Nome, 64°31'N 165°27'W, 35 ft a.s.l.
The weather station at Nome is located at Nome Field, approximately 1 mile northwest of the city. Low, marshy flats lie between the station and Norton Sound to the south, exposing the station to winds from the southeast through the west. A series of foothills, with heights of 500 to 1,200 feet, extend from northwest through north to east at a distance of from 4 to 8 miles. The terrain increases in ruggedness and height farther north, with the Kigluaik Mountains reaching a height of 5,000 feet at a distance of 30 miles. The ground along the coastal flats is swampy during the summer months, but is permanently frozen below a depth of 2 to 3 feet. Vegetation in the Nome area consists mostly of grass and numerous small flowering plants.
The moderating influence of the open water of Norton Sound is effective only from early June to about the middle of November. Storms moving through this area during these months result in extended periods of cloudiness and rain. There is a nearly continuous cloud cover during July and August. During the summer months the daily temperature range is very slight. The freezing of Norton Sound in November causes a rather abrupt change from a maritime to a continental climate. The majority of low pressure systems during this period take a path south of Nome, resulting in strong easterly winds, accompanied by frequent blizzards, with the winds later becoming northerly and reaching Nome across the colder frozen areas of northern Alaska. Temperatures generally remain well below freezing from the middle of November to the latter part of April, with January usually the coldest month of the year. Temperatures usually begin to rise near the end of February and continue to rise until they reach a maximum in July.
Precipitation reaches its maximum during the late summer months and drops to a minimum in April and May. Snow begins to fall in September, but usually does not accumulate on the ground until the first part of November. The snow cover decreases rapidly in April and May, and normally disappears by the middle of June. Snow depths in Nome have exceeded 70 inches.
Severe windstorms do occur with winds over 70 mph recorded several times. Strong winds during the winter months when there is snow cover produce blowing snow conditions that severely hinder transportation in the area