Fifty below zero in Fairbanks? (Ketchikan, Barrow: dangerous, location, average)

[RayinAK]

It's usually much colder in North Pole than Fairbanks (in the city), most times by 7 to 10+ degrees. If the thermometers around the airport in Fairbanks register around -45, by Chena Lakes in North Pole it is probably around -55 or colder. However, I have seen days (rarely) when the temperature stabilizes all across the low areas to Fairbanks. Now the hills around Fairbanks usually are much warmer than in the city. It was that way yesterday, and standing at UAF it was very clear, while down below the city was covered by a thick layer of ice fog. Looking from UAF, the fog was like a white blanket covering everything, except for the tree tops, power plant stacks, transmission towers, and a few buildings poking through the fog. I didn't have my camera with me

[fairbanks101]

I hated working at Eileson. That place is C-O-L-D

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by fairbanks101

I hated working at Eileson. That place is C-O-L-D

Yes, specially at the flight line around aircraft. I did that for a few years. Wore military mittens for my hands, and inside, a pair of flight gloves (pilots gloves). These were issued to us because we could not work with mittens installing small parts or screws. Once the screws were threaded at least two times, then we would switch to mittens. We also had "bubble tents" nearby. These were dome-shaped very large plastic bags, about 6 feet tall, and n opening of perhaps 14' around the bottom. We would attach the bag to the pavement by placing a few sand bags over the open side, then would cut a 10" round hole and stick a Nelson heater's hose through the hole, and slice a door opening at the other side. The heater would blow the tent like a balloon, and we would enter and exit the tent through the slit (door) at the other side. It was very warm in there

[notreesininceland]

What do the newbies in Alaska think about the bone-chilling temps? Anybody wants to get out or are you still pretending you like the weather? Right now in Silicon Valley it is 48 degrees. Brrrrrrr. (heheheheh)

By "newbies" I mean those who have moved there very recently and who are experiencing their first Alaskan winter.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by notreesininceland

What do the newbies in Alaska think about the bone-chilling temps? Anybody wants to get out or are you still pretending you like the weather? Right now in Silicon Valley it is 48 degrees. Brrrrrrr. (heheheheh)

By "newbies" I mean those who have moved there very recently and who are experiencing their first Alaskan winter.

I don't know... nobody is talking lately See, we have been enveloped by ice fog for over two weeks now. The air, for those who have respiratory problems, has been quite bad according to the EPA. To make matters worst one drives to work in the dark surrounded by fog, staying on the road by looking at the lines close to one's car, and by trying to spot the barely lit rear lights of the vehicles ahead. The same conditions one the way back to work, day in day out. Ice fog in here comes from the same automobiles we drive, and from power plants. In fact we drivers are pretty much sniffing and breathing the fumes from each other's tail pipes.

[fairbanks101]

each car has its own smoke screen

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

I don't know... nobody is talking lately See, we have been enveloped by ice fog for over two weeks now. The air, for those who have respiratory problems, has been quite bad according to the EPA. To make matters worst one drives to work in the dark surrounded by fog, staying on the road by looking at the lines close to one's car, and by trying to spot the barely lit rear lights of the vehicles ahead. The same conditions one the way back to work, day in day out. Ice fog in here comes from the same automobiles we drive, and from power plants. In fact we drivers are pretty much sniffing and breathing the fumes from each other's tail pipes.

I'm surprised the EPA hasn't demanded that everyone in Fairbanks shut off their heat to improve air quality, like they did in Juneau the day before Christmas. It has been a great deal warmer in the Mat-Su Valley than in Fairbanks, but even still two weeks of -20°F to -25°F gets old.

If I wanted to be this cold, I would have moved to Fairbanks years ago.

[fairbanks101]

Originally Posted by Glitch

I'm surprised the EPA hasn't demanded that everyone in Fairbanks shut off their heat to improve air quality, like they did in Juneau the day before Christmas. It has been a great deal warmer in the Mat-Su Valley than in Fairbanks, but even still two weeks of -20°F to -25°F gets old.

If I wanted to be this cold, I would have moved to Fairbanks years ago.

I have been saying this on here for nearly 3 weeks... I wish it was -20 again

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by fairbanks101

I have been saying this on here for nearly 3 weeks... I wish it was -20 again

That would be a heat wave

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Glitch

I'm surprised the EPA hasn't demanded that everyone in Fairbanks shut off their heat to improve air quality, like they did in Juneau the day before Christmas. It has been a great deal warmer in the Mat-Su Valley than in Fairbanks, but even still two weeks of -20°F to -25°F gets old.

If I wanted to be this cold, I would have moved to Fairbanks years ago.

Well the EPA makes a lot of noise around Fairbanks, mostly relating to wood stoves. But they would have a hard time enforcing a law that would freeze a lot of people. Now, EPA-listed stoves have become very popular for the past two years. I got one of these installed last year. It only smokes a very small amount, and just when starting. Once the fire is burning near 300 degrees, no visible smoke comes out the stack. I run it from 350 to 450 degrees.