Spring snow storm...

For once the weather service got it right, they predicted 6-10" of snow and that's pretty much what we got.

It's hard to tell exactly how much fell, cause there was mixed rain and snow at times and the temps were above freezing during the day, so it probably settled a lot.

The only good thing was that we just had a short power outage, maybe an hour or so. The last time we had a late snow storm like this, it knocked out the power for a couple of days.

Wasn't going to plow, but there was still lots o' snow around this afternoon after the storm ended, so wound up plowing the road and driveway. Since the road surface was thawed, had to keep the rear blade up slightly, off the ground, and angled as much as possible to keep it from digging into the soft gravel road bed. I think it'll be better than before clearing, since at least the water should run in the ditches now. I expect the neighbors'll let me know if it's not to their liking. But one thing's for sure, I'm glad I didn't take the chains off the tractor back in March after finishing the road clearing back then.

Spring's over...

Woke up yesterday morning and saw it'd snowed about two inches overnight. After almost a month of near fifty degree weather, it looks like we're in for a return to winter.

While it cleared off today and the sun melted most of the snow, there's supposed to be a major storm coming next week. (https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=AKZ222&warncounty=AKC090&firewxzone=AKZ222&local_place1=Fairbanks%20AK&product1=Winter+Storm+Warning&lat=64.8378&lon=-147.7164#.XLz9ei-ZMnU)

At least the dogs got to hang out on their houses and enjoy one sunny day. Looks like the Moto Guzzi's going to be parked for awhile longer!

Ice's Out...

Not much to do while recuperating, so been following the Nenana Ice Classic. Every year since 1917, when engineers building the Alaska railroad started it, there's been a guessing game to figure out when the ice goes out on the Tanana River. Tickets are sold all over the state and the winning prize is around a quarter million $ now.

This year was interesting, to me at least, because record high temps in March could cause the ice to go out real early and break the record of April 20. But when the weather cooled off a bit at the end of the month, it looked like it might freeze up again and delay breakup. As luck would have it, the warmer temps returned last week and the river began to carve an open channel through the ice.

The tripod's leaning as a channel opens up near the south bank of the river on April 11.

The the channel widens and the tripod tilts over the open water on April 13.

Finally, the ice breaks up on April 14th and the tripod drifts downstream. The official end time, when the tripod moved far enough to trip the clock wire, broke the record by almost a week (six days, fifteen hours, six minutes to be precise!).  http://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com

March records...

March was a record breaking month. New monthly high temperatures were recorded in the interior, western and the northern parts of Alaska. Some NWS reporting sites averaged nearly twenty degrees above normal for the month.
The Fairbanks average temperature for March was 27.6° F which was 16.2° above normal. The highest daily temperature was 54 on the 31st while the lowest was -10 on the 2nd.
Precipitation totaled 0.45" which was 0.20" above average. Snowfall totaled 2.8"and the snow depth maxed out at 21" on the 7th. Snow in town was largely gone by month's end.

Data from NWS and chart from Alaska Climate Research Center

As for the surgery, it went fine. The Dr used a local nerve block that lasted 3 days. The surgery apparently removed, rather than cut, the effected nerves while repairing the hernia, so there's virtually no pain now. Almost inconceivable, as the previous hernia surgery, thirteen years ago, was a very painful recovery. I am certainly thankful for the advances in medicine since then. Now I'm on two weeks of R and R until I heal up and can get back to it. Hats off to nurse Andy who not only takes care of me but the dogs and cat too. Not sure which one's harder!

All Fools Day?...

April 1st is often celebrated as April Fools or All Fools Day by some. When I was kid, it was a big deal, you really had to watch out for tricks. One of my friends in grade school loved to prank people and every year he'd come up with something new. Now a days, it's not so common, maybe it's just the PC culture, people are afraid of being criticized or even sued for pulling stupid tricks.
For me today, I was the fool as I went to the hospital to get my pre-surgery physical. Got poked and prodded as they often do and then got my instructions for the surgery on Wed. The only good part is they not only let you drink liquids up to a few hours prior, but now they encourage it. So at least I can get a cup of coffee beforehand, that's something, anyway.
The reason for the surgery is a hernia, courtesy of our new dog (December Summary 1/5/19). Seems he's a real jumper, never was trained not to jump on people, I guess, so I spent the first few weeks getting him to settle down. He seemed to be learning, but then surprised me one morning with an unexpected jump off his house, hitting me full force in the groin with both front feet. It didn't hurt that much, was surprised more than angry, but the next day noticed a bulge there. So a few weeks later I finally went into a clinic and they diagnosed a hernia. Kind of ironic cause the same thing happened many years ago with Solo, the dog who really reminds me of this guy. So I'll soon have matching hernia scars, who says All Fools Day is dead.

Spent the last few days hauling in firewood from over the hill, since I won't be dong much after the surgery. With the snow mostly gone on the south side, the trail was pretty rough and had to haul smaller loads than usual. Breakup is way too early this year.