Running down Mount Marathon Bowl in the spring sunlight.
Photo credit: Mike Mitchell

Oh, Seward, how I miss thee! Especially when the sun is shining.

My love for your (my old!) quirky little town is featured in this week’s Anchorage Press headlamp section. I can’t display the whole story, due to copyright issues, but can include a little tidbit. The full story, Slowing down the pace in Seward, can be found through this link.

“There’s something magical about the Lost Lake Trail, something timeless and profound. The hemlock and spruce trees reached silently toward us as we ran past, their branches coated in snow, and everywhere there was only silence and snow and dark clusters of spruce so that after a while it was as if nothing existed but the two of us and the dog and our breaths and bodies running up and up and up.

Our mood was eventually broken by an approaching snow machine and the intrusion of noise and people, but no matter. We timed our run for late afternoon, when most of the snow machines are off the trail, and we were interrupted only twice. All the snow machiners were friendly, veering toward the side of the trail to give us passing room.

About a half mile from the cabin we emerged from the trees. The sun shone and the snow was so white it hurt our eyes. I said to my partner, “I would like to die here,” and he nodded because he knew that I didn’t mean then or even ever but simply that it would be worth it to die in such a place, on such a day.”

By Cinthia Ritchie.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluating alternatives for the feasibility of an interagency multi-modal trail along the Herman Leirer Road is now available for public comment.  A multi-use trail (bicycle, pedestrian and ski) is being considered along the Herman Leirer Road, starting from the Seward Highway and ending at the Exit Glacier Nature Center in Kenai Fjords National Park. The approximately 8.2 mile trail would pass through public lands and right-of-ways managed by the State of Alaska, United States Forest Service, and National Park Service.  No private lands would be involved, but in some areas private lands would be adjacent to the trail corridor. This environmental assessment analyzes the impacts of different trail routing concept alternatives.

The purpose of the project is to increase the recreational opportunities and public safety along Herman Leirer Road.  Project goals are to provide increased safety and a more enjoyable recreational experience for both trail users and road users by separating conflicting uses. Project alternatives would create a non-motorized, multi-modal trail along the Herman Leirer Road corridor for use either in short sections or in its entire length.

It is important to note that at this time there is not a funded project to construct any of the proposed alternatives. This EA will serve as a common vision for state, federal, and local agencies as well as organizations to pursue funding for such a project by any number of sources.  Funding the entire trail through a single funded project may not be possible and each agency may need to seek funding for their respective segments over a period of several years.  The goal of this multi-modal trail which traverses across a variety of public lands and right-of-ways is to offer an outstanding visitor experience while protecting the resources over which each agency has responsibility. 

The environmental assessment analyzes a range of one no action alternative and three action alternatives for consideration:

Alternative A – No Action – No designated trail for non-motorized use

No designated trail exists and non-motorized travelers use the paved road or road edge for bicycling, skiing, mushing, and pedestrian travel.

Alternative B – Meandering Separated Trail (Preferred Alternative)
A non-motorized trail would be designed and constructed for use by pedestrians, mountain bikes (bicycles), skiers and mushers. A 10 to 12 foot wide soft surface pathway that meanders farther from the road would be constructed with a number of new trail bridges separated from the road.

Alternative C – Minimum Separation Roadside Trail
A 12 foot wide soft pathway would be added to the north side of Herman Leirer Road (using existing trails when feasible), separated from the road by a 5 foot vegetated buffer.  Connections to existing trails would be improved.

Alternative D – No Separation Road Edge Trail and Upgrades to Existing Trails
For most of the length of the corridor, the existing road (currently with 12 foot wide driving lanes and 4 foot paved shoulders) would be reconfigured and restriped to 10 foot driving lanes and 6 foot paved shoulders marked as bicycle lanes. Existing hiking trails would be upgraded to soft surface trails suitable for pedestrians, hikers, off-road cyclists and non-motorized winter uses.

The National Park Service has published a draft EA entitled ” Herman Leirer Multi-Modal Trail Feasibility Study Environmental Assessment.”  It is available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.  The EA was completed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.9).

Comments on the EA may be submitted through Friday, June 7, 2013, preferably via the website, http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Comments may also be faxed to (907) 422-0571, or mailed to:

Superintendent
Kenai Fjords National Park
ATTN: Herman Leirer Trail EA
P.O. Box 1727
Seward, AK 99664

Little book about a young Beluga whale, named Betsy

This short & simple story is intended for people of all ages to  introduce them to the Belugas of Cook Inlet.

Hopefully, it brings a smile to your face. You are able to view the entire book online either by clicking on the “read sample” or “preview” button.

There are some free Betsy Beluga coloring pages on the Whittier visitor guide website. Go to the www.WhittierAlaska.info site and look for Betsy Beluga.

To preview the book go to:

http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/525685

Art of Pollination is a project sponsored by the Chugach Arts Council

A beautiful book of art featuring pollinators of Alaska will be published early this summer in advance of National Pollinator Week June 17-23, 2013.  Artists are encouraged to submit their work in any style or media.  There is no fee for submission.

The goals of the project are to bring awareness to the importance of pollinators, awareness to the variety of art in Alaska and to benefit the Chugach Arts Council.

for more information and application visit

www.ChugachArtsCouncil.org

Here are five pictures taken by Jan Bukac from Stony Creek Saturday night.

News from the public meeting

 Posted with the permission of the Seward Schoolyard Habitat blog

Matt Gray, of the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance, led a community meeting Wednesday night at the High School to share the short- and long-term plans for the Seward Schoolyard Habitat Project. People packed into Carlyn Nichol’s science classroom to learn more about the project, filling every seat in the room. After Matt opened the meeting with a brief overview, Heather Fuller, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, presented a PowerPoint to explain the nuts and bolts of the funding and requirements for such a project. She gave examples of other schools on the Peninsula that are pursuing schoolyard habitats, as well as examples of projects well underway in the Wasilla/Palmer area.

Jenn Haugh, a Kindergarten teacher, explained how teachers will build upon each other’s projects across all three school campuses. She also gave examples of how teachers might align the curriculum to the schoolyard habitats and use them as outdoor classrooms, giving teachers fantastic opportunities for place-based education.

Carlyn Nichols, a science teacher at both the middle and high schools, detailed the trail systems that exist around the three schools. She talked about how these should be maintained, enhanced, and connected. She envisions having a trail system that has interpretive signs to help both students and community members get the most out of walks, jogs, or skis through the old-growth forests. Thinking like a scientist, Carlyn pointed out how lucky we are to have such amazing habitats in our own back yards. Heather Fuller echoed that idea, and added that one of the goals of this project is to make these habitats accessible to everyone.

To present a vision for the native species garden planned for the elementary school, several of Bob Barnwell’s students gave a Prezi.com presentation. (Click for website article and their presentation)

Full-color, large and small maps were placed around the room for people to look at as ideas were discussed. For the last 20 minutes of the meeting, people met in small groups to brainstorm more ideas for the schoolyard habitats.

February was generally characterized by above normal temperatures and just slightly below normal precipitation. Although there was less monthly precipitation than the 30-year average, a trace or more of precipitation was recorded at the Seward airport 79% of days (22 out of 28 days). Winds were relatively calm with a monthly average wind speed of 7.3 mph. Over the course of the month, snowpack at Exit Glacier increased 20.1 inches; length of day increased by 2 hours and 16 minutes.

As recorded at the Seward airport, total precipitation for the month was 5.67 inches (94% of normal), .38 inches below the 30-year average (1981-2010) for the month. The monthly average temperature for February was 31.4 degrees F; 3.1 degrees F above the 30-year average. February 18^th was the windiest day of the month reported at the Seward airport with sustained winds of 20.7 mph and a 5-second wind gust of 46 mph.

Also of note:

• The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s  three month weather outlook (March-April-May)favors below normal temperatures and normal precipitation for the Kenai Fjords area.
• The NWS Climate Prediction Center has a new interactive map that displays the 8-14 day outlook for Alaska and the continental U.S.
• An international team of scientists report that, between 2003 and 2012, arctic sea ice volume has declined by 36% in the autumn and 9% in the winter.
• New research published in Nature Climate Change discusses the impacts of lower sea-ice extent onmarine-atmosphere carbon dioxide exchange.
• NASA published a photograph of a research rocket shooting into the aurora in Fairbanks in February. Click here to see the photo and read more about aurora research being conducted through the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska.
• The Guardian provides a simple explanation about permafrost and the implications of climate change.
• Climate Central reports on research published in the journal Science that indicates that permafrost melting could begin sooner and be more widespread than previously believed.
• New research indicates that permafrost exposed to sunlight releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than previously thought.
• Nature Geoscience published research announcing the discovery of a long-searched for source of deep-ocean streams of cold water that help to regulate the Earth’s climate; their methods involved tracking elephant seals off Antarctica.
• Is there still hope that we can limit climate change? The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis says “yes”.
• The Federal Advisory Committee has released a Draft Climate Assessment Report for public review through April 12^th and includes a chapter specifically addressing climate change in Alaska and the Arctic.
• The public comment period is also open for the EPA’s Draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
• NOAA climate services portal serves as a single point-of-entry for NOAA’s extensive climate information, data, products, services, and the climate science magazine ClimateWatch.

Read more to find out about the local climate for February 2013

WeatherSummary_KEFJ201302

The New Year brought a change in winter weather as the cold, dry conditions experienced in early winter shifted to warmer, wetter conditions at the end of December and lasted throughout most of January. January’s slightly warmer than normal temperatures and precipitation combined to result in wet snow, sleet, and rain for most of the month. A short respite arrived with high pressure during the last week of the month when temperatures plummeted and precipitation ceased. Despite above average monthly precipitation, the warmer conditions in January prevented the accumulation of any fluffy snow and the month ended with Kenai Fjords blanketed in an average depth, wet snowpack. Snow Course measurements conducted at Exit Glacier at the end of January confirm this: the January 2013 snowpack was about average for the last four years although it was 22.5 inches shallower than the January 2012 snowpack (38.5 in and 61 in, respectively). The ratio of snow depth to water content resulted in an 8% denser snowpack this year than last (33% density on February 1, 2013 vs. 25% density on February 1, 2012). To learn more about how this winter’s snow depth and snow water equivalent at Exit Glacier compare to previous winters, see the charts at the end of this summary.

As recorded at the Seward airport, total precipitation for the month was 8.88 inches (110% of normal), .81 inches above the 30-year average (1981-2010) for the month. The monthly average temperature for January was 30.0 degrees F; 2.9 degrees F above the 30-year average. January 26^th was the windiest day of the month reported at the Seward airport with sustained winds of 22.4 mph and a 5-second wind gust of 53 mph.

Also of note:

• The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s  three month weather outlook (February-March-April) favors below normal temperatures and normal precipitation for the Kenai Fjords area.
• A recent National Park Service study of vegetation patterns published in Ecological Monographs indicates that climate change may lead to an increase in abundance and distribution of white spruce in interior Alaska as the tree species expands into areas that are newly thawed.
• To find out which Alaska town has the most snow so far this year, check out the current edition of the Alaska Snow Survey Report and learn more about the 2012-2013 winter snowpack and how it compares to past winters.
• The variability of weather conditions in Alaska can make travel and outdoor recreation tricky to plan. Before you set out, you can see for yourself what the weather is doing by checking out one of the FAA Weather Cameras, distributed around the state and updated every ten minutes.
• NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory has a cool (or maybe it’s hot) running 30-day temperature anomaly map to show how current temperatures compare to the average.
• Speaking of anomalies, the Economist reports on the hottest places on Earth.
• The winter 2012-2013 issue of the Alaska Climate Dispatch provides a recap of “notable weather systems” of 2012 including the early-fall storms of September and the late-fall cold, dry spell experienced on the Kenai Peninsula and across Alaska.
• The Arctic Oscillation (AO) has switched to a negative state. Read more at the National Snow & Ice Data Center to learn about the AO and how it affects sea ice extent and weather.
• NOAA climate services portal serves as a single point-of-entry for NOAA’s extensive climate information, data, products, services, and the climate science magazine ClimateWatch.

Read more to find out about the local climate for January 2013

WeatherSummary_KEFJ201301

Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Landscape Conservation Cooperative:  Strategic Science Plan

The Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Landscape Conservation Cooperative (ABSI LCC) is
a self-directed partnership with a focus on applied science products. The ABSI LCC is in
the process of developing a Strategic Science Plan to help guide its activities in the coming
years.  The presentation will also provide an opportunity to share your perspectives on the
pressing management issues and applied science needs for the Aleutian and Bering Sea
Islands region.

Join Douglas Burn and Aaron Poe on:

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Time:  3:00-4:00 pm

Bear Mountain Conference Room, Alaska SeaLife Center

Free Seminar

Press Release from: USDA Forest Service Chugach National Forest

Chugach National Forest officials announced today (Jan 31) the beginning of the first phase of a three year planning process to revise the 2002 forest plan under a new National Forest System Planning Rule. The forest plan provides direction for managing resources and activities such as recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, historic and sacred sites, vegetation, mineral exploration and development, and timber.“The Chugach National Forest is the backyard for nearly half of Alaska’s population and provides opportunities for residents and visitors to live, work, and play across its 5.4 million acres. It’s an important place, and forest plan revision is the process in guiding management over the next fifteenyears,” said Forest Supervisor Terri Marceron.

During phase one, also known as the “assessment,” the Forest Service will identify and evaluate existinginformation about ecological, economic and social conditions and trends related to the Forest and Southcentral Alaska. The resulting assessment report will provide a solid base of current information for phases two, drafting the revised plan and developing an environmental impact statement (EIS), and three, developing a monitoring strategy.

“Many trends and emerging issues like demographic shifts and climate change will require lookingbeyond our forest boundaries,” Marceron noted.

“In the coming weeks and months we’ll be reaching out to other agencies, state and local governments, Alaska Native Tribes and Corporations and the public to make sure our plan takes into consideration the larger landscape around us.” The public is invited to learn more about the process and provide feedback at nine ForestPlanning Forums across the region.”

During the forums, the Forest Service will ask:

How the public uses the forest now, how might use and users change over the next fifteen years

What the public sees as emerging issues and trends.

How the public can best be involved in the revision process.

Last February the Chugach announced that it was selected as one of eight national forests across the country to revise its forest plan under the new planning rule. The Forest was selected because of its robust engagement with the public during development and implementation of the 2002 forest plan.“Over the past decade, we’ve seen projects like the Spencer Whistle Stop and Chugach Children’s Forest emerge out of our previous collaborative planning efforts, and I’m looking forward to building on that tradition. These planning forums are just the beginning, and over the next three years we’ll be meeting with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and working to get new voices, like youth, involved in theprocess,” Marceron explained.
Meeting Dates:

Thursday, February 7 Alaska Forum on the Environment, Dena’ina Center (Anchorage), 9-10:30am

Wednesday, February 20 Girdwood Community Center, 6:30-9pm

Thursday, February 21 Seward Public Library, 6:30-9pm

Soldotna Sports Center, 6:30-9pmSaturday, February 23

Chugach National Forest Supervisor’s Office (Anchorage), 10am-12:30pmMonday, February 25

Cooper Landing Community Center, 6:30-9pm

Moose Pass Community Hall, 6:30-9pmWednesday, February 27

Cordova Masonic Hall, 6:30-9pmThursday, February 28Prince William Sound Community College (Valdez), 6:30-9pm

For more information, please visit:Chugach Forest Plan Revision “Spotlight” at www.fs.usda.gov/chugachNew Planning Rule background at www.fs.usda.gov/planningruleTo request information or sign up for the mailing list, email chugachplanrevision@fs.fed.us••

Contact: Sara Boario, 907-743-9444 or Don Rees, 907-743-9513

Free Avalanche Awareness Class Saturday Feb. 9th  10am-3PM, Seward AK  

(Still 10 am (I noticed an older post) at new Seward Library just a reminder if interested we have room! See you there)Updated 2/8/2013

Topics covered include: Human Factors, Terrain, Snowpack and Weather, and Avalanche Rescue including avalanche beacon practice.  Come join us if you want to learn about avalanche safety or just want a review.

Sponsored by Chugach National Forest

Location Seward Library, 239 6^th ave, Seward AK 

For information contact: Alex McLain Avalanche Specialist at (907) 288-7710 or 362-3720 (cell Phone).

Bring some warm clothes since we will be outside for a few hours and an avalanche beacon if you have one.

Despite the bitter cold and ferocious north wind, about 50 birders beelined to Seward this weekend to look for the rare  Siberian Accentor. Fairbanks, Palmer, Eagle River, Anchorage, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Juneau, Kodiak and probably other towns, were all represented.

It was quite a winter adventure. Two drove all the way from Fairbanks, enjoying the northern lights en route. Others drove through white-out conditions along Turnagain Arm, temporarily blinded whenever a semi passed. Several remarked on the beauty of the Scenic Highway and the scenery surrounding Seward.

First Avenue north of the hospital looked like a block party with cars and trucks parked all along both sides. Warmly dressed birders from 11 to 80 years old scanned the mountainside through their binoculars and spotting scopes. First another uncommon bird from Asia, a Brambling, was spotted on the green moss by the cliffs. Then the sparrow-sized Siberian Accentor popped up nearby. Most, but not all, got quick glimpses of the small masked bird, as it scratched for frozen insects and spiders under the spruce trees and brush. This is the first documented Siberian Accentor found in Seward and one of the few recorded on the Southcentral road system, saving many an expensive trip to Gambell or the Pribilofs. It is listed as “casual” on the Checklist of Alaska Birds, a category even more unusual than “rare.”

If you watched the movie, “The Big Year”, you will understand why these sane and accomplished people took time and effort to get to Seward and stand around in the freezing weather to check off another fabulous Life Bird. “Ching!”  Seward is becoming a real hotspot for winter birding with the 2011 Redwing, the 2012 Bramblings, and now the 2013 Siberian Accentor. If businesses are wise, they will welcome this winter business and bring some “Ka-Ching!” to their cash registers!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter http://sporadicbird.blogspot.com/

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LAND
The Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) is finalizing its selection of state lands to be transferred to the borough under the Municipal Entitlement Land Grant. KPB is seeking public input to identify lands of local importance that should be considered to fulfill the 28,000 acres of our remaining land entitlement. These lands could be designated for community expansion and public purposes such as a school, fire station, transfer site, cemetery, residential subdivision, public open space, firewood site, commercial or industrial areas or a number of additional land uses. We want to hear from you, please take this opportunity to provide us your input!
Find project information, how to participate, the interactive map and survey on the borough website: http://www.borough.kenai.ak.us/landmgt/entitlements/projectinformation
Join us at the BOROUGH LAND MANAGEMENT SEWARD OPEN HOUSE
SEWARD ANNEX Mon Feb 4, 2013 3-7pm
302 Railway Ave Suite 122 (Sea View Plaza) Ph. 224-2001
The Borough Land Management Division will be available to present information, answer questions and assist individuals on how to use the web interactive map to provide input on lands of local importance. Computer stations will be available for the public to review maps and submit input.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Division
1-800-478-4441 ext 2205
907-714-2205

A small but dramatically colored bird called a Siberian Accentor, is creating quite a stir in the bird world. This rare bird should be in northern Siberia! Kit and Janet Durnil found the bird in dense alders and small spruce in town on January 22nd. I documented the bird  and emailed the photos to Buzz Scher  who identified it quicker than a bird book. It is so rare in North America that in fact, it is not in all the bird books. The Sibley and Kaufman field guides do not have it, but the National Geographic Field Guide does. It’s the first bird in the index, “Accentor, Siberian.” It’s also the first bird in the app iBird Plus.

The owner of the house where it was found, thought she caught a brief glimpse of it in December. Kit is wondering too, if he might have seen it during the Christmas Bird Count. It’s very secretive and hard to spot despite its tawny orange coloration and distinctive black mask. Hopefully, the birders planning to converge on Seward this weekend will be able to find it.

The other rare birds in Seward, the Bramblings, have apparently moved to town from Lowell Point. They too have been spotted in the neighborhood feeding on Mt Ash berries.

For more information and photos, please visit my Sporadic Bird Blog at http://sporadicbird.blogspot.com/

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

The compendium is a compilation of all designations, closures and restrictions imposed under the discretionary authority within the regulations covering national parks. The compendium is a regulatory tool to help manage Alaska’s national park areas for the public’s enjoyment, use and protection.

This year, several National Park Service (NPS) areas in Alaska are proposing restrictions to taking wildlife in national preserves. These proposals are based on recent changes in State of Alaska regulations pertaining to the take of wolves, coyotes, and bears in some game management units, including certain national preserves. Other proposed changes include the closure of an old trail in Wrangell-St. Elias where a newly constructed trail reaches the same destination, and human waste disposal practices in Glacier Bay.

The NPS is proposing to prohibit the take of wolves and coyotes between May 1 and August 9 in the following national preserves:  Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Katmai, Aniakchak, Alagnak Wild River, Lake Clark, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Yukon-Charley Rivers. In some or all areas within these preserves, the State of Alaska now allows wolves and coyotes (including pups) to be taken in late spring and summer when the animals are denning and raising vulnerable offspring. The proposed shortening of the wolf and coyote season will protect animals at the den and during the period when their pelts have little economic or trophy value. It will also protect a subsistence opportunity for taking that wolf or coyote later in the year when their coats are prime in order to sell the pelt for cash. The proposed shorter season is also more consistent with federal subsistence regulations.

The proposed compendiums for Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias and Yukon-Charley Rivers include a prohibition on the taking of brown bears at a bait station. Bait stations typically consist of things such as grease or dog food set in a location that will attract the desired animal where it can then be taken. The public safety concerns posed by food-conditioned bears are widely recognized. These bears are more likely to be a danger to humans, and it is incongruent with best management practices and public educational messaging found in national park areas on the issue of food and bears.

The NPS also proposes to renew a temporary prohibition on using artificial light to take black bears at dens and taking black bear sows with cubs at dens in Denali and Gates of the Arctic National Preserves.

Consistent with sound management principles and conservation of wildlife, practices that disturb animals when they are in a vulnerable state – in dens, when reproducing, or very young – are usually avoided.  Accordingly, these practices have generally been prohibited under federal subsistence and state harvest regulations.  Additionally, management practices that seek to increase harvest of predators in order to boost populations of prey species are not consistent with the management of National Park Services areas which are to retain naturally dynamic wildlife populations.

Public involvement in the compendium process began in early December when the National Park Service held the first of seven public hearings to hear input as these restrictions were being drafted. After this round of public comment on the compendium provisions ends on February 15, the NPS will consider revisions and expects to publish the final compendiums in April 2013.

Each park’s proposed 2013 compendium is available at http://www.nps.gov/akso/management/compendiums.cfm. A written copy may be requested directly from the park or the National Park Service, 240 W. 5^th Avenue, Anchorage, AK  99501, Attn:  Compendium.

Comments will be accepted by mail or e-mail between January 15 and February 15, 2013. Comments are welcome at any time in addition to this timeframe, but comments received after February 15 will be considered in future compendium revisions.

Most of December saw a continuation of the cold, dry weather pattern that characterized October and November. That ended abruptly during the last week of the month when multiple storms passed over the area and delivered 95% of the month’s precipitation during the final week of the year. These storms (particularly the subtropical cyclone in the image at right) brought unseasonably warm temperatures and high winds to accompany the precipitation which fell as a mix of rain, snow, and everything in-between. At the peak of the largest storm on December 30th, wind speeds of 116 mph were recorded at the McArthur Pass weather station located on the outer coast of Kenai Fjords National Park. In advance of the storm, temperatures maxed out at the Seward airport at 47 degrees F on December 29th. Unfortunately, data from the Seward airport was not available for December 30th.

As recorded at the Seward airport, total precipitation for the month was 5.6 inches (58% of normal), 3.94 inches below the 30-year average (1981-2010) for the month. The monthly average temperature for December was 23.9 degrees F; 5.0 degrees F below the 30-year average. December 19th was the gustiest day of the month reported at the Seward airport with a 5-second wind gust of 51 mph. These statistics do not incorporate weather for December 30th as no data was reported for the Seward airport for this day.

Also of note:

• The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s  three month weather outlook (January-February-March) favors below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for the Kenai Fjords area, indicating a continuation of cool and dry conditions throughout the 2012-13 winter.
• Winter 2012-13 is exhibiting “ENSO neutral” conditions, neither La Niña nor El Niño weather patterns. To learn more about the El Niño/ Southern Oscillation and Climate Variability, visit the Pacific ENSO Applications Climate Center.
• Are you concerned about what happens to slope stability when a lot of heavy wet snow accumulates onto a thin layer of hoar frost, such as occurred in December? Me too! To learn more about local avalanche conditions and to track how the snowpack changes throughout the season, visit the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center.
• NOAA recently published a report on Global Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States National Climate Assessment.
• Climate Central reports that November was the Earth’s 333rd straight month of warm temperatures.
• NOAA climate services portal serves as a single point-of-entry for NOAA’s extensive climate information, data, products, services, and the climate science magazine ClimateWatch.

Read more to find out about the local climate for December 2012

WeatherSummary_KEFJ201212

Tuesday, January 8th the sun finally peeked out from under the blanket of clouds. The sunset on the surrounding snowy mountains was spectacular!

Submitted by Carol Griswold

We took the following video on the way out to Lowell Pt. and also in town in the Sealife Center parking lot. Lots of wind and waves!

Bixler McClure & Krystin Bablinskas

http://www.alaskagraphy.com

While most of us bundled up or stayed indoors on this cold windy day, an unidentified surfer tackled the surging surf at Fourth of July beach, just south of the boat basin. Wow! If anyone recognizes him, please show him these photos. He really seized the day! Carpe Diem!

Submitted by Carol Griswold