After two weeks of -40°F weather here in Fairbanks, and several weeks of below zero temps, the news reports talked about a Chinook coming in that would raise the local temp up to as high as 45°F. So day before yesterday (Jan. 14th) I got out the ladder and climbed up on top of my RV to try to shovel the snow off. Snow weighs 3-20 lbs per per cubic foot depending on moisture content and I estimated my relatively dry snow at 6 lbs/cu ft. That can change rapidly if it starts raining. And I didn’t want it to melt on top of the roof either. Melting could cause several leaks and staining inside the RV. Rain could raise the weight to 20lbs per cubic foot! Wet show on the roof would be around 13,500 extra pounds up there. Not really what it’s designed for. Just the dry snow was adding approximately 4000 pounds.
I started by clearing a space off near my bathrooms skylight to get a feel for the amount of work that might be involved. Then, when I determined the snow would be easily shoveled I moved to the rear of the RV and set the ladder up next to the RV’s access ladder for support. Climbing up in the middle of the RV helped me keep my balance as the snow was very slippery. Falling twelve feet to the ground, even snow covered, wasn’t something I wanted to do while I was working alone. I did have sense enough to carry my cell phone with me.
Here’s what it looked like after an hour of clearing:
Two feet of snow and several feet left to clean off...
Looking back at what's already been done. Twelve feet more behind me to go.
Looking back toward the front of the RV.
A shot of the cabin roof. The snow is about two feet deep.
The next day, I woke up to 20°F and all during the day it kept climbing until it did reach that promised 45°F. The trees around the area have completely shed their loads of snow off the branches. Looks like spring around here. The reports have informed us that the few days of Chinook we’re getting now will be replaced by more ‘normal’ temps here in town of -20°F. I’d be happy if it didn’t snow.