Most northern tip of Canadian Arctic shatters heat record
Their previous heat record was set over 60 years ago
The small community of Alert, Nunavut is the most northern permanently inhabited region on the planet and they have officially entered uncharted waters. On July 14 Alert shattered their previous record high temperature when they reached 21°C, which is one degree higher than their previous record of 20°C in 1956.
For reference, high temperatures in July are typically only a few degrees above freezing for this region (5-6°C), with nighttime lows hovering near the freezing mark.
Through pre-dawn Monday, the Alert weather station didn't drop below 15°C, which was highly unusual for the region and likely an all-time warm minimum temperature record for the area.
What's more impressive is the station not only recorded one day above 20°C, but also a second one on Monday; consequently, this is the first time this climate station has recorded back-to-back days warmer than 20°C.
THE CAUSE
A strong upper-level region of high pressure situated over Greenland spilled into the Arctic Ocean, but that isn't the only necessary ingredient.
This type of atmospheric blocking pattern is responsible, but a strong southerly flow allowed the surface temperature to have minimal influence from the relatively chilly waters of the Arctic Ocean.
VICTORIA VS. ALERT
Over 4,000 kilometres away, Victoria recorded a lower temperature than the most northern tip of Canada on Sunday (20.6°C) and Monday as well (19.5°C).
These two communities have a staggering amount of lines of latitude in between them, with the City of Victoria situated at 48°N, while Alert is plopped north of 82°N.
This is in fact, the first time a temperature warmer than 20° has been measured north of 80° on the planet. The previous record was held by Alert – the old benchmark being 20°C back in July 1956.
