First thunderstorm at Barrow, Alaska since 2004
![NOAA-15 AVHRR 0.6 µm visible channel and 10.8 µm IR channel images [click to enlarge]](https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2012/07/120716_n15_vis_ir_pabr_trw_anim.gif "NOAA-15 AVHRR 0.6 µm visible channel and 10.8 µm IR channel images")
NOAA-15 AVHRR Visible (0.6 µm) and Infrared (10.8 µm) images [click to enlarge]
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
556 PM AKDT SUN JUL 15 2012…FIRST THUNDERSTORM IN BARROW SINCE 2004…
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED JUST EAST OF BARROW LATE THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER WERE HEARD AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BARROW BETWEEN 515PM AND 535PM. THE ALASKA FIRE SERVICES LIGHTNING DETECTION NETWORK RECORDED FEW STRIKES JUST SOUTHEAST OF DEASE INLET.
THIS IS THE FIRST THUNDERSTORM AT BARROW SINCE JULY 3RD 2004.
$$
RT JUL 12
The coldest thunderstorm cloud-top IR brightness temperature on the 01:22 UTC NOAA-15 image was -37º C (green color enhancement). The surface winds at Barrow had switched to light northerly at the time of the thunderstorm, but a few hours prior to that had been from the southeast at 15-20 mph (helping to increase dew point temperatures into the low 50s F).
Due to the extreme viewing angle from the GOES-15 (GOES-West) satellite, the narrow line of weak thunderstorms was poorly resolved on Infrared (10.7 µm) images (below), and the apparent location was shifted to the north over the Arctic Ocean due to the parallax effect.
![GOES-15 Infrared (10.7 µm) images [click to enlarge]](https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2012/07/120715_g15_ir_pabr_trw_anim.gif "GOES-15 10.7 µm IR channel images")
GOES-15 Infrared (10.7 µm) IR images [click to enlarge]