This is not a new experience for the residents of Utqiagvik, Alaska.. it’s not like the world is ending. And even if it is, this is not a sign of impending doom.
Instead it is a sign of the season of darkness we are about to go in.
We have been hearing a lot of people and politicians throw the phrase “dark winter” around as of late. They ain’t seen no dark winter until they are in Utqiagvik for 66 days starting now.
The sun set at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the United States’ northernmost town. And it won’t rise again for another 66 days in Utqiaġvik, which is formerly known as Barrow.
USA TODAY reported on this, writing
Some Alaskans prepare by taking Vitamin D supplements or relying on a “happy light,” which mimics daylight, Carson Frank, an associate at the University of Alaska Museum of the North told USA TODAY on Wednesday during a phone interview.
There won’t be complete darkness, according to meteorologist Danielle Banks of The Weather Channel. “There are a few hours each day with enough light to see, but the folks who live here have technically seen their last sunset until 2021,” she said.
I am sure they will enjoy their several minutes of faint sunlight..
The North Slope city of Utqiagvik passed several new COVID-19 restrictions at a Wednesday city council meeting that included a unique punishment for rule-breakers: requiring they produce public service announcements on the dangers of the coronavirus. Mayor Fannie Suvlu said there are several reasons the city chose that punishment. The first is the recognition that some residents aren’t educated on the reasons for coronavirus precautions. The PSAs can take the form of voice recordings for radio, video clips or flyers. “If you do a flyer regarding it, that’s not only educating the person that violated it, but once we hang the flyer up … you’re spreading that within the community,” Suvlu said.
The town of Utqiagvik, or Barrow, is about 4,400 people strong. It is actually the largest city of the Northern Slope of Alaska.
For those who dread this moment when the sun goes dark, there is solace in coming future events. Just as bleak this vitamin-D-less moment is, Utqiagvik has hope: Beginning around May 11 or 12, the sun remains above the horizon the entire day, and the phenomenon known as the midnight sun is observed. The sun does not set for about 80 days, until around July 31 or August 1. In June, the average temperature rises above freezing, to 35.7 °F , and the normal daily mean temperature remains above freezing until September 17…
If they can get through the long winter they’ll be fine.
