Dear Tom,
Anchorage, Alaska, is having a snowy winter, with 76 inches as of Jan. 29. How does a very snowy winter in Chicago compare with a very snowy winter in Anchorage?
Don Moore, Chicago
Dear Don,
Snow totals vary greatly across metropolitan Anchorage because of mountainous terrain in the immediate area, but average full-season snowfall in the city is 70 inches, 184% of Chicago’s full-season average of 38 inches. Your snow figure is correct: As of Jan. 29, 76″ of snow have already blanketed Anchorage, and the city is having major snow-removal problems. You will be surprised to learn that Anchorage’s season-to-date total this winter is remarkably close to the comparable total that Chicago racked up in the winter of 1978-79–78.0″ as of Jan 29, 1979. That winter went on to produce a grand total of 89.7″, Chicago’s all-time seasonal snow record.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
