We had the coldest April on record, and May started out that way. Last week it snowed everyday, with temps never getting above freezing. The ice at Nenana is 45" on the Tanana River. It's never been that thick before. All the rivers, streams, creeks, and ponds are frozen solid. I still have snow up to my hips in my yard.
Suddenly Monday the temp jumped up into the mid 30s, Yesterday, it got up into the mid to high 40s. Depending on how close you were to the two rivers, The Tanana, or the Chena. They meet just south of Fairbanks. Today they are saying it will be in the mid 50s, up to possiably 60. Tomorrow Low to Mid 60s.
My driveway for the first time, (I've lived here since 1985) has water standing in it. The drive stands two feet above the yard on either side, but with the snow piled so high the ice along the edges is melting and has no where to go. Got a feeling there is a lot of water standing out in the yard under the snow. I'm not going to wade out there to find out. Now for the real problem. With all the rivers plugged with ice, there is no where for the water to go as it melts. Then as the small feeder streams break up and send hords of ice down onto the larger streams. The ice will slide along till it hits something that causes a backup. Then an Ice dam is created, and the water pushing on the ice will start backing up. The rivers still have weeks to go before they break, they are still locked up solid. Went to Chena park yesterday, walked out on the river. The river is still solid, no hints of breaking up. Walked upstream about two miles. One of the small streams flowing into the Chena has a Beaver Pond on it. The ice on the pond is frozen solid, but water is standing on top of the ice.
Anyone know how to contact Noah? My boat is sitting in the back yard, with the trailer solidly frozen to the ground. The Boat has four feet of snow in it. Maybe it's time to start shoveling.