Alaska Climate Research Center
Another data point has been added to one of Alaska’s longest and most unique climatological time series: The tripod on the Tanana river at Nenana fell over on May 8, triggering a clock that records the time of break-up. The tradition of betting on the timing of the river break-up was started in 1917 and …
There are not many weather stations in Alaska that have continuous, long term snow measurements. Fairbanks, Anchorage, Bettles, and Juneau have the longest and most consistent records of snow fall and snow depth and are great for comparing current snow levels to the climatological normal. February was quite snowy at all four stations: Bettles received …
Anchorage has been pummelled by a series of storms that brought near record amounts of snow to the city and surrounding areas. Over the course of about two weeks, three major storm systems moved through Southcentral Alaska. The first system brought an impressive 15-30’’ of snow to the Anchorage region on December 6-7. Two more …
A powerful storm has caused severe and widespread damage along Alaska’s West Coast. As of early morning on Sunday, September 18, water levels are receding along the Bering coast but still rising along the Chukchi coast as ex-typhoon Merbok moves northwards. Coastal communities all along the West Coast from the Kuskokwim delta to Norton Sound …
Cool and wet weather patterns in August brought the unusual 2022 fire season to an end in much of the state. Acreage burned and the number of total fires increased only moderately over the last weeks. However, dry conditions persist in parts of the Interior and late season lightning caused several new fires in August, …
Alaska wildfires are spreading at a rapid pace. There have been 365 fires confirmed by the end of June 2022 (ref.: Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Dashboard). Almost 1.8 Mio acres have burned, which exceeds the end-of-June acreage of any record fire year (i.e. 2004, 2005) to date since observational data exist. Abnormally dry …
With temperatures warming and green up in Fairbanks just around the corner, it’s safe to say that the snow season has come to a close. At some locations, the 2021-2022 snow season was one for the history books due to notable snow- (and rain) storms and record breaking snowpack accumulations. Below are charts of accumulated …
The end of February is fast approaching, and with it meteorological winter is coming to a close in the northern hemisphere. However, that does not necessarily mean that winter is over in Alaska. Below are charts of accumulated snowfall and snow depth for for Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The charts include values for the 2021-2022 …
Saturday, January 15, 2022: The explosive eruption of Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai sent a shockwave around the world. Such extensive atmospheric gravity waves triggered by a volcanic eruption have never been observed before. The waves spread in all directions, completing a circumnavigation of the globe and producing observable pressure peaks at weather stations worldwide. The US National …
This year, astronomical winter starts on December 21 at 6:59 AKST. The amount of daylight, as well as the timing of sunrise and sunset, vary considerably across the state on the shortest day of the year. For example, locations north of the Arctic Circle will not see the sun rise on the solstice, while the …