It's snow beautiful!

Rainy day on the walking path

WOW!  It has been snowing a LOT in Alaska!  You've seen the news stories about Cordova, where the National Guard had to be ferried in (roads were closed due to snow and avalanches) to help with removal of more than 15 feet of snow in the last three weeks.  In fact, a news story today mentioned that Cordova is OUT OF SNOW SHOVELS!  What??  Do they break?  I can't imagine that anyone would steal any since I'm sure everyone has to have at least one!  The National Guard has brought in snow melting machines since there isn't anywhere left to pile up the snow.  Some stories mentioned that people were trapped in their houses, with snow piled up at the doors.  Avalanche danger is high and, with only one road in and out of Cordova, a closed road means no supplies or emergency vehicles. 

In Nome, the big story is cold.  The temperature has not risen above 30 degrees below zero for 10 days.  And, it has not been above 0 degrees since December 23rd. 

Sunny view of "my" mountain

Valdez (of oil spill fame) has had 272" of snow since October.  The record yearly measured snowfall in that small town is 560", recorded in the winter of 1989-90.  At this point, they are on a path to eclipse that record.  This is why we don't live in Cordova, Nome or Valdez.   As you may recall, Juneau is a temperate rain forest, with temperatures very rarely going below 0 degrees (last time was in 1998).  Average snowfall for Juneau is 98.4", and rainfall amounts to 56.6" per year.  In contrast, Milwaukee averages 52.4" of snow and 34.8" of rain. Rainy

View "out the road" on a cloudy day

days have clouds lying among the mountain peaks, puddles in the parking lots and people walking around WITHOUT UMBRELLAS.  That's right - Juneau-ites just suck it up, put on their Xtratuffs and keep on keeping on. So the next time you complain about no snow, think of Valdez or Cordova.  And, if the cold gets to you, consider living in Nome.  Otherwise, figure that there is always someone worse off than you are - at least, weather-wise!