6.2.3 Homer Municipal Airport
the entire Cook Inlet region (Fig. 25). The total an-
The community of Homer is located in the Lower
nual precipitation (about 65 cm), however, is 60%
Cook Inlet region, 105 km southwest of Kenai and
higher than in Anchorage, yet the mean number of days
about 195 km from Anchorage. Homer Airport is situ-
per year with measurable precipitation (144) is only
ated at the head of Coal Bay on the northern shore of
23% higher.
the much-larger Kachemak Bay (NCDC 2000b). The
On average the first frost occurs in Homer by mid-
coastal shoreline on either side of the station curves
September. September and October have 4 and 18
northward so that water lies within 2 km to the east,
days, respectively, during which the mean air tempera-
south, and west. The terrain for a distance of about
ture never rises above freezing. The monthly mean air
temperatures for those months are 9 and 4C, respec-
2.4 km immediately to the northwest through north-
east rises gradually to 150 m (500 ft) above sea level
tively (ACRC 1997b). Nearly 50% of the winds in
before rising abruptly to 305 m (1000 ft) at about a
September are from the north, northeast, or east. The
distance of 3.2 km. The nearest 460-m (1500-ft) el-
frequency increases to 60% for October, and the trend
evation is Lookout Mountain, which lies 6.4 km to
becomes even stronger in winter, when approximately
the north-northeast. The nearest 610-m (2000-ft) el-
70% of all November, December, and January winds
evation lies within the foothills of the Kenai Moun-
are out of the northeast quadrant. The greatest pre-
tains, 19.3 km to the southeast and across Kachemak
cipitation amounts occur in autumn. More than 25%
Bay. The southwest-to-northeast-trending Kenai
of the annual total falls during September and Octo-
Mountains, with 1220- to 1830-m (4000- to 6000-ft)
ber, and half of the days during these two months ex-
summit elevations, are 2437 km distant.
perience measurable precipitation. Homer's first snow-
Homer enjoys a transitional climate intermediate
fall typically occurs in late September, but snowfalls
to that of Kenai and Kodiak in terms of temperature
often change to rain throughout the winter.
and precipitation. Mean and extreme monthly wind
Homer's winter monthly air temperatures average
near 4C, some 4C degrees warmer than in Anchor-
speeds are very similar to those at Kenai. Monthly pre-
cipitation amounts are greater than at Kenai but are
age. Monthly mean highs for the months of Decem-
still significantly less than at Kodiak because of the
ber, January, and February are only slightly below
freezing, and the mean lows are 6C. January is the
shelter afforded by the Kenai Range. Homer's total
annual precipitation amounts to about 65 cm, which
coldest month in Homer, with a monthly mean of
3.6C. The extreme lowest temperature recorded in
is about half the amount that falls on the Alaskan Gulf
Homer between 1973 and 1997 was 31C. As was
side of the mountains. Being situated closer to the mod-
erating waters of the Gulf of Alaska, Homer's diurnal
mentioned, northeast winds dominate throughout the
and seasonal air temperatures are less dramatic and
winter, and the wind directions become more variable
variable than in Anchorage. Summers are cooler and
in the spring. Mean monthly precipitation amounts de-
winters are warmer than in Anchorage.
crease steadily throughout the winter and spring. The
During the warmest months of July and August,
average annual snowfall is about 140 cm, with the
daytime highs average slightly below 16C and lows
greatest monthly amounts occurring in December and
are about 10C (Fig. 25). Although the extreme maxi-
February (Fig. 25). The average depth of snow on the
mum temperature (31C) for 19731997 was recorded
ground is highest in February.
in May, July's extreme high is 27C. Mean monthly
March and April are characterized by a rapid de-
winds are similar in magnitude to those at Kenai. The
crease in the frequency of days with below-freezing
monthly maximum wind speeds, excluding gusts, are
air temperatures and a rapid increase in hours of day-
relatively consistent from month to month at around
light. The frequency percentage of wind out of the
15 knots (Fig. 25). The wind speeds are lowest and
southwest quadrant increases steadily during Febru-
the frequency of calm winds is high during July and
ary, March, April, May, and June (15, 25, 36, 47, and
August (Fig. 25). The prevailing wind directions dur-
55%, respectively). There is also a decrease in the fre-
ing June through August are west and southwest (see
quency of calm wind observations accompanying this
wind roses in Appendix E). However, from July until
shift in wind direction. Monthly precipitation decreases
September, there is an increasing frequency of north-
during the spring, as does the frequency of cloudy and
east winds. The frequency and amount of precipitation
partly cloudy days, and days with measurable precipi-
begins trending upward at the end of June, typical of
tation.
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