The Alaska State Fair saw the state’s record broken for the largest pumpkin grown in the state. 2147 pounds worth.
Category Archives: Alaska
Code Red
There is a tint of gold to the hills these days, and the fireweed is bright red. We are venturing towards the Dark Side.
The last snow pile
Department of Transportation employees were out breaking up the last mound of snow that they hauled this past winter. I think they took it personally, that last year’s snow was going to still be there when they started to haul in this coming season’s snow.
The mound above was broken up and spread out to get it to melt. No word on whether overtime pay was involved.
Water meets Gravity
The disappearance of Harry Potter Lake:
An arctic lake, with the amusing name of Harry Potter Lake, undertook a disappearing act this summer. The lake was large enough that someone standing on one shore, could not see across it. Running within 30 yards of the lake, and ten feet below it in elevation was Judy Kayaak Creek. Scientists were working in the area because oil companies were interested in developing it, and they noticed that the dam was about to break.
Setting up trail cameras and watching via satellite, the lake did not disappoint. Once the strip of tundra between the lake and creek was breached, gravity and the power of water took over. Within 24 hours, most of Harry Potter Lake was rushing towards the Arctic Ocean.
At the height of the rush, Judy Kayaak Creek had an estimated 100 times its normal volume. The village of Nuiqsut had been warned of the potential flooding, but no ensuing damage was reported.
Sources: UAF Geophysical Institute/Ned Rozell
North Cerebus
The North Cerebus crater at Semisopochnoi Island released a large ash plume on Sunday. It was the first confirmed emission since June 12.
Semisopochnoi has no native land mammals, but it is home to over 1 million sea birds.
The Return of the Lights
As we slide into the Dark Abyss that is winter, there is one phenomenon that makes up for our shortened days: The Northern Lights.
With a geomagnetic storm in progress, and a forecast of clear skies, the first aurora of the season may be visible over the cabin in the next few days.
Falling short of 90
Even though Alaska had a warm and very dry start to summer, the state has not seen 90F yet. although some recording stations have hit 89F. A few northern locations in the Yukon and Northwest Territories broke the 90 degree mark, but none in Alaska.
The end of civil twilight
The period of civil twilight+ came to an end in Fairbanks late last week. It was a run of 75 days of constant light. Basically, one can do anything outside without the use of artificial lights during civil twilight. Including baseball games!
It’s all downhill from here until December 21st.
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