Still warm in Alaska after a week of Hawaiian air. Weather extremes.
The wind is ripping right now! It has been so warm here since we have had the "Pineapple Express" which is basically winds blowing up from Pacific as far south as Hawaii. We were below normal temperatures last month and so far December has all been above. We lost the little bit of snow we had, got rain on top of ice and more and more and more rain and heat until the ice was almost gone too. It is supposed to cool back down and snow but so far that has not happened.
While it was warm here it was snowing record breaking amounts just over the mountains to the east. Thompson Pass on the road to Valdez is known for having some of the highest snowfalls in the North America. There was 10 inches of snow in one hour and another 5 in the next half hour for a total of 15 inches in 90 minutes! There was an avalanche that cut off the highway as well. I used to live in Valdez and remember one morning we woke up and there was literally so much snow you could not see the cars at all. There was 4 feet of snow just overnight! And it was on Easter Day! It was quite the workout digging the cars out when that sort of storm hit. Driveways and walkways were tunnels through the snow! We would have snow almost up to the roof...I am serious.
I was also caught in Thompson Pass when avalanches cut us off on both sides. I was on a college trip with two vans full of fellow students. Someone knew the owner of the lodge located there and told us how to break in to spend the night! The lodge was closed for the winter and there was little food or supplies but we were warm at least for the night. The next morning we had to get up quickly since the Department of Transportation was going to clear a path through the avalanche for us to drive through though the highway was not officially open yet.
Alaska is a land of extremes but I wouldn't have it any other way!! I have seen hurricane force winds, more earthquakes than I can count (2 over 7.0 on the Richter Scale!), volcanic eruptions bringing ash dusting (not too dramatic), had to flee in the middle of the night when there was a tsunami warning (that was scary), lived in snow deeper than most ever see, and lived in +100F and -60F. Those are true temperatures in the shade, not sun and not counting wind chill. Living in the city now everything is sheltered and tempered and civilized. I have a garage to park my car in now for the first time in my life...it seems too easy. Even living in the city I had to park outside before. Everything gets more and more removed, but it is still neat to hear the wind howling outside.
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Have always wanted to go to Alaska. Thanks for sharing a bit of what it's like to live there. The professor I told you about is going to be visiting his parents here in NC for Christmas, so I'll get to meet him then. Will let you know where he's from and which University he teaches at. Carol
University of Alaska Fairbanks. I went to University of Alaska Anchorage. There is also one in Juneau called "Southeast".
His mother told me the name of the school, but I wasn't sure I remembered it right. Is it colder in Fairbanks than Anchorage?
Yes, it is colder in the winter and hotter in the summer since it is not on the coast and doesn't get that moderating influence. We are on the coast here but the inlet freezes in the middle of winter so it gets much colder than slightly further south were the ocean water does not freeze.
10 days until the longest day here in Australia. 17th day of December and summer. For the last 8 weeks I have been taking the extra blanket off the bed and putting it back on as I live up on the range about 200ks west of the most easterly point of Australia. Finally last night I kicked off all the blanket and sheet as the nights are getting too hot now. I think. We have sent the cold north to Alaska.
Thanks, Tom.
Hi Tom, I can't wrap my head around Christmas in summer...I know that is reality for the southern hemisphere though!
Reading this makes me feel impressed and grateful for the many generations of people who preceded us, whose hard work and resilience have resulted in the settlements and cities that shelter so many of us today.
It makes me also think about those biosphere experiments, and the idea that humanity might one day tough it out to establish a home off-world.
Yes, I have lived in both areas. Now I am in the city but where I grew up there was no city or hospital or school or grocery store or power grid for 100 miles. We were not even on the road system and the nearest real city was over 300 miles away!
Good afternoon Jessica,
I am sitting with my little fireplace which has a glass door, so completely safe. Jasmin and Cindy love to lie in front of it.
Your story gives me the chills. I have lived in warmer climates since I was 19 and would not want to change that, must be old age. Today we were eating our grapefruits/oranges at 13.30 sitting in the sun on the patio, a lovely 20C
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
I guess it is largely what you are used to. I love the seasons and would not want to live somewhere that was like summer all the time. I love summer but I get too hot easily and love the cool weather too! I also get cold easily though...so I struggle on both ends of the spectrum!
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Oh Jessica, don't rub it in with us Texans. Deb and I are headed to Alaska soooooooon.
Bless You
Sam and Deb
Thanks Sam and Deb.
Jessica