GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) -- Senior Airman Jared Currie is one of more than 120 maintenance people on the flightline here every day braving the cold. Airman Currie is a crew chief with the 319th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)   Download HiRes

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by Staff Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

1/30/2004 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN)  -- A record was set here for the coldest day in January when temperatures reached minus 37 on Jan. 29 and 30, said officials at the 319th Operations Support Squadron weather flight here.

The base is also experiencing one of the snowiest winters on record,

From Jan. 24 to 26, the base received 21 inches of snow. By Jan. 29, temperatures dipped to a new winter low of minus 37 with a wind chill that hit 60 below zero. This shattered the previous January record of minus 36 set in 1951.

“This is some of the heaviest snowfall and some of the coldest temps we have seen since the 1996-97 winter season,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Hendrickson, weather operations team chief for the 319th OSS weather flight. “The coldest temperature we have on our record is 40 below zero which was measured in February 1996.”

Sergeant Hendrickson said the base has received 50.36 inches of snow so far this winter. The average annual snowfall is just over 41 inches, he said.

“In January, the average high temperature we have recorded is 14 degrees above zero and even the average low temp is 1 degree above zero,” Sergeant Hendrickson said. “Also, our average snowfall amounts for January is 7.9 inches. That should give you some idea of what type of month we are having up here.”

The weather may be bitter, but the mission must go on.

“We’re out here no matter what conditions there are,” said Staff Sgt. Chris Kaemke, a 319th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler. “When we are outside we could be checking identification cards at the gate, doing vehicle searches at the gate, doing patrols, or simply checking buildings. The security of this base has to be maintained and we are the ones who do that job.”

When it is cold, even military working dogs wear cold weather gear. There are boots and sweaters to cover the animals, said Sergeant Kaemke.

“They have to stay warm too,” he said.

Senior Airman Lorie Hollis, an installation entry controller, said when she is out directing vehicle searches at the main gate in the cold weather, it is important to have all the gear on and be quick.

“When I am out there, I have nearly every piece of cold weather garment I’ve been issued on me,” she said.

Temperatures here are expected to continue to be extremely cold for the coming days, Sergeant Hendrickson said.

“We’re not expecting a daily high temperature for Grand Forks AFB to get above zero for quite awhile,” Sergeant Hendrickson said. “Until then, we’ll have to deal with the cards Mother Nature has dealt us.”