38F Below 0 - Then There's Anchorage

3 December 2012
7:10 PM

Sunrise at	10:27 AM	in direction	149°	South-southeast
Sunset at	2:55 PM	in direction	211°	South-southwest

Duration of day: 4 hours, 28 minutes (4 minutes, 52 seconds shorter than yesterday)

Ice Fog Hanging over Fairbanks Business Clusters

This morning we looked out to find the temperature on the deck was still at -30F.  Campus, for the most part, is nestled on hills above the valley floor.  But in the portions of the campus where it meets the valley, those cold spots are known to be among the coldest temperatures in Fairbanks.  We expected it would be cold on campus, at least as cold as here.

We bundled up, got into the car and headed to work.  Daylight had not yet touched the horizon, so we did not have an opportunity to see if ice fog hung across the river valleys, a sure indication of deep cold. I don't know what goes on with the Honda Engineering folk because they make completely reliable, long-lasting cars, but the external temperature thermometer is nearly useless.  It fluctuated between -23F and -25F along the route.  We always figure 7F or 8F degrees warmer for the car reading than the actual temperature, but it is not an exact science you understand.

That wasn't a cheerful thought to me because it meant our house temperature was only slightly warmer.  We are higher on the hills and one hopes for every little boon possible, although at anything below -30F, I am not sure boons exist.  Nevertheless, we were discouraged.  Then Gary asked if I wanted to drive by the time/temperature at the entrance to campus at the corner of University/Farmers Loop and College/Alumni Drive.  Since I moved up to Butrovich, we no longer turn that corner.  "Sure" was my reply.

As we made the turn, -38F flash on the marquee, soon followed by -39C.  We were thrilled!

Ah, Fairbanks.

Later that day I spoke with a dog show buddy down in Anchorage.  She commented that the colder temperatures were desirable to overcast and windy.  I asked how cold it was.  Well, she said, it is now ... 4F on the deck.  PSHAW!  Those Anchoragites are soft, we scoff to ourselves as we strut around because we live a far more severe temperatures.  It's a clever way to ignore the fact that we are borderline nuts.