tundra travel21 Dec 2018 17:20
DNR has completed an assessment of snow conditions and soil temperatures on the North Slope as related to off-road travel on State-owned land. The assessment was complete as of December 20, 2018.
The target for the Eastern and Western Coastal Areas is 6 inches of snow and -5° C (23° F) soil temperature at one foot (30 cm) depth. The target for the Lower and Upper Foothills Areas is 9 inches of snow and -5° C (23° F) soil temperature at one foot (30 cm) depth.
The Western Coastal Opening Area is currently OPEN. Snow depth and soil temperature criteria were met at all monitoring stations on December 19, 2018.
The Eastern Coastal Opening Area is currently OPEN. Snow depth and soil temperature criteria were met at all monitoring stations on December 17, 2018.
Lower Foothills Opening Area is currently CLOSED. The snow depth target of 9 inches has been met at four of the five Lower Foothills monitoring stations. The remaining monitoring station averaged 7.9 inches of snow. The soil temperature target has been met at two of the five monitoring stations. The soil temperature at 30 cm at the remaining three monitoring stations ranged from -1.8° C to -4.3° C.
Upper Foothills Opening Area is currently CLOSED. The snow depth target of 9 inches has been met at three of the four Upper Foothills monitoring stations. The remaining monitoring station averaged 7.6 inches of snow. The soil temperature target has not yet been met at any of the three monitoring stations instrumented with thermacouples. The soil temperature at 30 cm at the monitoring stations ranged from 0.2° C to -4.5° C.
DNR staff will be on the North Slope during the week of January 2nd to continue monitoring snow variables and soil temperatures. The next Off-Road Travel Status Report will be sent out around January 5th, 2019.
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