More overcast days, sloshy grounds in the Glacier Valley

Wet, sloshy snow is here today. Not quite rain, at least not at the base of the ski resort. There was rain right on the coast. None of it stopped the skiers and riders from taking advantage of the weekend. The temperature at the T in Girdwood remained at 33° all day. The photo above shows how much it was snowing, there was difficult visibility at the top of the mountain. The Daylodge was dripping wet inside, puddles everywhere. 

Walking around outside was a challenge, there is not ice on the surfaces, just slush, so whether you are wearing cleats or not doesn’t make a big difference. The snow is sloshy and stepping in the slosh is almost like hydroplaning. Walk diligently not quickly. 

The precipitation has remained all day into night and the temperature remains the same. With this new round of overcast days, if you have indoor plants, be sure they are very close to the window for maximum lighting. If that is not possible, keep them under a light for 5-6 hours. A grow light or blue light is best, but flourescent will work, even incandescent. Any light is good for your indoor house plant. If it is not receiving enough light leaves will yellow, or be very pale green and weak. However, house plants will also be shedding leaves at this time in preparation for growing new leaves this spring. A dried leaf from a lower part of the plant that falls off may be normal. Remember, most importantly, not to over water with low light, this will suffocate the roots and that is not good!

Snow at high elevations and a little blue sky in Girdwood

There has been light snow fall at sea level in Girdwood the past two nights, however, no build up. The top of the mountain though has been blessed with over a foot of fresh snow. Anywhere over 500 feet elevation is cold enough to retain snow. The snow has been building up so much, Alyeska's snow safety has been hard at work to clear avalanche dangers. The howitzers started at 8 am. There will be no danger for skiers at the top of the mountain as the tram remains closed due to the accident earlier this week.  It still remains above freezing at 34° in Glacier City today at the base of the mountain. 

I drove into Anchorage yesterday and saw the ice and snow had melted in all the marsh areas along Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm. The sides of the mountains look good where the snow has stayed on the trees. It was nice to be just 40 miles down the road and experience some blue sky and sun shine. Today in Girdwood we are seeing a bit of blue sky between the fluffy clouds, a nice reprieve from the rain.

If you have indoor plants, be sure to check their soil for moisture. Winter care for indoor plants is important because the environment is quite different from the summer. Its easy to forget about their water needs when we people feel so warm. Our central heat systems and gas heaters really lower the humidity in our homes in the winter. Stick your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle after your finger tip. If the soil is dry, water your plants until water runs out the base. Or, if your houseplants are sitting in saucers, fill the saucer full so the soil can absorb from the base. 

A gorgeous sunset toward the Cook Inlet. This photo does not do it justice. Will be working with a better camera in the future.....