SNOWFLAKES IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA

[tropicana]

Winter chill hits Fairbanks
FRI SEPT 2nd 2005

A trace snow fell at Fairbanks International Airport late Wednesday ended the driest August on record, according to the National Weather Service.

The airport's automated observing system registered the snow, though it wasn't measurable, said forecaster Rick Thoman.

"There was some flakes," he said. "A guy on duty said he watched it intermittently flurry from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. ... It melted as it hit the ground."

Wednesday night's snowfall marked the first time since 1969 the weather service had recorded snow at the airport in August, Thoman said. The snowfall 36 years ago was also a trace amount. Before that, in 1922, 3 inches of snow fell in town in August, Thoman said.

Snow in the outskirts of town or in the hills in August is not unusual.

The snow completed an otherwise dry month.

Precipitation in August 2005 broke 2004's record as the driest month, Thoman said.
Only 0.24 of an inch of rain fell on Fairbanks this August, compared to 0.37 last August, the forecaster said.

"Normal is just under one and three-quarters inches," he said.

As for the snow, more of it is not expected any time soon.
While widespread frost was expected Friday morning, Thoman said, forecasters anticipate a warming trend over the weekend and into next week.

-justin-

[azsnowman]

Won't be LOOOOONG! I was coming back from a golf game, had to cross the "higher" country to get home, it was raining, "ALMOST" sleet like conditions, temp was 46° with a HEAVY rain!

Dennis