Snow

by Lori Tipton Monday, March 22, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Meteorologists with the National Weather Service say that a lack of snow this winter in Fairbanks does not mean the area will be more susceptible to wildfires this summer. Last summer, nearly 3 million acres burned after a winter with more than 70 inches of snow. This winter, Fairbanks has received less than 25 inches of snow, setting a record for the least amount since 1904. Meteorologists say studies show there is no relationship between winter snowpack and summer fire danger in the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada.

Light snow will continue over Cook Inlet throughout the day.  Accumulations will be very minor through the daytime hours.  Snow showers may intensify tonight and tomorrow as an upper trough moves through the state.  Moisture is still limited with this storm, but with the the surface low in PWS, weak cold air advection and the upper trough combining together through Saturday night, look for at least a couple inches in Anchorage.  There is still...

Snow has tapered to flurries throughout most of Southcentral.  Anchorage saw an additional 1 to 3 inches last night, bringing us that much closer to the snowfall record.  While today will be dry for the most part, snow is still in the forecast beginning Saturday night and remaining through Tuesday.  We'll get a break from the cloud cover and snow today and tomorrow morning in Anchorage and the Valley.  Patchy clouds and fog will persist this...

Alaska averages about 4 avalanche deaths per year, but the Turnagin Pass area hasn't had one in several years, and officials want to keep it that way. "There's a scale from 1 to 5, and right now we're right in the middle of that scale, and that's called a considerable danger,” said Avalanche Forecaster Wendy Wagner. The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center issues daily advisories on avalanche conditions. Wagner says the lack of snowfall this year actually makes us more susceptible to slides, because the older snow hasn't been on the ground long enough to form a solid foundation.

The Alaska Department of Transportation says it's ready for the heavy precipitation forecast through Tuesday night in Anchorage, and officials say they're ready to put every piece of equipment necessary on the roads. “We have to be really flexible in our plan -- we have to be able to flip-flop back and forth and change our plan and adjust it as necessary,” said Preston Hughes, an equipment operator foreman with DOT. Double crews began their shift at 8 p.m. Monday night. Hughes says they'll be working around the clock to clear 1,600 miles of road from Eklutna to Indian, with their first priority being the Glenn and Seward highways.

Almost 109 inches of snow has fallen in Anchorage this winter.  That's what the Municipality of Anchorage's official snow plow report says - double the average snowfall for the same time period. And for emergency responders, that means double trouble. Fire fighters sometimes have to grab a shovel first, before they can use a hose to battle flames.  Roads, narrowed by snow banks, are another big problem.  Just before 2:00 a.m. Friday, crews had to improvise when they were called to 12041 Galena Circle, off of Hillside Drive.

A rare mayday call went out after a 6,000 pound ice-snow mix collapsed on an Anchorage firefighter fighting a deck fire Sunday, according to the Anchorage Fire Department. “From the time the mayday was called, to when he was actually extracted, was about 12 minutes,” says AFD Deputy Chief Chris Bushue. Bushue says the routine call came into a three member crew from Station 14, off Campbell Airstrip Rd. "Over doing some training,” Bushue says. “Heard the call for fire.

After such a rough winter, a lot of Alaskans just cannot wait to get outside and start planting a garden -- but before they can do that, they have to wait for a record amount of snowfall to melt. Despite the delay, gardeners say there are some post-winter perks this year. The snow load should provide a much-needed boost of moisture when it melts right at the start of the growing season. Also, the snow has been acting like a blanket this winter, insulating the soil and preventing it from freezing too deep.

Near-record amounts of snow this year mean a lot of Alaskans are shoveling snow off their roofs, to avoid structural damage -- but natural gas provider Enstar says in the process, some home and business owners are unknowingly putting themselves in even more danger. Enstar says since February it's received 84 calls about gas leaks caused by snow and ice damage. The gas meter outside one church in Midtown was completely buried under hard-packed snow, Friday. While the meter was subsequently cleared of snow, it would have taken a pretty long time for first responders to reach the emergency shut-off valve, said Enstar spokesperson John Sims.

A low over the Lower Kuskokwim will move north today.  Moisture to the east of the low and wrapping around it to the north is riding an upper jet, bringing rain and snow to a large chunk of the state. Rain and snow will taper to showers this afternoon in the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island.  Snow is already decreasing along the West Coast.  An additional inch or two is possible today. The heaviest snow will be over the western Interior, from Galena south to Aniak.  A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect most of the day for the Kotzebue area, the Middle and Lower Yukon, and the Upper Kuskokwim, generally west of McGrath.  Snow totals may push toward 6 inches through tonight.