A Couple Of Places Where Spring Really Isn't Happening

The first daffodils of the season bloomed in my St. Albans,
Vermont gardens yesterday. That's very early for blooms
to appear in my neck of the woods. Thankfully, so
far, we're missing out on cold snaps affected other
places in the world.

As we here in Vermont continue to enjoy some lovely spring weather, it's really time to count our blessings.  A couple places in the world are having an absolutely horrible, January-like start to April.

I, for one, am glad we're missing out on that misery, at least for now. Western and central Europe, and parts of Alaska are having a hell of a time with it.   

I mentioned Europe's cold in a previous post but it's worth it to dive in further. 

EUROPE FREEZES

One example of how the weather whiplash there has hit is in Slovenia.  In late March, the country set an all time record for warmth with 78 degree. 

This week, that same nation hit an all time low temperature record or April with an incredibly low minus 5 degrees.

These are not the same sites in Slovenia, but still.

There were several reports of subzero cold in the Alps, reaching all time record minimums. In populated areas, Gospic, Croatia reached down to 10 above F, the lowest reading on record, according to the Washington Post. 

 

There is massive damage to crops and gardens across Europe with the record March heat followed by the record cold. 

Farmers encased vineyards in sheets of thick ice, hoping that will keep temperatures on the blooming vines closer to 32 degrees rather than in the teens and 20s, increasing their chances of survival.

This had been a beautifully blooming Magnolia tree in 
England before intense cold ruined it this week

The cold in Europe is forecast to ease, but not entirely go away over the next few days. 

ALASKAN MISERY

Ah, springtime in Fairbanks, Alaska, when there's more that three feet of snow on the ground and the temperature could drop to as low as 30 below on Saturday.

Wait, what?

This time of year in Fairbanks and the rest of central Alaska is never really balmy this time of year, but this is ridiculous.  

For perspective, normal high temperatures in Fairbanks this time of year are close to 40, with normal lows in the mid-teens. Not great, but whatever. 

Temperatures this week in Alaska are far from normal. They're absolutely brutal for this time of year, even by that state's standards. It was 34 below in Livengold and 33 below in Bettles, for example. 

The all time record low for Fairbanks in April is 32 below, and that record could be challenged Saturday. The high temperature in Fairbanks Friday is forecast to be just 4 above, which would be the latest in the spring the temperature failed to reach 10 above.

There was also 40 inches of snow on the ground in Fairbanks earlier this week. So even when a thaw eventually arrives, it will take a long time to get rid of that. 

It's been a long winter in Fairbanks to begin with.  The last time it was 40 degrees or above was last October 11, so now they've had the longest period of time on record with temperatures remaining below 40 degrees. 

The National Weather Service office in Fairbanks tweeted, "I think we can collectively agree that Old Man Winter needs to see himself out! At least until next season."

Some warming is expected in Fairbanks next week, with highs finally breaking the 40 degree mark Monday or Tuesday.