Extreme Temperatures
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the winter of 2023 continued the chill set in 2019, with temperatures in Alaska averaging 11.8 degrees, just .2 degrees above average. The three previous winters were all below the average temperature.
In October, NOAA had predicted warmer-than-average winter for western Alaska. Old Farmer's Almanac also predicted winter would be "much milder than normal, with the coldest periods in mid- to late November, early December, and late January." The publication predicted snowfall would be below average. That was wrong. In fact, much of Alaska saw historic snowfall over the winter, and in Anchorage, a new record was set for the snow still remaining on the ground in April. The snow continued into the first week of May, with more than 100 inches falling this past winter.
The freak snowfall happened in La Raya, a mountainous area of Asturias, while hailstones and heavy rain fell in Mediterranean parts of Spain including Catalonia and Valencia after months without a drop of precipitation.
Spain has registered the driest start to a year since records started, the Spanish state weather forecaster AEMET said on Wednesday, with less than half the average rainfall during the first four months of 2023.
So far this year, Spain has recorded 11 hotter-than-normal days, more than twice the number typically observed during a full year.
At one point, more than 8,000 customers with Core Electric Cooperative were without power. Teller County offices also shut down because of the snow.

Snow, rain, fog and low temperatures prevail in Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz and Potosí
Colder weather was expected, but few expected such a downpour of snow and hail. It created havoc on the streets of La Paz and El Alto.
Comment: At the same time in neighboring Peru: Hundreds of passengers stranded after heavy snowfall in Cusco
Starting with the cold - and according to data from the warmth-addicted NOAA - the US has set 7 all-time low temperature records so far this year (through April 24) compared to just one heat record, while 321 monthly lows have fallen in April alone (also through April 24) compared to 66 heat records.
Highest April 1st snow cover recorded this year
Regrading snow, in the official books going back to 2001, the largest area ever covered with snow/ice in the western US at the beginning of April so far was 2019's 1,030,820 sq km, but this year that figure was far exceeded, with satellite imagery showing that more than 1,149-960 sq km of the West was covered with snow and ice on 1 April.
By comparison, the average snowpack in the western US at the end of March is 242,000 square miles.
Ski resorts near Queenstown received between 20-50cm (8-20 inches) of snow. New Zealand's south island is home to many spectacular ski resorts, such as The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Cadrona
In Vietnam, the temperature hit a record 44.2 degrees Celsius (111.5 F) on Sunday. In Myanmar's central Magway region, it soared to 46 C (114.8 F).
Thailand's capital of Bangkok had its hottest day on record on Sunday, when the heat reached 41 C (105.8 F), while in Laos, the temperature broke last month's national record to hit 43.5 C in Luang Prabang.
The banner year continues to leave a lasting impression as the current snow water content as of May 8 for the entire state of California is at 304% of normal. Most impressive is the Southern Sierra which is currently at 401% of normal. The Northern Sierra/Trinity area is at 258%, while the Central Sierra is at 295%.
Since early in the morning, visitors from Europe, North America, and South America have awaited the resumption of their flights, particularly connecting flights.
It should be noted that the resumption of flights is likely to occur as weather conditions improve.
Although no one has issued a communiqué on the impact of the snowfall, various airlines maintain and will resume their services in the following hours.
Comment: Elsewhere in the state: