Warm weather in Nome, Alaska has caused havoc in the region, with several freeze and thaw cycles leaving puddles on ice and a landscape more reminiscent of spring than December. The warm weather has disrupted normal life, delaying school and hospital openings, causing businesses to open late or close early, and delaying travel plans. Climate data shows that November and early December have been unusually warm, with Nome on track to break the average number of days at or above freezing in December. The warm temperatures have caused ice to accumulate on every surface, including power and communication lines, causing temporary power outages. The strong southeast wind has blown ice from eastern Norton Sound to Nome, causing chunks of rotten-looking ice to accumulate on the shoreline.