VIDEO NOW: ‘Pandemic of snow’ in Anchorage sets a record for the earliest arrival of 100 inches of snow

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Even by Alaska standards, there is a lot of snow this winter. So much snow has fallen — so far, more than 8.7 feet (2.65 meters) — that roofs on commercial buildings are collapsing around Anchorage and officials are urging residents to break out their shovels to avoid a similar fate at home. As of Tuesday morning, the three-day storm had dropped nearly 17 more inches (43 centimeters) of snowfall, pushing Alaska’s largest city past the 100-inch (254-centimeters) mark earlier than at any other time in its history.