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Monday 27 February 2012
Come On Up to Alaska, the Snow is Amazing!
Alaska's unusually snowy winter - attributable to a strong La Nina cycle that has spurned many North American ski resorts this winter - has been making the news. The silver lining? All that snow means winter recreation opportunities of historic proportions.
At Alyeska Resort, 40 miles south of Anchorage, 462 inches has fallen since October 1, 2011, and the seasonal average snowfall (November to February) is 134 percent above average.
Throughout the Southcentral region, communities are on track to record the heaviest snowfall in years - perhaps ever.
The Prince William Sound communities of Valdez and Cordova have received 327.5 and 209.1 inches respectively this season.
With its snowiest months still ahead, Valdez is on track to surmount the 1988-89 record of 561 inches (almost 47 feet). As of January 27, Anchorage had received 91 inches of snow, which is already above the 74.5-inch average total snowfall for the season.
That's good news for outdoor recreation of all kinds, from snowmobiling to snowshoeing and skiing. The snowiest winter on record for Anchorage was in 1954-55, when 132.8 inches were tallied for the season. To plan your Alaska winter adventure, visit www.travelalaska.com.
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