Warm air temperatures have melted the snow, leaving the soil without the insulation that snowcover usually provides.
Observation by Ronald Illingworth:
March 2019 was one of the warmest in recent data collection. Late March temps got into the 50s. Warm springs are not necessarily a good thing. The ground is still frozen; however, all of the snow blanket insulation is missing. We grow peonies and don’t want an early season as that would put them in competition with the peonies from the lower-48. Don’t know what damage is likely or possible to occur from the lack of snow. None of the farmers out here on Eielson Farm Road has started any land farming activity; however, the goat grower has his goats out now. Soil temps are still running around 29-32F. Below is a picture taken on our farm March 31st, 2018, and another taken today. Except for the very south end of our fields, in an area shaded by trees, all the snow has been gone for a couple of weeks.
Comments from LEO Editors:
Snow cover is an important factor in maintaining soil health during the winter. Snow traps heat in the ground, and prevents the frost layer from reaching too deeply. Freeze/thaw cycles reduce soil compaction, which may be beneficial for some crops, but soil movement can also damage plant root systems. If warm air temperatures melt the snow, but the ground is still frozen, the soil cannot absorb the runoff, which can lead to pooling or soil erosion. According to a map produced by Rick Thoman at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, temperatures in the Fairbanks area are approximately 16 degrees above normal.
Source: Soil Science Society of America Erica Lujan
Snowcover on the North Pole Peony Farm - March 2018
Ron Illingworth
Lack of snowcover on the North Pole Peony Farm - March 2019
Ron Illingworth
March 2019 Average Temperature Departure form Normal
Rick Thoman, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy
Observations From Members