Fairbanks Icepocalypse 2010

I've seen some wacky weather in my three-plus decades of living in Alaska. I've seen it snow in the dead of summer, I've seen the temps drop so low it was a life threatening exercise just to walk five feet from your front door to gather wood for the fire and I've seen it so blasted hot you would swear you were in Florida in July. Icepocalypse 2010 is an experience I'm glad I'm missing.

It seems Mother Nature has taken to turning on the sprinklers mid November. Yep, that's right. It's raining in November in Fairbanks and it has done what few other winter storms have ever managed to do; Icepocalypse has shut down Fairbanks... and North Pole, Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer.

At last report, the storm warning was in effect until 6PM Tuesday night. The Fairbanks North Star Borough has announced that area schools will be closed, all North Star Borough facilities and offices will be closed Tuesday. No Borough bus service or VanTran will be operating. The University of Fairbanks has announced there will be no classes tomorrow and University employees were encouraged to stay home.

Although DOT is working to sand/gravel local roads it is (as of last report) still raining in Fairbanks and North Pole and it's expected to continue through Wednesday. If you don't need to be on the road, stay home.

I mentioned to a friend earlier on Twitter to prepare for a power outage when the freezing rain starts to weigh power lines down. This is a great time to stock up on water; fill a five gallon container if you have one, or pitchers if you don't. Do you have a camp stove? Dig it and the fuel canisters out. Think about what you can cook if the power does happen to go out... now might even be a good time to cook a pot of spaghetti in case it does. Gather you candles. Find you flashlights. Charge your cell phones. If you have elderly neighbors, please check on them and make sure they're ok and help them prepare.

Weather like this tests the resolve and grit of Alaskans. We've been through nasty winter storms before. By being prepared Alaskans will weather this one as well. Stay safe out there folks!

The photos used above were sent to me from a friend and were not taken by me... We're enjoying the first snow-free Thanksgiving in I can't remember how long... and yes, it's very strange but we're getting used to it!