Storm

Here at race headquarters, it's pretty much the calm before the storm. Race organizers are briefing a volunteer, but until the pro-class teams take off in about 40 minutes, it looks like we just wait. Here's the link to the GPS trackers: http://www.ionearth.com/2011/irondog/web/

The storm that delayed the Iron Dog race Thursday morning is headed east along the same path the racers will take, but it should reach Fairbanks before they do, according to the National Weather Service. There are two main factors affecting the course and the race: Reduced visibility and raised water levels. Charles Aldrich of the Fairbanks Weather Forecasting Office said the area is looking at an additional 6-10 inches of additional snowfall, on top of the previous storm and winds of 30-45 MPH. “That’s going to cause snow drifts on top of that, which will be a few more obstacles for them,” Aldrich said.

by Christine Kim Saturday, July 17, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Residents in Shishmaref say they lucked out after weathering a recent storm that was raising concerns over their seawall and their subsistence lifestyle. Photos sent by resident Ken Stenek show that the seawall is holding up, despite high tides and strong wind gusts over the past few days. Some residents from the village say families' drying racks for salmon are at risk, and add that several will have to be moved away from the beach.

Unalakleet is weathering an epic storm. People in the small community on Alaska's western coast boarded up windows and made plans to possibly evacuate to higher ground, if need be. The clinic and school are designated evacuation sites, and classes were cancelled, Wednesday. One family at the airport was sending an elderly family member to Anchorage. This town is not taking any chances.  "We're preparing for the worst," said Steve Ivanoff, who was getting his house ready for the storm, "I'm going to be boarding up some windows and just lifting, moving everything off the floor, that could get wet. " It's the potential for a storm surge and high winds that residents are most concerned about.

by The Associated Press Friday, January 1, 2010 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Gov. Sean Parnell has issued a state disaster declaration for the city of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough for damage caused by a sea storm. Parnell on Thursday also directed the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to implement Alaska's Public Assistance Program. The governor's office says the Dec. 1 storm displaced the coastal protective barrier in Seward. The storm and high tides eroded portions of Lowell Point Road, the Alaska SeaLife Center coastal barrier system and the city's coastal bike path.

A long, washed-out front has pushed over the North Slope.  Meanwhile, yet another, far weaker disturbance is pulling into the western Gulf of Alaska, bringing a return to rain and snow showers and breezy to windy conditions for the southern half of the state today. Look for more teens, 20s and 30s around the Interior and West.  Most of PWS will top out in the 30s with 40s into SE.  Expect wrap-around moisture into SW once again today.  Rain may mix with snow over Bristol Bay and Kodiak should see more rain than snow.

As the weekend windstorm approaches, the roar of chainsaws was actually a comforting sound to many today. It meant trees damaged by last week's storm were coming down by choice and not by the wind. Tree removal services were working hard to clean up from the last storm, and as a preventative measure for this upcoming storm. The slogan for Tony's Enterprises is 'you name it, we do it' as of lately that's meant a lot of wood work. "Yeah we were doing fence repairs and roof cleaning, stuff like that.

The Alaska Aces completed the series sweep against the Stockton Thunder 4 - 2 Saturday evening at the Sullivan Arena. Aces charged ahead 2 - 0 just five minutes into the game with a pair of goals from Wes Goldie.  Before the end of the first, Stockton managed to tally one courtesy of Ian O'Connor. Less than 20 seconds into the second period, Stockton came in with the equalizer from Jordan Fulton. The Aces battled to find the back of the net, but weren't able to until 3:57 when Nick Mazzolini scored the game winner.  Jaques Lamoureux added to the total with an empty netter less than a minute left in the game.  The Aces are home next weekend, hosting the Idaho Steelheads Friday, January 20th. 

Conditions up in Fairbanks are not getting any better. Schools have been closed and some residents are without power. The main roads in Fairbanks are slushy, but drivable, as the Department of Transportation has been out spreading sand and gravel. Though the roads are drivable, the borough has asked people to stay home to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles. They don't typically use salt in Fairbanks because it's usually too cold, but with temperatures in the thirties it appears to be working.

The National Park Service says 32 musk oxen were found dead and frozen into ice on the northern coast of the Seward Peninsula after a flood last week. The deaths were discovered during a March 15 flight to track four radio-collared oxen in the herd. Biologists believe part of the herd drowned in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve when a strong winter storm caused major flooding. The herd was along the coastline and several dozen didn't escape in time. On Feb. 24, strong winds whipped through Nome, forcing riders in the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmachine race to hunker down for safety.

STORY UPDATED AT 2:59 p.m. 3/26/13: The late March spring surprise of snow piled up the seasonal snowfall to above average in Anchorage, according the National Weather Service in Anchorage. By the numbers, seasonal snowfall in Anchorage: 2012-2013 Current: 76.7” Average Total: 74.5” 2011-2012 All Time Record: 134.5” (according to NWS records) Top 5 Highest Winter Snowfall : 2011-2012: 134.5 inches 1954-1955: 132.6 inches 1955-1956: 128.8 inches 1994-1995: 121.5 inches 2003-2004: 113.9 inches The Anchorage Police Department also had a busy day responding to plenty of reported vehicle crashes and ditch-divers.

The Shell mobile drilling unit Kulluk is stable after running aground New Year's Eve near Kodiak following failed attempts to tow the vessel in a fierce storm, responders said during a Tuesday press conference. "Following the U.S. Coast Guard reconnaissance flight earlier today, the Kulluk is upright and rocking with a slow, but stable motion," said Shell Alaska Operations Manager Sean Churchfield. Coast Guard Capt. Paul Mehler III, the incident commander for the Kulluk's grounding, said it happened at about 9 p.m. Monday on the southeast side of Sitkalidak Island in Ocean Bay. The Tuesday conference was convened at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott by the Unified Command, with more than 200 members including the Coast Guard, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Royal Dutch Shell and Noble Drilling as well as other groups.

The U.S. Small BusinessAdministration has approved issuing low-interest loans to Alaska businesses and residents affected by September's storms and flooding in the state, following a state request for assistance. The loans, announced by SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills Tuesday, covers losses related to the weather conditions that pounded the state from Sept. 15 to Sept. 30. The group's disaster declaration makes assistance available in the Municipality of Anchorage, the Denali, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula and Mat-Su boroughs, and regional education attendance areas in Chugach, Copper River, Delta/Greely and Iditarod.

With heavy snowfall expected in Southcentral Alaska this week, the Red Cross says it's a good time to prepare personal emergency kits. Alaskans should keep about three days' worth of supplies, including food and water, on hand for emergencies. Red Cross of Alaska spokesperson Katie Bender says it's a good idea to keep a first aid kit and blankets handy in both homes and vehicles. In Alaska it's possible to be stranded for days without power due to a storm, so Bender encourages people to be prepared.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied a request from the State of Alaska for individual assistance with recovery expenses after September's storms and flooding in Southcentral Alaska, a week after President Obama declared the incident a federal disaster. Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, says FEMA asked the state on Nov. 28 for additional information regarding the request, but denied it Thursday. While the disaster declaration frees federal funds to assist governments recovering from damage, FEMA's decision means only state funds activated by Gov. Sean Parnell's Sept.

After severe storms and flooding in September, some Alaska farmers and ranchers could be eligible for disaster relief loans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers and ranchers who suffered agricultural damages due to a combination of extreme weather like flooding, winds and landslides between Sept. 15 and Sept. 30 may be eligible for low-interest federal loans. Applicants must be established farmers with family-sized farms. The USDA's Farm Service Agency will consider each loan application, taking into account the extent of losses and repayment ability.

Despite President Obama's declaration of a federal disaster this week enabling federal aid in recovery efforts after September storms brought heavy rain, strong winds and flooding to Alaska, state officials are still awaiting an individual disaster declaration to help homeowners. State emergency officials say if a federal declaration to help with millions of dollars in property damage doesn't come soon, the state will immediately enact its own individual assistance grant program.

Less than a day after President Obama signed off on a disaster declaration issued for the State of Alaska, several areas affected by September storms began the process of applying for federal assistance. The Alaska Gateway, the Chugach rural education areas, and the Denali, Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna boroughs are all areas covered by Wednesday's declaration. Michael O'Hare, deputy director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, says the federal disaster declaration increases the response and recovery to the local communities for repair facilities and critical infrastructure.

Tuesday is the deadline to apply to state officials for individual assistance after September's storms and flooding in Southcentral and Interior Alaska -- but Alaskans have one last chance to request aid. According to Jeremy Zidek with the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, staff at the assistance hotline went off-duty at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone who leaves a message requesting assistance, however, before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday on the hotline -- at 1-855-445-7131 -- will be called back Wednesday morning.

It has the look and feel of a high school reunion, but these people were brought together by the death of a close friend and classmate. Claudene Christian lost her life October 29th.  She was part of the sailing crew on the H.M.S. Bounty , a tall ship that sank off the coast of North Carolina during Superstorm Sandy. "Claudene was one of my best friends, so this has been extremely difficult to deal with,” said Jamie Gates. “She was such an amazing person, and I've never met anyone else like her. " Gates says Christian and her became friends when both were on the cheer team at West High School.  Those memories were rekindled when classmates put on a hockey game in Claudene's honor Friday afternoon.