CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF ALASKA 135 



65.5°. The snowfalls are light, amounting (melted) to 8.25 inches, 

 the greater part falling from July to October. The severity of 

 the cold is indicated by the fact that the ground was found frozen, 

 as far as excavations were made, to the depth of 38 feet. Winds 

 and gales are most frequent from August to November and the 

 lightest winds are from February to May. The natives quit their 

 snow huts for tents about May 1. The tundra is snow-free late 

 in June. 



The watershed of the Yukon includes the regions whose cli- 

 matic factors are at present of the greatest interest and prospect- 

 ive value. Fortunately, there are sufficient data to justify clear- 

 cut statements that must closely approximate the truth. 



St Michael, 68° 28' N, 162° 04' W., although an island, imme- 

 diately borders the mainland near the mouth of the Yukon. Its 

 climatic characteristics have been fully set forth by Mr E. W. 

 Nelson. The winter is very long, the average temperature being 

 below the freezing point from October to April, inclusive. The 

 coldest month, February, averages from twelve years' observa- 

 tions, —2.3°, but in 1877 it was —23.7°. A temperature as low 

 as —55° has been observed. The warmest month, July, has a 

 mean temperature of 53.6°. It should be said that one summer 

 month of any year closely resembles the same month of any 

 other year, but there are great variations between the same 

 winter months of various years. Spring bursts into summer 

 about the middle of May, but it reverts more slowly to winter 

 through a partial autumn. Summer is very depressing, from its 

 frequent spells of misty rain and the prolonged presence for 

 many days of unbroken, low clouds. Winter is marked by long 

 periods of beautifully clear days, which are usually of intense 

 cold. Strong gales occur irregularly through the year. While 

 most frequent in autumn, yet fierce winter storms are not un- 

 common, which, with their terrible accompaniments of blinding 

 clouds of snow and temperatures considerably below zero, are 

 wisely dreaded, as even the hardy natives sometimes perish 

 therein. The harbor closes as a rule by October 15, and rarely 

 opens before June 10. The breaking up of the Yukon ice about 

 the 1st of June is usually followed by several foggy days. Very 

 light rains or snow are frequent and continued. The precipita- 

 tions scarcely reach 18 inches annually, of which the greater part 

 falls from July to September. Snow falls often in summer, some- 

 times in notable amounts. Rain or snow falls three days out 

 of five from August to October, but only one out of four from 

 January to March. 



