Amid the cold, construction begins for our new studios!
Western Alaska village temperatures are dropping, and wind chills sometimes reach 50 below. The north wind is relentless, and it is cold! Any exposed skin quickly reddens and is accompanied by an unmistakable stinging sensation, reminding you to cover up or get inside where it is warm. Even with these cold temperatures, the construction crew […]
Howling winds outside, and a mentorship in our newsroom
The winds are howling and the snow is flying as Alaska’s winter continues into 2013. The KNOM weather reports help families stay safe and plan their winter travel. However, one unaware traveler recently had to be rescued by helicopter from an ice floe due to extreme north winds (which separated the sea ice nearest Nome from its […]
Weathering the season
Several additional minutes of sunlight greet us each day as we weather the cold, windy days and nights. KNOM weather reports help remote listeners prepare for the harsh conditions experienced throughout western Alaska. Our region’s extreme weather means that getting the right information at the right time is often a matter of life or death. […]
December 2004: A Christmas storm
December 24, 2004 A deadly storm is approaching, and KNOM broadcasts ten minutes of weather warnings every hour. The gale strikes at 11 PM, dropping visibility to near zero until suppertime Christmas Day. Residents estimate that, as it funnels and gusts around the buildings of Nome, the wind’s velocity exceeds 80 MPH.
Christmas lights
As we move through the dark days of winter and sub-zero weather, KNOM brings light to the lives of remote listeners throughout 100,000 square miles of Western Alaska. It is a special time of year for the KNOM volunteers. They are far from their families, yet they treasure the gifts of service that they share with […]
December 1986: Under a coat of ice, the tower is near collapse
December 3, 1986 A storm this week deposits ice the thickness of cucumbers on the KNOM tower and its guy wires, which sag dangerously. The tower is in imminent danger of collapsing. Tower expert Rod Ewing immediately flies in from Wasilla, Alaska to supervise Timothy Cochran and Tom Busch as they strain to keep the […]
November 1970: A short-lived Christmas star
November 26, 1970 A 3-foot, lighted Christmas star tops the 49-foot studio tower. Like five successors over the years, it is blown apart by wind before the end of the holidays. (The star’s modern successor – pictured at right – has proven to be much more wind-resistant!)
Weather reports, and two more Goldie awards
Please pray with us for KNOM friends and family in areas struck by Hurricane Sandy. We pray for a rapid recovery for the devastated communities. May God watch over them as they rebuild. As our temperatures approach zero, the blustery winds remind us how treacherous the weather can be — day or night. KNOM continues […]
November 1970: Waiting for the weather for tower construction
November 22, 1970 After three weeks of blizzards and winds, the weather has briefly cleared. Volunteers John Pfeifer and Tom Busch are belted to the AM tower at the 95-foot level, and eight others on the ground hoist the microwave receive antenna, which the pair install. Weather closes in again, and work can’t resume for […]
Meet Margaret
Our mission’s new volunteer news reporter, Margaret DeMaioribus, arrived at KNOM in late summer and has hit the ground running. On weekdays, our listeners hear her voice in weather forecasts and news reports on the latest developments happening in their communities. Margaret has a diverse background. She graduated in 2009 from West Chester University of […]