Weather & Climate
RSSAlaska News tracks weather and climate events affecting Alaska communities, including volcanic activity, wildfires, and smoke impacts.
Mid-June snowstorm closes Atigun Pass, Arctic gateway for North Slope projects
The Arctic doesn’t respect summer.
by Alaska News3mo ago1 min read
Fairbanks spruce pollen hits season high in UAF count
Fairbanks spruce pollen hit a season record of 346 grains per cubic meter on June 5, according to University of Alaska Fairbanks counts that track allergy triggers and climate patterns.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Red Flag Warnings hit Southwest Alaska three days running
Red Flag Warnings covered Southwest Alaska on June 3 and 4 as hot, dry conditions and 20 mph winds created rapid fire spread risk in remote communities from the Kuskokwim Valley to Bristol Bay.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Central Brooks Range through Monday
Surprise Surprise, more snow in the Arctic
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Yukon River sport fishing closed for kings and chums through 2026 as seven-year rebuilding effort continues
Alaska closed all sport fishing for king and chum salmon in the Yukon River drainage through 2026 under emergency orders due to weak run forecasts and a U.S.-Canada treaty requiring seven years of rebuilding closures.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Bristol Bay's ice is starting to break — and it's about to set off a cascade of fish and fishermen
Lake Aleknagik's ice is breaking in southwest Alaska, triggering young salmon migration and opening the first fishing window of the season at stream outlets where trout and char gather to feed.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alyeschem breaks ground on North Slope methanol plant
Alyeschem broke ground May 15 on Alaska's first Arctic petrochemical plant at Prudhoe Bay, converting natural gas into methanol with AIDEA's $70 million financing and operations expected by late 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Bristol Bay lakes still ice-covered as May ends, compressing early-season fishing window
Bristol Bay lakes remain ice-covered as of late May, delaying salmon fishing until mid-June on the Naknek and late June on the Alagnak, though resident fish like rainbow trout are biting well where access exists.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska summer outlook leans warmer, but not as a simple El Niño story
El Niño is likely to emerge soon, but that does not guarantee stronger impacts in Alaska.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Dunleavy declares disaster for Interior spring flooding
Governor Dunleavy declared a disaster for spring flooding in Interior Alaska, activating state aid programs. Residents can register for assistance through July 11.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
UAF scientist leads $36K Antarctic sea ice study amid record lows
UAF sea ice scientist Andrew Mahoney will lead a year-long study of Antarctic Ross Sea ice decline funded by the National Science Foundation with $36,000, running through March 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Energy Planners Design 50-Year Systems Using 2008 Weather Data
Alaska's power planners design 50-to-100-year systems using 2008 weather data that no longer matches current storm patterns, leaving utilities like AVEC to absorb emergency costs like the $100,000 helicopter rental after Typhoon Halong hit in 2025.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska eyes $3B carbon revenue from 600,000 burned acres
Alaska plans to earn over $3 billion by replanting 600,000 burned acres as carbon offsets over 20 years. • Work requires 5,000 tree planters yearly plus nurseries and equipment, creating seasonal jobs. • Carbon market collapsed in 2024 but is recovering, with oversupply ending in 18 to 24 months.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
UAF scientist gets $300K to unlock permafrost's carbon time bomb
UAF scientist gets $300K to study which microbes activate when permafrost thaws and release carbon, a key step to understanding how much greenhouse gas could escape from Alaska's frozen soils.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Mount Kupreanof shows signs of magma intrusion 50 miles from Sand Point
Mount Kupreanof volcano on the Alaska Peninsula has been raised to YELLOW alert status after showing signs of magmatic intrusion for the first time in over 10,000 years, with potential impacts to Sand Point 50 miles away.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAurora Borealis Lights Up Kodiak and Interior Alaska Skies
Residents in Kodiak and Interior Alaska reported seeing a vibrant aurora borealis display on the evening of April 18, 2026, sharing photos and videos of the event that occurred during the current solar maximum period.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readVivid Northern Lights Draw Fairbanks Viewers to Night Sky
Fairbanks and North Pole residents witnessed vivid aurora borealis displays on April 19, 2026, featuring intense formations that matched UAF Geophysical Institute forecasts during the ongoing solar maximum period.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
Ice Jam Near Kalskag Threatens Flooding Along Lower Kuskokwim River
An ice jam near Kalskag on the Kuskokwim River has prompted a flood warning through May 7, affecting communities including Bethel after spring breakup caused water to overflow roads and force early school release.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readSmoke from Boundary Fire Settles Over Tanana, Residents Report Health Impacts
Heavy smoke from the Boundary Fire settled over Tanana on May 4, prompting health complaints from residents and disrupting subsistence activities in the village of 300.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readFlash flood inundates Anderson home as water rises over 6 feet overnight
A flash flood in Anderson, Alaska, caused water to rise more than 6 feet overnight on May 3-4, flooding at least one home in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area village of 250 residents.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read3-Year-Old Dies After Falling Through Ice in Goodnews Bay
A 3-year-old boy died after falling through thin ice on the Goodnews River in Goodnews Bay on April 23, prompting a community search and an ongoing Trooper investigation.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readPermafrost Thaw Releases Unexpected Methane in Alaska Uplands
Research shows Alaska's thawing permafrost is releasing unexpected amounts of methane while coastal erosion threatens Native villages across the state.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readNorthern lights draw crowds to Fairbanks and Kodiak viewing spots
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readFairbanks and Kodiak Residents Capture Last Aurora Displays Before Midnight Sun
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
