The first hints of winter
The snow is starting to accumulate on the mountains, hills, and the tundra. At night, if the sky is clear, you can sometimes see wispy, colorful auroras dancing in the expansive darkness. During the day, the weather ranges from snowy to mostly sunny and cold. As the seasons change and the thermometer heads towards zero, […]
October ’92: A superlative fall storm
October 5, 1992 The worst storm in eighteen years strikes Nome as a low-pressure center swells up a storm surge eight feet above normal with ten-foot waves above that. Covered with flotsam and jetsam, Front Street – Nome’s main thoroughfare – is underwater, and where it runs along the beach, half of it is gone. […]
September ’05: A “once in a hundred years” storm, again
September 22, 2005 For the second year in a row, Nome is hit by a “once in a hundred years” storm. The town loses power, and KNOM’s transmitter site generator keeps the station on the air for 134 hours until electricity is restored. General manager Ric Schmidt, on the East Coast to accept a Gabriel […]
“Oh, foggy day…”
Nome residents may have had the old George Gershwin song (“A Foggy Day”) running through their heads early last month, as KNOM’s hometown was shrouded for days in thick fog (not to mention, low-30s temperatures and snow in June!). In Western Alaska, fog isn’t just a curiosity (or mere fodder for song lyrics); foggy weather […]
In the wind
You’ll often find KNOM’s dedicated news team – including volunteers Eva DeLappe and Margaret DeMaioribus, pictured – reporting on location in Nome, despite our region’s often-inclement weather. Last month, however, the news was the weather. As Margaret reported, a shifting wind pattern called Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) has been at least partly to blame for […]
April ice, and a prestigious award
The winter weather continues: temperatures hover near zero as more ice forms on the Bering Sea. The frigid temperatures bring dazzling, clear, sunlit days and awe-inspiring nights – with the moon and stars shining brightly in the night sky. We gladly share the congratulations of the entire radio broadcasting community for KNOM’s 2013 Crystal Heritage Award […]
Cold nights and volunteer travel
The temperatures each night are falling to about -20º F, and the stars sparkle in the dark night sky. As the moon traverses the heavens, the sound of houses crackling and snapping can be heard. As the air gets colder, pilings shift a bit, twisting home supports and floors. The night is alive with this and so many […]
Snow, sled dogs, and therapy
From swirling snow and whiteout blizzards to clearing skies and rapid temperature drops, the winter weather in Western Alaska changes quickly, creating many challenges for traveling and, at times, for survival. KNOM broadcasts hourly weather information to enhance and save lives. This week, the 1,000-mile 2013 Iditarod Sled Dog Race finishes in Nome. KNOM is broadcasting trail […]
The difference weather can make
What a difference the weather can make: especially in Western Alaska, and especially at this time of year. On cloudy days, the dull light blurs the snowy landscape, and depth perception, over long distances, is more difficult. This “flat light” is a challenge for all who travel on land and the frozen sea. On sunny […]
A special sled dog race returns
February 2013 marked the second running of a sled dog race with special significance for Western Alaskans: the Paul Johnson Memorial Norton Sound 450. The NS450 honors the memory of Paul “Putty” Johnson, a dog musher and community leader from Unalakleet (YOU-nuh-luh-kleet), Alaska, a town well within KNOM’s listening range located on the coast of […]