Tag Archives: Fairbanks

Going Dark

As of Thursday, Fairbanks has lost 11 hours, 41 minutes and 54 seconds of daylight since the Summer Solstice.

We will lose another 6 hours, 22 minutes and 13 seconds between now and the Winter Solstice.

Life in the North.


Fat Bear Week is Back

How many salmon does it take to make a Wide Body?

Fat Bear Week returns to Katmai and Brooks Falls. The bears have all done their part to get as round as possible before hibernation. Snow fell in Fairbanks on Tuesday, so winter is just around the corner.

The Bear Bracket

Voting starts today. Just jump on the link below to portal over to explore.org. There you can vote for your favorite chubby bruin, if you are so inclined.

https://explore.org/fat-bear-week


Happy autumnal equinox


Chilly Monday

A cold front has moved into Interior Alaska, bringing a full day of rain on Sunday and cool temps on Monday. The soggy Sunday even drove me to light a fire in the wood stove. At 41F degrees, Fairbanks won’t even hit half of where San Antonio will be.

I’m not complaining, but I’m also not ready for that four letter word that starts with an ‘s’.


A bit warm for Fairbanks

Monday was our first 90F degree day since June of 2017.


4th of July Parade

First Avenue Fairbanks, Alaska; circa 1911?

The second building in the picture is the George C. Thomas Memorial Library, which was built in 1909. The log building was home to the Fairbanks public library until 1977, and it was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1978. The building still stands today.

Happy 4th of July.


Life in the North

Murphy Dome, just northwest of Fairbanks

River Watch

An ice jam right at the mouth of the Nowitna River; Photo credit: The NWS and the River Watch Team

It’s the time of year where we all watch the rivers up here. Break-up in Fairbanks has lost the drama it had in the early days, before the flood control tamed the Chena River. There was a time when the Cushman Street bridge was rebuilt every year after the ice took it out.

Elsewhere across Alaska, the shifting ice still packs a punch. The ice jam in the above photo has caused flooding 90 miles upstream. Tanana, Alaska has experienced minor flooding from this. Communities all along the Yukon, from Eagle to Buckland have experienced severe flooding.

The Kobuk River has been added to the flood stage list. An ice jam could bring flooding from Kobuk to Ambler if the ice doesn’t break up soon.

Graphic credit: NWS and NOAA

In Fairbanks, we saw our first 80F degree day this season on Friday. It broke a record for not just the high temp of the day, but also broke a record for the highest low temperature for the day. It was the earliest 60F degree low on record for Fairbanks. It was certainly noticeable when I went out in the morning.


Green-up Day

Photo credit: NWS-Fairbanks; University of Alaska – Fairbanks campus

The phenomenon known as Green-up occurred on May 16 this year. In one day, the tree buds burst open, giving the hills around Fairbanks a very sudden green tint.

It’s eight days later than the average green-up.


May 13

10:07 pm ADT

The first beaver tail slap of the season.