Alaska News

Fairbanks too cold for ice carving?

The Interior Alaska city of Fairbanks officially hit the first 40-degree below zero mark of the year on Monday, apparently the coldest day in a week-long cold snap according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

The moment of truth came at 6:41 p.m. at the Fairbanks International Airport. But about six hours later, just before Tuesday arrived, the mercury climbed back up into the (minus) 30s, after clouds moved into the area, and stayed there for the remainder of the day.

Fairbanks, on average, has about 11 days a year at 40 below (or lower) temperatures. But just because it's not freezing, doesn't mean it's not, well, freezing. The News Miner reports that "even ice has it's limits."

According to the News-Miner, the 30-to40-below-zero temps have "taken their toll on ice carving aficionados" in neighboring North Pole, Alaska, where artists are attempting to create sculptures for the town's Christmas in Ice event.

The uber-cold temperatures have been causing artists myriad problems. They've had to deal with broken tools, snapped electrical cords and difficult carving conditions -- all unwanted distractions for this year's final attractions.

Read more on the cold snap and North Pole's Christmas in Ice event.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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