Ask a Climatologist: The sun is back and so is winter melt

The sun melts snowbanks into icicles in Anchorage on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Photo by Annie Feidt/Alaska’s Energy Desk)
March has brought sun to much of the state. But not a lot of warm temperatures. That weather combination prompted a listener to email to ask why some ice and snow is disappearing, even though it’s well below freezing outside.
Climatologist Brian Brettschneider says it’s not the first time he’s fielded this question.
“It’s all about the su