000 NOAK49 PAFG 082331 PNSAFG AKZ222-100600- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 231 PM AKST WED FEB 8 2012 ...FEBRUARY ICE THICKNESS DATA FOR NORTHERN ALASKA... BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF ICE THICKNESS DATA COLLECTED BY THE STAFF AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) IN FAIRBANKS AND NWS OBSERVERS. THIS DATA IS COLLECTED AROUND THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH DURING THE WINTER. LOCAL FAIRBANKS AREA: CHENA LAKES..............................02/01/12....23 INCHES CHENA RIVER AT NORDALE RD................02/01/12....14 INCHES CHENA RIVER AT PIKES LANDING.............02/02/12....10 INCHES CHENA RIVER AT STEESE HWY................02/01/12....24 INCHES SMITH LAKE (UAF).........................02/01/12....18 INCHES TANANA RIVER AT CHENA PUMP RD............02/01/12....24 INCHES OUTSIDE OF FAIRBANKS: 48 MILE POND CHENA HOT SPRINGS RD........02/01/12....24 INCHES BIRCH LAKE...............................02/01/12....32 INCHES CHATANIKA RIVER AT ELLIOTT HWY...........02/02/12....21 INCHES CHATANIKA RIVER AT STEESE HWY............02/02/12....21 INCHES COLVILLE RIVER DELTA.....................02/02/12....45 INCHES HARDING LAKE.............................02/01/12....22 INCHES KUSKOKWIM RIVER AT MCGRATH...............02/07/12....22 INCHES KOYUKUK RIVER AT BETTLES.................02/02/12....33 INCHES LAKE MINCHUMINA..........................01/31/12....27 INCHES OLNES POND...............................02/02/12....22 INCHES QUARTZ LAKE..............................02/01/12....29 INCHES SALCHA RIVER AT RICHARDSON HWY...........02/01/12....29 INCHES TWIN BEARS CAMP CHENA HOT SPRINGS RD.....02/01/12....22 INCHES YUKON RIVER AT EAGLE.....................01/31/12....34 INCHES ICE THICKNESS ON RIVERS AND LAKES ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN ALASKA WAS BELOW NORMAL AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY DESPITE THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES SO FAR THIS WINTER. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SNOW ON THE ICE AT MOST LOCATIONS PROVIDED A GOOD AMOUNT OF INSULATION FROM THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND PREVENTED THE ICE FROM THICKENING AS MUCH AS WOULD BE EXPECTED. HISTORICAL ICE THICKNESS INFORMATION FOR THE ENTIRE STATE CAN BE FOUND ON THE ALASKA-PACIFIC RIVER FORECAST CENTER WEBSITE AT HTTP://APRFC.ARH.NOAA.GOV $$ EWP