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Weather & Climate

Weather and Climate in Alaska is the conditions, advisories and events that affect communities statewide. The National Weather Service issues advisories for wind, snow, fog, flooding, surge, heat and frost. It also tracks seasonal temperature records, aurora activity and earthquakes.

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Week of Aug 31

Alaska got early frost and a heat advisory in the same week

Alaska's first week of September brought early frost to Anchorage and Yakutat and a heat advisory to Prince of Wales Island, where Friday hits 80 degrees.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska got early frost and a heat advisory in the same week

NWS forecasts up to 1.5 inches of rain in the Chena River basin

Up to 1.5 inches of rain will drench the Chena River basin over the next 48 hours, pushing rivers higher, though NWS Fairbanks says flooding is not expected unless the heaviest rain shifts east.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Chena River basin, Fairbanks area, Alaska
Cover image for article: NWS forecasts up to 1.5 inches of rain in the Chena River basin

Montana Creek topped flood stage in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley, with advisories into Tuesday morning

Montana Creek rose over the low-water crossing on Montana Creek Road this week. Another foot of water would put it into yards along Mendenhall Loop Road.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Montana Creek topped flood stage in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley, with advisories into Tuesday morning

Interior awards $8,360 for helicopter service to Tincan and Indian Pass snow sensors

Interior awarded $8,360 to Alpine Air Alaska to maintain two remote snow sensors that feed avalanche forecasts for Turnagain Pass and Indian Pass through October.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Interior awards $8,360 for helicopter service to Tincan and Indian Pass snow sensors

Dozens of earthquakes struck one patch of seafloor near Nikolski

Three dozen quakes struck one patch of seafloor southwest of Nikolski in about a day. No tsunami danger, and the Aleutians are not in Alaska's warning system.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Dozens of earthquakes struck one patch of seafloor near Nikolski

Some Anchorage homes went a month without running water last winter

Some Anchorage homes went a month without running water last winter. Frozen lines hit triple the usual number, and thawing them is the customer's expense.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Some Anchorage homes went a month without running water last winter

Water forecast 2 to 4 feet above normal high tide in Eastern Norton Sound

Water along Eastern Norton Sound should run 2 to 4 feet above normal high tide from late Thursday into Saturday, with beach erosion likely.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Eastern Norton Sound, Western Alaska
Cover image for article: Water forecast 2 to 4 feet above normal high tide in Eastern Norton Sound

Forecasters flag Kwigillingok as water rises along the Kuskokwim Delta coast

Water along the Kuskokwim Delta coast is forecast 1 to 2 feet above normal high tide, with forecasters flagging Kwigillingok as most exposed to this front.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Cover image for article: Forecasters flag Kwigillingok as water rises along the Kuskokwim Delta coast

More from Weather & Climate

Chukchi coastal waters expected to become ice free within days, NWS says

Chukchi Sea navigational waters off Alaska will become ice free within days, the National Weather Service said Monday, though Arctic-wide sea ice remains near record lows for this time of year.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Chukchi Sea coast, Arctic Alaska
Cover image for article: Chukchi coastal waters expected to become ice free within days, NWS says

Four quakes off Nikolski, largest magnitude 5.3; no tsunami danger

Four earthquakes struck offshore southwest of Nikolski late Monday, with the largest at magnitude 5.3, but the National Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami danger.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Four quakes off Nikolski, largest magnitude 5.3; no tsunami danger

Week of Aug 24

Frost advisory for Anchorage and the Mat-Su early Tuesday

Cover your plants Monday night. Frost is expected early Tuesday in colder pockets of Anchorage and the Mat-Su, a few days ahead of the usual first chill.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Bowl and Lower Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Cover image for article: Frost advisory for Anchorage and the Mat-Su early Tuesday

Snow and 40 mph gusts are forecast for the Richardson Highway on the last day of August

Snow is heading for Isabel Pass on the last day of August: 4 to 8 inches above 2,000 feet, north winds gusting to 40 mph, and a work zone underneath it.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Eastern Alaska Range, Alaska
Cover image for article: Snow and 40 mph gusts are forecast for the Richardson Highway on the last day of August

Wind is stirring up 1912 volcanic ash over southwest Kodiak Island

Wind is stirring up ash from the 1912 Katmai eruption over southwest Kodiak Island, and Karluk and Larsen Bay residents should limit time outdoors.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Wind is stirring up 1912 volcanic ash over southwest Kodiak Island

Forecasters expect 25 to 35 mph gusts across Fairbanks area Saturday

Gusty west-southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph will hit the Fairbanks area and Interior valleys through Saturday night, with the National Weather Service warning pilots to get aviation-specific briefings.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Forecasters expect 25 to 35 mph gusts across Fairbanks area Saturday

Seven small earthquakes logged across Alaska over three days

Seven small earthquakes hit scattered parts of Alaska between Aug. 26 and 29, ranging from magnitude 2.6 to 3.6. Only one has had human review.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Southcentral Alaska and Alaska Peninsula
Cover image for article: Seven small earthquakes logged across Alaska over three days

Anchorage youth can apply for $1,000 to $5,000 climate project grants

Anchorage residents ages 15 to 24 can apply for $1,000 to $5,000 for local climate projects, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Applications close Oct. 18.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Anchorage youth can apply for $1,000 to $5,000 climate project grants

About Weather & Climate

Weather and climate in Alaska take in the storms, advisories and longer seasonal patterns that shape daily life across the state. The National Weather Service issues the warnings for wind, snow, fog, ice, coastal surge and river flooding, and tracks temperature and precipitation records.

Wind storms bring power outages and fallen trees from Southcentral to Southeast and the Arctic coast. Snow and ice shape driving on the Seward, Parks and Dalton highways, while coastal flooding and high surf threaten villages on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and the Chukchi coast. Heavy rain raises rivers and creeks from Fairbanks to Juneau.

The subject also covers aurora forecasts tied to solar storms, Arctic sea ice trends and erosion along exposed coasts and bluffs.

More from Weather & Climate

Researchers get $812,016 to study Glacier Bay's iceberg seal habitat

Glacier Bay's harbor seals pup on icebergs. The glacier making those icebergs slowed 45 percent, and researchers got $812,016 to study what that means.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min read
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Cover image for article: Researchers get $812,016 to study Glacier Bay's iceberg seal habitat

High wind warning: gusts to 70 mph Friday in the Eastern Alaska Range

Forecasters upgraded Friday's Eastern Alaska Range wind forecast to a warning. Gusts to 70 mph are expected, peaking between 4 and 10 in the morning.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Eastern Alaska Range, Alaska
Cover image for article: High wind warning: gusts to 70 mph Friday in the Eastern Alaska Range

Kuskokwim Delta villages rebuilding from Halong face another storm

Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, still rebuilding from last October's Typhoon Halong, face another storm this week, with coastal flooding possible Friday.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Y-K Delta, Alaska
Cover image for article: Kuskokwim Delta villages rebuilding from Halong face another storm

Sea ice loss has swamped El Niño's grip on Arctic autumns

El Niño used to cool Arctic autumns, but sea ice loss has swamped that signal — just as forecasters expect a possibly record-strong El Niño this fall.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min read
Arctic Alaska
Cover image for article: Sea ice loss has swamped El Niño's grip on Arctic autumns

An eclipsed Moon rises over Alaska Wednesday, with aurora possible after

Alaska gets a deep partial lunar eclipse Wednesday night plus a chance at aurora, on the first dark nights of the season. Best viewing 9:30 to 10 pm.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: An eclipsed Moon rises over Alaska Wednesday, with aurora possible after

A gale warning hits Bristol Bay and Aleutian waters Wednesday, with a second storm right behind

A gale warning hits Bristol Bay and Aleutian waters Wednesday, with winds topping 34 knots and seas to 11 feet, and a second storm is right behind it.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: A gale warning hits Bristol Bay and Aleutian waters Wednesday, with a second storm right behind

Fog cut visibility to a quarter mile at Gustavus, and it is coming back

Fog dropped visibility around Gustavus and Glacier Bay to a quarter mile or less Tuesday morning. More is expected between 10 pm and 4 am tonight.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Fog cut visibility to a quarter mile at Gustavus, and it is coming back

It's going to be a windy one across Anchorage and Turnagain Arm on Tuesday

It's a windy one around Anchorage on Tuesday — gusts of 40 to 50 mph on the Hillside and Turnagain Arm, with a stronger system due late in the week.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: It's going to be a windy one across Anchorage and Turnagain Arm on Tuesday

Snow expected tonight at Atigun Pass, the high point of the Dalton Highway

Snow is expected at Atigun Pass tonight, 1 to 3 inches, with 3 to 6 inches on the peaks. BLM says storms drop snow there even in June and July.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Snow expected tonight at Atigun Pass, the high point of the Dalton Highway

Dalton Highway repairs begin Wednesday, narrowing it to one lane

Dalton Highway repairs at Milepost 315 start Wednesday with 24-hour flagging and up to 20-minute delays, narrowing the North Slope's main supply route to one lane.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Dalton Highway repairs begin Wednesday, narrowing it to one lane

Week of Aug 17

Ketchikan faces 2 to 3.5 inches of rain, road ponding through Monday

An atmospheric river crosses the southern panhandle overnight into Monday, dropping up to 3.5 inches of rain on the Ketchikan area and standing water on roads.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Ketchikan faces 2 to 3.5 inches of rain, road ponding through Monday

Two rounds of rain this week could flood Susitna Valley gravel bars

Two rounds of rain this week could push rivers in the Susitna Valley toward bankfull. Gravel bars and low riverside camps may end up underwater.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Susitna Valley, Alaska
Cover image for article: Two rounds of rain this week could flood Susitna Valley gravel bars

Skagway is under another wind advisory, gusts to 40 mph through Saturday

Skagway is under yet another wind advisory, this one with gusts up to 40 mph through Saturday evening. Secure the loose gear; it's been a windy summer there.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Skagway is under another wind advisory, gusts to 40 mph through Saturday

Drones are dropping chaff over Nenana to try to stop lightning

A Vancouver startup is dropping metallic chaff from drones over Nenana to try to stop lightning before it starts wildfires. The flights run through Sept. 30.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News2mo ago3 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Drones are dropping chaff over Nenana to try to stop lightning

A storm could raise water 4 to 6 feet at low-lying Norton Sound villages

Water will rise 4 to 6 feet above normal high tide at Koyuk and Elim Monday through Tuesday, with beach erosion and property damage possible, the National Weather Service said.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Bering Strait and Arctic Alaska
Cover image for article: A storm could raise water 4 to 6 feet at low-lying Norton Sound villages

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake shook Southcentral Alaska near Hope on Friday night

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake shook Southcentral Alaska near Hope late Friday, felt by hundreds across the region but bringing light shaking and no damage.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Hope, Alaska
Cover image for article: A magnitude 3.9 earthquake shook Southcentral Alaska near Hope on Friday night

Salmon dying off in Prince of Wales drainages amid low, warm water

Salmon are dying off in several Prince of Wales Island streams, where low, warm water from drought has killed fish and stranded survivors in shrinking pools.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Salmon dying off in Prince of Wales drainages amid low, warm water

Interior wind event hits highways as the Mukluk Fire burns near Tok

The winds that drove the Mukluk Fire near Tok hit Interior highways too, with gusts to 75 mph at Isabel Pass and a warning about the Tatlanika fire.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Interior wind event hits highways as the Mukluk Fire burns near Tok

The state gave Red Dog another decade of eased water limits as the mine looks to run longer

Alaska extended Red Dog's wastewater permit 10 years, to 2036, past the mine's own expected ore life, citing thawing permafrost with no available remedy.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: The state gave Red Dog another decade of eased water limits as the mine looks to run longer

Rain is coming to the Interior, and the small creeks will rise — but the big rivers are low enough to take it

Rain will raise the small creeks feeding the Koyukuk and Middle Yukon, but the big rivers are low enough to take it — a routine wet stretch, not a threat.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Interior Alaska
Cover image for article: Rain is coming to the Interior, and the small creeks will rise — but the big rivers are low enough to take it

Yentna River passes flood stage near Lake Creek with water expected in lodge cabins

The Yentna is over flood stage near Lake Creek, with water expected in cabins at two lodges. It should crest around 21 feet Tuesday morning.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Western Susitna Valley, Alaska
Cover image for article: Yentna River passes flood stage near Lake Creek with water expected in lodge cabins

Week of Aug 10

Willow Creek forecast to reach minor flood stage Tuesday under Susitna Valley flood watch

Willow Creek is forecast to reach minor flood stage Tuesday morning during Alaska's primary election, with 2 to 4 inches of rain expected across the Susitna Valley through Wednesday.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Susitna Valley, Alaska
Cover image for article: Willow Creek forecast to reach minor flood stage Tuesday under Susitna Valley flood watch

Gusts to 65 mph on the Anchorage Hillside and in Eagle River through tonight

Guess what! Wind! On the hillside in South Anchorage and Eagle River especially =)

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Hillside and Eagle River, Alaska
Cover image for article: Gusts to 65 mph on the Anchorage Hillside and in Eagle River through tonight

Heat advisory warns of 80 degrees near Umiat Sunday afternoon

National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the area near Umiat forecasting 80 degrees Sunday afternoon, though no North Slope villages fall within the warning zone.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Arctic Plains, Alaska
Cover image for article: Heat advisory warns of 80 degrees near Umiat Sunday afternoon