liquid on supercooled surfaces and froze 1050 from Echo, clearing to east but squall approaching from north? 1120 from Echo, snow starts 1400 snowing, beautiful crystals 1930c snow stops; ST or SC 10, calm; ceiling to 3000' 12 July [194] 0600 ST at 300m, with a few holes; see AS above (Ward Hunt weather is 100' obscured, 1/4 mi. in fog) 0940 ST 10, fairly uniform base at about 150 m 1100 shadows; ST 7-8/10 then overcast above 1400 AS and CC 8 to 9/10, some ST 1600 return to ST 1800 ST 10 at 500' 2030 ST base at about 500' 13 July [195] 0600 looks to be clearing; ST thin at 1000', some above 1900c snow fell all day until now, with low ST; starting to clear and brighten to north 2100 ceiling now 2000-2500', AS to north 14 July [196] 0530 snowing hard; overcast with ceiling indefinite 0700 heavy snowfall, giant flakes (see photos) 1130c snow stops 1700 ST 6 at 2500', AC 2; air feels drier; has been improving since about noon 1930 some clearing to south, 7/10 AS and SC; more to north 2030 clouds about same * Willows look to be showing fall colors 2205 8 to 9/10 mostly AS, some SC; faint shadows Ice forming on ponded water along trail 15 July [197] 0600 ST and SC 9.5, ceiling ~2500', most blue patches to north; warmer 0800 ST and SC 9, with blue patches to north; dark SC south 1100 AC 5, ST 3 1400 AS 10; doesn't look good 1600 weather closing down; snow starts 1723 still snowing, ground wet 2010 snowing and fog; ceiling variable, tundra wet 16 July [198] 0430c ST 10, seems thin but clouds above 1118 ST 10, base at 100-125 m; very flat and uniform 1315 same 1500 at Echo, cloud top just above station but variable; nice fogbow to northeast 1615 cloud top at 520 m; visibility to east only; SC 9.5-10 above 1730 ST less uniform at delta 1800 ceiling up to 2000' 2100 ST thinner, some holes; sun diffusely visible; higher clouds 17 July [199] 0600 nearly clear; margins and narrow sections of lake moat are frozen - first clear sky night in awhile; -2.6°ree; 0840 CI, CS, and AC 6; hazy sun 0950 same clouds, 8/10 1040 AS 10; sun only bright spot 1315 snow starts 1400c changeover to rain; lets up 1530-1600 1630 loud ice pellets hitting tent; some accumulation apparent above 2500' 1700 no rain but dark SC 10 1945c brief sun 2045 SC 10 at 2500' 18 July [200] 0600 SC 10 at 2500' again; warm; notice ice chunks from night of 16 to 17 still present in pond 0615-0700 light rain 0900 SC 10 * day #10 of low streamflow 1630 SC 10; gloomy 1800 SC 7, AC 2 2100 ceiling a bit higher; still overcast; warm 19 July [201] 0600 SC 10 at 2000'; very gray 1018 weather improving 1100 SC 8, AC 1; holes in cloud cover! 1118 sun; SC 6, AC 1 1218 SC and AS 10 at 5000' 1610 AS 10 1800 ST 3, AS 7 2000 6.7°ree; and 8 mph wind 2045 ST, AS, and AC 10 20 July [202] 0230 partly cloudy 0600 AC 10, as it has been; clearing to north 0718 same; less clearing to north 1038 at Echo - about to break out of clouds; sky to north clear, scattered AC to south 1118 at Echo with RSB and BZ; clear except at horizons; amazing change in clouds between 1000 and 1100; very warm 1453 clear; stream cranking 1700 clear; only clouds to east 2200 clear 2400 clear 21 July [203] 0600 clear, 7°ree;, still water areas froze overnight 0900 clear 1000 clear; tremendous energy input for snowmelt during the past two days, hard to imagine a greater amount possible at this latitude 1643 still clear; slight haze or ice crystals by sun 22 July [204] 0600 clear again, calm; radio indicates all Ellesmere camps are clear, generally even warmer 0745 at Echo - clear 1000 some CS to northwest 1200 CI and CS 2, but thin; slight effect on sun 1407 CS attacking, almost as a high haze 1500 the bubble has burst: AS to south, shadows now faint 1800 AC 5, AS 4 2300 evening has been cloudy, SC, AS, and AC 10 * windy enough that I run around tying things down; then dies 23 July [205] 0600 AS or AC 10, still warm, looks like rain still, as last night 0918 AS 10 1200 AS and SC 10; earlier a bit of sun 1245 very light rain begins 1315 light rain 1330 real rain, 9°ree; 1445 rain intermittent until now, then more serious 1700 not raining, but has been on and off; SC 10 at 3000'; no evidence of snowfall at any elevation 1900 dark, dark SC clouds, off and on real rain 2100 air drier but dark ST and SC still threatening; ceiling 2000' to east; still warm 24 July [206] 0600 overcast SC and AC above 5000'; less ominous, warm * Hot Weather Creek 14.7°ree;; overnight max. 16°ree; 0800 clouds about same; K-down feels very low (suggesting melt and streamflow due turbulent transfer or L*) 1025 very light rain, then stops 1150 mostly AS; can feel cooling effect on valley air of cold, high water 1225 AS 10, 9.3°ree;; sun dimly visible 1418 sun getting brighter, some AC visible 1510 back to AS 1555 very light rain during past 20 min.; clouds SC, AS, and AC; stream very high 1900 clouds looking better; AC to south; recently 8/10 2100 clouds thinning; mix of AC and AS 2130 9.9°ree; 25 July [207] 0100 AS 10 * Hot Weather Creek overnight max. 18.3°ree; 0630c clouds SC and AC 10; light rain; sun dimly visible at times 0750 light rain continues, tundra wet 0855 light rain, sun dimly visible 0948 pause in precipitation, sun dimly visible 1030 rain again; ceiling lowering to obscure peaks, est. ht. 2500-3000', 8°ree; 1200 still raining, 6°ree;; ceiling 2000'; 0.7 mm precip thus far; collecting bucket put out for precip isotope 1230 rain intensity picks up 1400 2.4 mm precip today 1445c rain stops 1501 sun pops out; great rainbow against Echo Peak 1508 sun again; stream very high; great plumes of suspended sediment entering lake 1615 current meter propeller breaks in highest discharge measured in 1992 1800 SC 10 1900 light rain; ceiling 2000' 2230 calm, ceiling up in some places 26 July [208] 0600 we are warmer than Hot Weather Creek (7°ree;); CI 2 0718 ACL 1, ST 0.5, CI 1; AS 1.5 to north 0818 AC 9 1018 AC 8, some are ACL; thickest clouds to south 1100 sunny 1218 clearing from north 1400 CI 2 1500 AC 5 with about 2/10 of these ACL; clearer to north 1700 mostly clear north, AC 5 to south 2100 clear to north, AC 7 to south 27 July [209] early AM AC and CI 7-8; large part of moat frozen over, yet 0630 temp. 5 to 6°ree;, partly cloudy; clearer overnight? 0800c overcast 0900 mostly AC, some CS above? 7°ree; at Echo 0930 AC 5, CS 5 1330 CI 3, AC 2 mostly to south; sun in and out 1518 CS blocking sun; 9/10 total = AC, ACL, CI 1700 10/10, AS, AC, CS 2050 AS and AC 10 2200 clouds about same 28 July [210] 0600 AS 10 with some AC to south, few wisps of ST over inlet at 2000' 0615 light rain until 0645 0818 AC or SC 10; wind now from north where SC lower, ~2500' 0910 clouds in our watershed above 1500'; top of Black Peak visible 0918 Echo is about to go into ST 1018 just about ST 10, at 1200-1500' 1050 very brief light rain 1200 clouds about same 1500 rain; clouds less distinct but higher 1645 rain continues; Echo visible, but precip obscures ceiling 1700 drizzle and cold 1830 view shows skiff of snow above 2000' 2130 clouds lift a bit; some AC but rest are ST 29 July [211] 0600 ST 5, AS 5 but hard to call; looks like snowing to north; temp. 2°ree; with very light wind 0745 clouds a bit lower, light drizzle 1100 rain intermittent through now 1200 thin ST 10, ceiling about 100 m; sun dimly visible 1315 sun visible and bright behind ST 10 1445 at Echo, light snow, sun dimly visible; SF hanging around various places; 2 cm new snow where old exists 1600 at Echo, socked in and snowing, cold wind 1800 light snow; sun dimly visible 2000 snow, with clusters of needles at 2030 30 July [212] 0600 light snow, ST variable ceiling to about 300', mostly around peaks; 10/10 overall with AS * lake ice has a cover of new snow on it, enough to obscure texture/age distinctions 0645 sun dimly visible; still, no snow 0800 returning to ST 10; Echo in them 1000 mostly ST, base about 1200' 1200c snow begins 1400-1645 pretty steady snow; ground almost white at Delta 1645 1800 snowing, 2 cm snow sitting on mini-screen; sun dimly visible 1900 still snowing, though tundra snow mostly melted, now wet 1947 snowing lightly, radiometers attended to by clearing and wiping 2030 on upper delta, some snow here and there; most snow evidence above 1000' 2248 drizzle, sun visible; see to 3500' to north 31 July [213] * new snow yesterday measured at 3-4 cm on old snow surfaces 0600 ST and SF 4-5 variable ht, CI 2 0930c from Echo, entire view above 1000' has a dusting of bright new snow; clouds limited to SF above tundra slopes where snow has recently evaporated. Basically clear to north; CI and AC to south, about half way to Tanquary. Lake C3 uniformly and entirely white 1100 clear except some AC to far south 1130 clouds advancing, almost to sun 1218 AC over sun, faint shadows 1418 CI and AC thin, 7-8/10; clearest to east 1700 2/10 clouds, CS to west and south, CI above, isolated ST; Little Dhaulagiri Mtn. snow has melted 1730 CS getting more serious, blocking sun and to south 1800 CS 5, CI 2 2130 AS 10, wispy ST 1 August [214] 0600 feels like August, ST 6 at about 500' with holes showing AC, AS, and CS for another 2-3/10. -3°ree; 0645 ST lifting, esp. clear to north; to south AC and AS 10 0745 same, AC include ACL 0850 SC moving south 1230 SC, AC, and SC 10 [mistake, one SC = AC?]; has been closing in from the north all morning, looks like now snowing to north 1445c light snow, 4000' SC 1530 real snow 1800 still snowing (has been nonstop); ceiling obscured, 2000' upward visibility in light snow; snowline 600-800' 1945 snowing lightly, dusting above 1000' 2030 still light snow, can see SC, ceiling at 3000' and bright area where sun should be 2 August [215] 0600 about lowest stream ht. yet; light snow, SC 10, about 0°ree; * dusting of new snow above 1000', most was there last night 0700 patch of blue; mostly AS, sun dimly visible 0918 SC and AS 10, no precip 1118 clouds same 1400 still AC and SC 10, sun dimly visible 1800 SC 1, AS 9 2130 sun out, with shadows; mostly SC and AS; thin and hazy overhead 3 August [216] 0600 SF 1 variable, AC 1; about half of entire moat thinly frozen over 0600 radio indicates T.I. is only place in the Islands not overcast; 3" snow overnight at Otto Fjord, record minima at Eureka last 3 days 0945 at Echo, <1/10 clouds, low ST over ocean, some ST to south; new snow now mostly above 1000-1500' and on north slopes - south facing slopes clearer 1043 ST moving into T.I. more seriously 1130 on Echo south slope, ST base at 200 m; getting cold and windy 1200 in camp, ST 10 except hole to north; bay to north still frozen over from last night; Echo still appears clear 1400 1-2/10 ST at Delta 1530 Styrofoam bay still frozen 1650 clear, except bit of CU toward M'Clintock Inlet 1718 SC blocking sun somewhat; sky clear otherwise 1800 ST 4; other stations snowing or v. overcast 1920 clouds same as 1800 2345 peaceful SC 9 at 3000' 4 August [217] 0600 AC and AS, CI and CS 8/10; radio reports either Eureka or Alert [it's not clear in notes] had 4 cm new snow after 2200 yesterday, new record for the day and still snowing; Low is over NE Devon Island, at 987 mb 0700 AS 10 0820 AS 10 1000 wind picks up, AS 10 1130-1145 ceiling is dropping, looks to be snowing and accumulating up high, to the west; evaporating before reaching sea level? 1330 sky obscured in light snow, visibility 1 mi. 1700 AS 10, brighter to north; snowing now for 3 hours; dusting above 1000' and on snow on lake and on tents; tundra wet 1800 winds now from south; light snow; ST 1, AS 9 1830 snow stops, peaceful; snowing to north; sun dimly visible 2130 AS 10, some ST over inlet, around peaks (incl. Echo); sun dimly visible; dusting of new snow above 1000'; ST clouds appear to be moving south to north and evaporating 5 August [218] 0600 ST 1 at 600', SC 8 at 2000', -2°ree;; Expedition Fjord reports 3" snow cover everywhere 0630 clearing overhead (3/10 clouds), but no sun yet as clouds over mountains and sun too low 0650 sun emerges; Truelove Inlet reports 1/2" snowcover 0730 clouds same, sunny 0830 same 1018 sun in the clear; ST 2 between 2000 and 3000' 1118 same, with ST 2 and 0.5 CI 1300 SC blocks sun; clear only to north Stream about lowest ever 1418 sunny, SC 6-8/10 to south, 5/10 CI to north; still snow on north side of lab tent 1600 mostly AS 1703 no sun, almost overcast AS 1725 AS 10 plus SC; sun occasionally dimly visible, wind increasing 1850 looks like snow starting to north; clouds uniform SC with flat base, dark 1940 very dry air (56% at 1800); snowing hard down the inlet but none here yet - looks to be evaporating 2118 snowing; ceiling obscured, accumulating to 1000' 6 August [219] 0600 sky obscured by snow; snow ablation on lake apparent; snowline at about 250 m; Little Dhaulagiri Mtn. has more of a dusting than the past few days snows 0710 same 0830 same, except winds variable and gusty; beautiful banner visible off peak to south of Black Peak, as snow from last night and this morning heads northeast 1030 precip has gotten wetter, but mostly snow; visibility was up a bit, now down to 1 mile in snow * Glacier trip: hard snow all day, find 20-40 cm new snow on most of glacier surface, and no sign of 3 of 4 stakes (15 cm new at south upper stake we did find - standing) 2130 sky obscured in light snow; ceiling 2500', 2 mi. visibility 7 August [220] 0600 snow, visibility 2 mi., winds 16 mph 0730 precip changes to rain 0830 precip stops, snowline at 75 m 0940 on Echo, very light snow, windy 1020 SC breaking up, winds picking up 1045 spots of sun visible on the sea ice 1300 light rain on delta; ceiling and visibility closing in 1330-1430 rain moderately hard, very wet 1630 light rain 1730 rain changes back to snow, blowing from north, temp. dropping 1900 snow changes back to rain 2100-2400 on Echo, in hard blowing snow; accumulation to 40 cm on north side of ridge, as drift; fair amount of snow down to 300-400 m (e.g. enough to fall face first with a heavy pack, and not get hurt!); very wintry 8 August [221] 0545 light rain or drizzle 0730 helicopter arrives, ceiling 2500-3000' 1500c weather starts closing down, after a trend of looking better; Duncan Grant at 1545 reports icing on descent 1600c now raining; tents down 1800 light rain, 2500' overcast SC 10 1900 only pockets of snow visible on Little Dhaulagiri Mtn. - hard to imagine after snowy evening last night; stream relatively high 9 August [222] 0400 wind and rain continue until now, buffeting tent 0430 stream a bit higher, still quite clear; much lake ice ablation due warm temperatures 0600 3.7°ree;, very light rain, overcast, ST 10 1200 still precip to northwest; southeast looks great 1400 depart with Duncan Grant 1992 sources: DRH field books A and B met book PCSP weather observations JPH field books