Weather in rural Alaska

The weather in Alaska is probably the thing that comes up most in conversation when people find out I live here.  

Marshall is in Southwest Alaska, in the Yukon Delta.  We are south of the Arctic Circle, but we still have fairly severe cold and dark during winter.  We can reach -60, but -30 is more common.  Highs in the summer reach mid 70's generally.  Daylight goes from just over four hours of daylight per day in winter to nearly twenty hours of daylight per day in summer.

In the summer people in town do camp out & swim.  I don't know if anyone ever gets a kiddie pool as it generally doesn't get that warm here.  That said, last year it was HOT to the people of Marshall.  It was in the mid eighties for much of the summer.  We have never swam in Marshall (in the Yukon or any of the sloughs) because we are not here for long before the cold sets in. It usually starts snowing at some point in September.

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Danger:
Weather in the winter is dangerous because of blizzards, deep snow and severe cold.  The wind can make the cold feel colder, and those nasty temperatures we have, like -4 or -12, HURT YOUR FACE.  That's really the only way I can describe it. Generally your entire body is covered except your face, so that's what hurts when you go out and it's that cold.  The cold can make your eyes water, your nose crust up (even your snot freezes) and your cheeks ache.  It can also literally take your breath away.  When it's really cold, it's difficult to take a full breath into your lungs and when that cold air comes in, it forces an involuntary cough that is very frustrating.  Breathing through a scarf helps some.

Weather in the spring is dangerous as well thanks to melting ice (especially on the river for those traveling by snow machine) and wild animals waking up from hibernation hungry.

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Cars do have to be plugged in here.

And it is not cool when someone forgets!

Then it has to be jumped.

These extension cords travel from an external outlet to the truck and van which are equipped with engine block warmers to keep them from freezing up.

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Freezing rain is probably the worst weather we have.

We are equipped to deal with snow and cold, but freezing rain is awful.

It's dangerous, both to drive & fly in, and it makes even travel by foot very difficult.

It also makes seeing out our bedroom window a challenge!

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Regardless of how extreme, though, school is NEVER canceled for weather.

Generally speaking, it is only canceled for water or power outage.  It is also canceled if there is a funeral in town.  School cancelation is announced on the VHF.

Despite the cold outside, our house is rarely, if ever, below 70 degrees, which is why the boys are often in shorts & t-shirts. I gave up that fight.  If we're going out, they have to gear up, otherwise, I try to let them pick. And often, it's basketball shorts!

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People often say that they could never do what we've done.  All I can say is that when the opportunity presented itself, we were in a position where yes was the only answer that made sense.

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I hope you enjoyed the Rural Alaska Living Series.
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