Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Alert. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Alert, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
0.0 C (32.0 F)
-48.9 C (-56.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
1.1 C (34.0 F)
-50.0 C (-58.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
-2.2 C (28.0 F)
-49.4 C (-56.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
-0.2 C (31.6 F)
-45.6 C (-50.1 F)
n/a
n/a
May
7.8 C (46.0 F)
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
17.2 C (63.0 F)
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
20.0 C (68.0 F)
-6.3 C (20.7 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
18.3 C (64.9 F)
-15.0 C (5.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
7.7 C (45.9 F)
-28.2 C (-18.8 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
4.4 C (39.9 F)
-39.4 C (-38.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
0.6 C (33.1 F)
-43.5 C (-46.3 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
3.2 C (37.8 F)
-46.1 C (-51.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Alert still stand. 1979 holds the most, with 85.
Standing records at Alert by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1950
31
1951
59
1952
37
1953
59
1954
32
1955
55
1956
52
1957
56
1958
49
1959
31
1960
46
1961
46
1962
49
1963
41
1964
44
1965
45
1966
53
1967
49
1968
46
1969
39
1970
42
1971
42
1972
18
1973
42
1974
37
1975
30
1976
26
1977
23
1978
56
1979
85
1980
55
1981
43
1982
21
1983
25
All-Time Record Progression
2 new records
2 all-time records were set at Alert between 13 September 1980 and 13 September 1980. Each dot is a new record.
When Alert set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1980-09-13
Record daily precipitation
Record daily precipitation 25.2 mm (1.0 in)
1980-09-13
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 25.2 cm (9.9 in)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Sep: 25.2 mm (1.0 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Alert. The most was 25.2 mm (1.0 in) on 13 September 1980.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Alert
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
10.2 mm (0.4 in)
26 January 1965
Feb
5.1 mm (0.20 in)
23 February 1953
Mar
5.3 mm (0.21 in)
13 March 1957
Apr
11.2 mm (0.4 in)
3 April 1973
May
11.4 mm (0.4 in)
29 May 1952
Jun
18.5 mm (0.7 in)
18 June 1956
Jul
18.8 mm (0.7 in)
26 July 1968
Aug
23.4 mm (0.9 in)
24 August 1967
Sep
25.2 mm (1.0 in)
13 September 1980
Oct
20.3 mm (0.8 in)
14 October 1953
Nov
9.9 mm (0.39 in)
20 November 1962
Dec
10.4 mm (0.4 in)
19 December 1963
Period of Record Coverage
1950 to 1983
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
34 years of record at Alert, 1950 to 1983. 1 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1950.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 33 complete years at Alert, 1951 to 1983. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of -18.1 C (-0.6 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1979, at -19.6 C (-3.4 F), and the warmest was 1981, at -15.9 C (3.4 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 2.3 C (4.1 F).
Annual mean temperature at Alert as warming stripes, 1951 to 1983
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1951
-18.5 C
-0.44 C
1952
-17.5 C
+0.58 C
1953
-16.9 C
+1.24 C
1954
-17.8 C
+0.28 C
1955
-18.2 C
-0.09 C
1956
-18.3 C
-0.24 C
1957
-18.1 C
+0.02 C
1958
-17.0 C
+1.06 C
1959
-18.0 C
+0.07 C
1960
-17.7 C
+0.36 C
1961
-18.9 C
-0.76 C
1962
-17.1 C
+0.99 C
1963
-17.7 C
+0.40 C
1964
-18.7 C
-0.58 C
1965
-17.3 C
+0.80 C
1966
-18.9 C
-0.85 C
1967
-17.2 C
+0.86 C
1968
-18.8 C
-0.74 C
1969
-17.8 C
+0.34 C
1970
-18.5 C
-0.45 C
1971
-18.0 C
+0.14 C
1972
-18.8 C
-0.67 C
1973
-18.4 C
-0.34 C
1974
-18.8 C
-0.74 C
1975
-19.0 C
-0.88 C
1976
-18.7 C
-0.58 C
1977
-19.1 C
-1.01 C
1978
-17.7 C
+0.40 C
1979
-19.6 C
-1.55 C
1980
-17.9 C
+0.17 C
1981
-15.9 C
+2.21 C
1982
-18.4 C
-0.34 C
1983
-17.8 C
+0.28 C
The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1951 to 1983 is -0.2 C (-0.4 to 0.1) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: -0.3 F (-0.8 to 0.2) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 33 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Alert
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
-0.2 C (-0.4 to 0.1) per decade
-0.3 F (-0.8 to 0.2) per decade
1951 to 1983
33
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum
-0.3 C (-0.6 to 0.1) per decade
-0.5 F (-1.0 to 0.1) per decade
1951 to 1983
33
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily minimum
-0.1 C (-0.3 to 0.2) per decade
-0.1 F (-0.6 to 0.4) per decade
1951 to 1983
33
Not clearly different from zero
A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.
Extremes by Year
1950 to 1983
Yearly extremes at Alert: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
20.0 C (68.0 F)
1956
15.2 C (59.4 F)
34
Coldest night (TNn)
-50.0 C (-58.0 F)
1979
-45.8 C (-50.4 F)
34
Wettest day (Rx1day)
25.2 mm (1.0 in)
1980
10.9 mm (0.4 in)
34
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
42.5 mm (1.7 in)
1954
21.4 mm (0.8 in)
34
Longest dry spell (CDD)
107 days
1977
53 days
34
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Alert, 1950 to 1983. The record is 20.0 C (68.0 F) in 1956, marked on the chart; the median year is 15.2 C (59.4 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Alert by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1950
17.8 C (64.0 F)
1951
16.1 C (61.0 F)
1952
13.3 C (55.9 F)
1953
16.7 C (62.1 F)
1954
15.6 C (60.1 F)
1955
11.1 C (52.0 F)
1956
20.0 C (68.0 F)
1957
17.2 C (63.0 F)
1958
16.1 C (61.0 F)
1959
13.9 C (57.0 F)
1960
17.2 C (63.0 F)
1961
16.7 C (62.1 F)
1962
18.3 C (64.9 F)
1963
15.6 C (60.1 F)
1964
11.7 C (53.1 F)
1965
15.6 C (60.1 F)
1966
16.1 C (61.0 F)
1967
17.2 C (63.0 F)
1968
11.1 C (52.0 F)
1969
14.4 C (57.9 F)
1970
13.3 C (55.9 F)
1971
16.1 C (61.0 F)
1972
10.6 C (51.1 F)
1973
13.3 C (55.9 F)
1974
14.4 C (57.9 F)
1975
13.9 C (57.0 F)
1976
15.0 C (59.0 F)
1977
9.6 C (49.3 F)
1978
15.4 C (59.7 F)
1979
14.5 C (58.1 F)
1980
12.6 C (54.7 F)
1981
15.9 C (60.6 F)
1982
13.9 C (57.0 F)
1983
12.3 C (54.1 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Alert, 1950 to 1983. The record is -50.0 C (-58.0 F) in 1979, marked on the chart; the median year is -45.8 C (-50.4 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Alert by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1950
-43.3 C (-45.9 F)
1951
-47.8 C (-54.0 F)
1952
-45.0 C (-49.0 F)
1953
-46.7 C (-52.1 F)
1954
-45.6 C (-50.1 F)
1955
-45.6 C (-50.1 F)
1956
-47.2 C (-53.0 F)
1957
-45.0 C (-49.0 F)
1958
-46.1 C (-51.0 F)
1959
-43.9 C (-47.0 F)
1960
-47.8 C (-54.0 F)
1961
-48.3 C (-54.9 F)
1962
-44.4 C (-47.9 F)
1963
-42.8 C (-45.0 F)
1964
-45.6 C (-50.1 F)
1965
-46.1 C (-51.0 F)
1966
-48.9 C (-56.0 F)
1967
-46.1 C (-51.0 F)
1968
-46.7 C (-52.1 F)
1969
-45.6 C (-50.1 F)
1970
-49.4 C (-56.9 F)
1971
-46.1 C (-51.0 F)
1972
-47.2 C (-53.0 F)
1973
-49.4 C (-56.9 F)
1974
-44.4 C (-47.9 F)
1975
-46.1 C (-51.0 F)
1976
-45.0 C (-49.0 F)
1977
-46.0 C (-50.8 F)
1978
-45.6 C (-50.1 F)
1979
-50.0 C (-58.0 F)
1980
-43.5 C (-46.3 F)
1981
-45.6 C (-50.1 F)
1982
-44.7 C (-48.5 F)
1983
-44.2 C (-47.6 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Alert, 1950 to 1983. The record is 25.2 mm (1.0 in) in 1980, marked on the chart; the median year is 10.9 mm (0.4 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Alert by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1950
8.4 mm (0.33 in)
1951
13.7 mm (0.5 in)
1952
13.0 mm (0.5 in)
1953
20.3 mm (0.8 in)
1954
18.3 mm (0.7 in)
1955
10.4 mm (0.4 in)
1956
18.5 mm (0.7 in)
1957
8.4 mm (0.33 in)
1958
12.4 mm (0.5 in)
1959
14.0 mm (0.6 in)
1960
7.4 mm (0.29 in)
1961
7.6 mm (0.30 in)
1962
14.2 mm (0.6 in)
1963
10.9 mm (0.4 in)
1964
10.9 mm (0.4 in)
1965
10.2 mm (0.4 in)
1966
8.4 mm (0.33 in)
1967
23.4 mm (0.9 in)
1968
18.8 mm (0.7 in)
1969
8.6 mm (0.34 in)
1970
10.7 mm (0.4 in)
1971
10.2 mm (0.4 in)
1972
18.0 mm (0.7 in)
1973
11.4 mm (0.4 in)
1974
9.4 mm (0.37 in)
1975
5.3 mm (0.21 in)
1976
9.7 mm (0.38 in)
1977
8.5 mm (0.33 in)
1978
11.9 mm (0.5 in)
1979
5.4 mm (0.21 in)
1980
25.2 mm (1.0 in)
1981
18.9 mm (0.7 in)
1982
6.2 mm (0.24 in)
1983
15.2 mm (0.6 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Alert, 1950 to 1983. The record is 42.5 mm (1.7 in) in 1954, marked on the chart; the median year is 21.4 mm (0.8 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Alert by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1950
16.5 mm (0.6 in)
1951
27.7 mm (1.1 in)
1952
16.8 mm (0.7 in)
1953
35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1954
42.5 mm (1.7 in)
1955
15.6 mm (0.6 in)
1956
20.0 mm (0.8 in)
1957
18.3 mm (0.7 in)
1958
13.2 mm (0.5 in)
1959
20.8 mm (0.8 in)
1960
15.4 mm (0.6 in)
1961
9.5 mm (0.37 in)
1962
23.6 mm (0.9 in)
1963
23.0 mm (0.9 in)
1964
29.4 mm (1.2 in)
1965
19.9 mm (0.8 in)
1966
25.7 mm (1.0 in)
1967
28.3 mm (1.1 in)
1968
36.6 mm (1.4 in)
1969
17.9 mm (0.7 in)
1970
32.3 mm (1.3 in)
1971
24.7 mm (1.0 in)
1972
28.9 mm (1.1 in)
1973
23.8 mm (0.9 in)
1974
14.5 mm (0.6 in)
1975
17.7 mm (0.7 in)
1976
22.4 mm (0.9 in)
1977
17.8 mm (0.7 in)
1978
20.8 mm (0.8 in)
1979
18.0 mm (0.7 in)
1980
40.2 mm (1.6 in)
1981
22.0 mm (0.9 in)
1982
14.2 mm (0.6 in)
1983
41.2 mm (1.6 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Alert, 1950 to 1983. The record is 107 days in 1977, marked on the chart; the median year is 53 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Alert by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1950
67 days
1951
57 days
1952
24 days
1953
47 days
1954
79 days
1955
65 days
1956
63 days
1957
64 days
1958
40 days
1959
48 days
1960
61 days
1961
60 days
1962
93 days
1963
80 days
1964
61 days
1965
54 days
1966
40 days
1967
39 days
1968
23 days
1969
24 days
1970
42 days
1971
31 days
1972
67 days
1973
82 days
1974
51 days
1975
41 days
1976
40 days
1977
107 days
1978
37 days
1979
92 days
1980
44 days
1981
59 days
1982
49 days
1983
27 days
Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
33 years with a frost
Across 33 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Alert falls on 30 June and the median first autumn frost on 1 July, which leaves a median of 2 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by -0.7 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Alert
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1954 to 1983)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
30 June
n/a
30 June
n/a
-0.1 days per decade
First autumn frost
1 July
n/a
2 July
n/a
-0.8 days per decade
Growing days
2 days
n/a
3 days
n/a
-0.7 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
33 years, 1951 to 1983
A day with at least 11.6 mm (0.5 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 30.0 mm (1.2 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Alert: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
11.6 mm (0.5 in)
5 years
16.3 mm (0.6 in)
10 years
19.5 mm (0.8 in)
25 years
23.6 mm (0.9 in)
50 years
26.8 mm (1.1 in)
Longer than the 33 years of record
100 years
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
Longer than the 33 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 33 years of values from 1951 to 1983.
A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.
The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 25.2 mm (1.0 in) in 1980; 23.4 mm (0.9 in) in 1967; 20.3 mm (0.8 in) in 1953.
Download the Data
Data for Alert standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Alert threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-17 (17 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.