Highlights

Temperature

Alaska as a whole was considerably warmer than the 1991–2020 normal, with an annual deviation of +1.5°F. All NCEI climate divisions were at or above average, with the largest positive departures observed on the North Slope. Among the selected First Order stations, Utqiaġvik again recorded the highest relative warmth, with an annual temperature deviation of nearly +2.7°F, highlighting persistent regional warming in northern Alaska. These above-average temperatures contributed to reduced spring snowpack, early snowmelt, and enhanced wildfire potential, particularly in Interior Alaska during the peak summer season.

Precipitation

The North Slope again recorded the highest precipitation anomalies, continuing a streak of wetter-than-average years. Above-average precipitation was also observed across the Aleutians, Western Alaska, and all areas north of the Kuskokwim and White Mountains. In contrast, Interior and Southcentral Alaska experienced near- to slightly below-normal precipitation. According to the Alaska Drought Monitor, parts of the Bristol Bay region, the Kenai Peninsula, and the Panhandle were classified as “abnormally dry” in March; however, these areas recovered during a wet April, mitigating longer-term drought concerns.

Snowfall

The 2024/25 snow season ended well below normal at coastal stations, with Juneau and Anchorage receiving only 50% and 76% of average snowfall, respectively, due to frequent mid-winter rain and snowmelt, though Anchorage totals were partly boosted by heavy snow in October and spring. In contrast, Interior stations such as Bettles (87%) and Fairbanks (107%) recorded near-normal snowfall for the season. The 2025/26 season began strongly, with Juneau accumulating a record 82 inches of snow in December, already exceeding its annual normal, while all other stations remain near normal in 2025/26.

Wildfire season

Wildfires burned 1,006,183 acres across Alaska in 2025, an area slightly above the long-term average based on records from 1950 to present. Fire activity increased rapidly in June and July, when widespread lightning storms ignited numerous fires across Western, Interior, and Southcentral Alaska, accounting for the majority of the season’s burned acreage. In contrast, cooler and wetter conditions during August and September substantially reduced fire spread and new ignitions. Several large fires prompted evacuations and temporary closures of the Parks Highway, disrupting transportation and local communities. Prolonged periods of hazardous air quality affected Interior Alaska as smoke from both Alaskan and Canadian wildfires accumulated over the region. Canada experienced an exceptionally severe wildfire season in 2025, with more than 6,000 fires and over 8.3 million hectares burned [~20.5 million acres], more than double its recent 10-year average. These smoke impacts persisted for multiple weeks and contributed to negative effects on tourism, particularly in Denali National Park and Interior Alaska, during the peak summer visitor season.

Sea ice extent

Arctic sea ice reached its maximum extent on March 21st, measuring 14.33 million square kilometers, setting a record low maximum extent for the 47-year satellite record. The summer minimum occurred on September 10th, with 4.81 million square kilometers of ice, tying for the 10th lowest minimum on record. Despite the summer rebound, Arctic sea ice ended 2025 with near record daily lows, reflecting continued long-term decline. These unusually low ice conditions contributed to warmer-than-average coastal waters and altered atmospheric circulation, which can influence Alaska’s weather patterns, sea-level pressures, and seasonal wildfire risk.

Extreme events

In October, ex-Typhoon Halong hit western Alaska with hurricane-force winds, heavy precipitation and severe flooding. In low-lying communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, homes and other structures were swept off their foundations and hundreds of residents were evacuated. Reconstruction and repair efforts in the hardest-hit communities (e.g.,  Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, and Napakiak) were hampered by further storms later in fall and were far from complete when winter arrived.

Large-scale circulation

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) remained in its negative (cool) phase throughout 2025 and reached its most negative monthly value on record in July 2025. This negative PDO pattern was characterized by temporarily near-average to cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures along the coastal margins of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, contrasted with warmer-than-average conditions in the central and western North Pacific. A negative PDO phase is typically associated with suppressed or moderated air temperatures across much of Alaska, particularly during winter and spring, and with shifts in large-scale atmospheric circulation that influence regional precipitation patterns.