By Tom Morphet
Blizzard-like conditions closed Haines schools Wednesday for the first time in several years, as winds whipped drifts across roads and reduced visibility.
Eighteen inches of fresh snow Wednesday morning pushed to 42 inches the total accumulation since Friday. Three records for daily snowfall in the townsite were set.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, citing sustained winds of 35 mph or more and visibility less than a quarter mile. Single-digit temperatures were forecast by Saturday.
More snow may be on the way.
“Our long-range prediction is we’re going to have below-average temperatures in December, January and February and into spring (in Southeast),” said Geri Swanson meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Juneau. “These storms are a little bit earlier than normal, although it’s not unusual for us to have storms in November.”
The snow was welcome news to equipment operators and winter sports enthusiasts who were put out of action by light snowfall last year.
“I’m all excited. It’s why I live here,” said Luck Dunbar, a snowplow driver and snowboarder. “It’s the best start we’ve had in years. It looks like a good base. I was out riding my snowmachine and everything was pretty solid.”
Eleven inches of snow measured on Saturday, Nov. 12 smashed the previous daily record of five inches set in 1992. Monday morning’s 12.1 inches also set a record, topping a previous high mark of 10.3 inches set in 1985. Eighteen inches Wednesday morning swamped the previous high, 10.2 inches in 1951.
Daily snowfall records also were set in Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley and at Elfin Cove, said meteorologist Sawnson.
Paul Swift, who maintains a weather reporting station behind his Union Street home, said Tuesday that November so far was averaging a temperature of 30.3 degrees compared to 32.4 last year. Total snowfall last November was 23.8 inches, compared to 36.5 inches this month through Tuesday evening.
Total snowfall for the month hasn’t yet eclipsed monthly records. In 1990, 68 inches of snow fell in town. In the record-setting winter of 2006-07 when snowfall in town exceeded 300 inches November saw only 29.5 inches of snow.
According to Chilkat Valley News records, the Haines School District last cancelled classes on account of snow in March 2007.
Local ski club leader Dan Egolf said he was hoping to arrange for a ski trail to be set at the Valley of the Eagles golf links. “The trails aren’t set yet. We just got permission to get back on the golf course.” The club will have its first meeting after Thanksgiving.
Dunbar said he was hoping for a snowier winter than last year’s, but also with a few breaks. “I can’t play if I’m plowing all the time.”