Parts of Alaska are currently facing a severe cold spell, with temperatures plummeting well below zero. Recent weather patterns in Anchorage have led to a notable decrease in temperatures, with some of the lowest levels recorded in years.
The mayor has responded to this situation by taking proactive steps to provide warming facilities for individuals who are homeless or do not have access to reliable heating. After a two-day storm, the streets and rooftops in the state capital of Juneau were blanketed in snow.
The storm led to a new January snowfall record of 6.4 feet (2 meters) for the city, situated in a relatively temperate rainforest. That’s after a series of storms that had a significant impact on Juneau earlier in the month.
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Anchorage has experienced an impressive amount of snowfall this week, setting a new record for the earliest date in the city’s history to reach this milestone.
Over the past week, Fairbanks has been hit with frigid temperatures, dropping as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 Celsius).
This inland city, home to around 32,000 people, is famous for its mesmerizing northern lights.
In other remote towns, the temperature stayed consistently low, ranging from minus 30 Fahrenheit (minus 34.4 Celsius) to minus 20 Fahrenheit (minus 28.9 Celsius) for an extended period of time.
As per the Anchorage Daily News, in the small town of Kotzebue, located 550 miles (885 kilometers) by air to the northwest, the recent frigid temperatures of minus 30 Fahrenheit (minus 34.4 Celsius) and below caused the heating fuel to thicken.
Due to this, home heating systems and stoves stopped working. City Manager Tessa Baldwin has informed us that frozen water lines have been observed in various locations across the town.
Alaska Utility: ENSTAR Grapples with Storage Hurdles
Meanwhile, the largest utility in south-central Alaska, ENSTAR Natural Gas Co., has encountered challenges with two wells at a gas storage facility specifically built to manage the increased demand during the winter season.
As per company president John Sims, the system experienced significant strain due to gas delivery issues related to the well problems. Sims shared these remarks during a news conference in Anchorage.
Meanwhile, in southeast Alaska, the weather in Ketchikan was quite mild with temperatures reaching nearly 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) and rain on Thursday.
Ketchikan is closer to Seattle than it is to Anchorage, in terms of distance
Last week, Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson signed an emergency declaration that will remain in effect until Feb. 9.
As part of this announcement, warming centers have been set up, with some operating around the clock.
Alaska State Troopers have confirmed that a person, who is believed to have fled from a fire in the south-central neighborhood of Sutton, was found dead early Wednesday morning, possibly due to exposure.