Biorka Island is an island near Sitka, Alaska.[1] The National Weather Service has a radar there.[2] The island is also a popular spot to watch sealions. Thus, a 2005 proposal by the State of Alaska to give a parcel of 438 acres (177 ha) on the island to the University of Alaska stirred up a controversy.[3]

The original name in the Tlingit language for the island is Watsíxh ("Caribou").

Climate

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Biorka Island has a subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc).

Climate data for Biorka Island
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 53
(12)
52
(11)
52
(11)
75
(24)
75
(24)
74
(23)
72
(22)
74
(23)
70
(21)
69
(21)
58
(14)
52
(11)
75
(24)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 38.2
(3.4)
40.9
(4.9)
42.7
(5.9)
47.7
(8.7)
52.2
(11.2)
55.2
(12.9)
59.6
(15.3)
63.3
(17.4)
59.6
(15.3)
52.2
(11.2)
44.2
(6.8)
39
(4)
49.6
(9.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 26.8
(−2.9)
27.5
(−2.5)
32.7
(0.4)
33.6
(0.9)
40.1
(4.5)
44.3
(6.8)
48.8
(9.3)
49.9
(9.9)
46.3
(7.9)
38.8
(3.8)
32
(0)
30.2
(−1.0)
37.6
(3.1)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19)
0
(−18)
19
(−7)
19
(−7)
23
(−5)
34
(1)
33
(1)
28
(−2)
33
(1)
22
(−6)
17
(−8)
−5
(−21)
−5
(−21)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 8.45
(215)
5.97
(152)
7.23
(184)
5.82
(148)
6.5
(170)
4.33
(110)
4.93
(125)
3.43
(87)
9.12
(232)
16.58
(421)
10.45
(265)
10.41
(264)
93.2
(2,370)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.7
(20)
9.1
(23)
3.1
(7.9)
0.6
(1.5)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1.5
(3.8)
1.5
(3.8)
23.5
(60)
Average precipitation days 19 14 21 15 20 17 16 12 18 24 19 21 216
Source: [4]

References

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  1. ^ "Biorka Island Sitka Borough." Biorka Island (in Sitka Borough, AK). N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Aug. 2013. <http://alaska.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,1,fid,1420452,n,biorka%20island.cfm>.
  2. ^ "National Weather Service Radar from Biorka Island, AK." National Weather Service Radar from Biorka Island, AK. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Aug. 2013. <http://radar.weather.gov/radar_lite.php?rid=acg>.
  3. ^ Bluemink, Elizabeth. "Land Grants Worry Villages. Murkowski Proposal Gives 260,000 Acres to University of Alaska." Juneau Empire. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Aug. 2013. <http://juneauempire.com/stories/021005/sta_20050210003.shtml Archived 2014-02-19 at the Wayback Machine>.
  4. ^ "BIORKA ISLAND, AK (500804)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 18, 2015.

56°51′14″N 135°31′59″W / 56.85389°N 135.53306°W / 56.85389; -135.53306