Weather in Alaska and Antarctica and How It Can Influence Aviation

Pressure Changes

Weather in Alaska and Antarctica and How It Can Influence Aviation

Alaskan Mountain Range (52°N - 62°N)

Weather in Alaska and Antarctica and How It Can Influence Aviation

Combination of cold high latitude air from Russia, northern Alaska, and NW Canada with subtropical air from the Pacific equals strong storms with low pressures.

Weather in Alaska and Antarctica and How It Can Influence Aviation

Storms with low pressures over land Dutch Harbor 11-25-1977 with 27.31” Hg (924.8 mb)

Pressure differences of 100 mb over 800 miles will occur. When these low pressures are moving quickly – WATCH OUT for very rapid pressure changes over a short period of time!

Weather in Alaska and Antarctica and How It Can Influence Aviation

Strong pressure gradient interacts with the Alaskan mountain ranges to produce

strong winds.

Aleutian Island Chain strongly influences aviation weather due to the mountains involved

Weather in Alaska and Antarctica and How It Can Influence Aviation

Short video of flying in Antarctica