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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 10

Heat advisory covers Noatak, Kobuk and Seward Peninsula zones until 8 p.m. Saturday

Oh, it's gonna be hot… Best of luck with the bugs. Hopefully there's wind.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Noatak Valley, Lower Kobuk Valley, and Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Cover image for article: Heat advisory covers Noatak, Kobuk and Seward Peninsula zones until 8 p.m. Saturday

Juneau lifts its Suicide Basin flood evacuation

Juneau's Suicide Basin flood threat is over — the command reopened evacuated areas after the Mendenhall River crested at 14.7 feet, below the forecast.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News2mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Juneau lifts its Suicide Basin flood evacuation

UAF will study the landslides thawing under Alaska's pipeline

A UAF researcher will study why landslides start deep in thawing permafrost, aiming to protect Alaska's infrastructure — including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
Alaska Range, Alaska
Cover image for article: UAF will study the landslides thawing under Alaska's pipeline

Wind advisory warns of 55 mph gusts on the Richardson Highway Sunday and Monday

Another… Another another wind story. It's gonna be windy. You live in Alaska - you kind of knew this was coming.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Eastern Alaska Range
Cover image for article: Wind advisory warns of 55 mph gusts on the Richardson Highway Sunday and Monday

A heat advisory covers much of Southeast Alaska through Friday evening

A heat advisory covers much of Southeast Alaska through Friday evening, with temperatures in the lower 80s — a real risk in a region where most homes have no air conditioning.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Southeast Alaska
Cover image for article: A heat advisory covers much of Southeast Alaska through Friday evening

A Juneau evacuation route is restricted as the valley floods

A Juneau road is restricted to local traffic as the Mendenhall Valley floods from the Suicide Basin outburst, with about 5,000 people told to evacuate.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: A Juneau evacuation route is restricted as the valley floods

NOAA pulled the plug on its 20-year Arctic climate record — and Alaska's scientists are scrambling to save it

NOAA cut its 20-year Arctic warming record, written largely by Alaskans — and UAF scientists are now scrambling to publish the 2026 edition themselves.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Cover image for article: NOAA pulled the plug on its 20-year Arctic climate record — and Alaska's scientists are scrambling to save it

Juneau asks Mendenhall Lake evacuation zone residents to leave by 3 p.m.

Juneau ordered 5,000 residents in the Mendenhall Valley evacuation zone to leave by 3 p.m. Wednesday as a glacial outburst flood crests early Thursday.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News3mo ago3 min read
Cover image for article: Juneau asks Mendenhall Lake evacuation zone residents to leave by 3 p.m.

More from Weather & Climate

Juneau's glacial outburst flood crested Thursday at 14.7 feet, above major flood stage

Juneau is responding to glacial outburst flooding, nearly 1,900 homes in its advisory area, after the Mendenhall crested above major flood stage Thursday.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Juneau's glacial outburst flood crested Thursday at 14.7 feet, above major flood stage

Interior faces warmest stretch of summer as Tanana Valley smoke lingers

Interior Alaska is in its warmest stretch of summer, upper 70s to low 80s, with smoke from the Tatlanika Fire — though the advisory has expired and air eased.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Interior Alaska
Cover image for article: Interior faces warmest stretch of summer as Tanana Valley smoke lingers

Water begins flowing over Suicide Basin ice dam, NWS tells Juneau to finish flood prep

Water is spilling over Suicide Basin's ice dam near Juneau, and the National Weather Service is telling residents along Mendenhall Lake and River to finish flood prep now.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Water begins flowing over Suicide Basin ice dam, NWS tells Juneau to finish flood prep

Erosion is forcing Alaska to move the Noatak airport two miles west

The Noatak River has eroded to within about 160 feet of the village's airport — its only lifeline — so Alaska is moving the whole airport two miles west.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Erosion is forcing Alaska to move the Noatak airport two miles west

Week of Aug 3

Heat advisory covers Lower Matanuska Valley through Monday

I'm gonna be hot if you in the Matsu, don't be surprised if heat stroke finds you.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Lower Matanuska Valley and Anchorage, Alaska
Cover image for article: Heat advisory covers Lower Matanuska Valley through Monday

Yentna River crest ties to flood risk for Lake Creek lodges

Yentna River crested at 22.52 feet Thursday near Lake Creek, two feet above flood stage and high enough to push water into cabins at seven fishing lodges along the Western Susitna Valley.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Yentna River, Alaska
Cover image for article: Yentna River crest ties to flood risk for Lake Creek lodges

Magnitude 5.6 quake northwest of Skwentna felt across Anchorage and Mat-Su

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Skwentna was felt across Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley on Saturday night, with no damage reported so far.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage and Mat-Su Valley, Alaska
Cover image for article: Magnitude 5.6 quake northwest of Skwentna felt across Anchorage and Mat-Su

Heat advisory brings 80 degrees to the Arctic plains near Umiat

The Arctic plains near Umiat could hit 80 degrees Thursday under a heat advisory, a hot spell standing out in Alaska's coldest year since 2012.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Western Arctic Plains, Alaska
Cover image for article: Heat advisory brings 80 degrees to the Arctic plains near Umiat

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

Anchorage ties its wettest July on record as Southcentral soaks

Anchorage tied its wettest July on record and Talkeetna saw its wettest since 1922, part of a cool, soggy stretch and a recent run of unusually wet Julys.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Anchorage ties its wettest July on record as Southcentral soaks

A landslide cut rail service to Denali after record Talkeetna rain

A landslide from record July rain cut off Alaska Railroad service to Denali north of Talkeetna, in a corridor already under a flood-and-erosion emergency.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News3mo ago1 min read
Talkeetna to Denali, Alaska
Cover image for article: A landslide cut rail service to Denali after record Talkeetna rain

Yentna flood warning runs to Friday after forecast crest above 22 feet

Yentna River flood warning stays in effect until Friday afternoon as water threatens lodges near Lake Creek, with debris including trees flowing downriver.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Western Susitna Valley, Alaska
Cover image for article: Yentna flood warning runs to Friday after forecast crest above 22 feet

NWS forecast calls for 1 to 2 more inches of rain in Southwest Alaska

A Bering Sea storm will drop 1 to 2 more inches of rain across Southwest Alaska through Tuesday, with sustained winds pushing water levels up to 1 foot above normal along the Bristol Bay coast.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: NWS forecast calls for 1 to 2 more inches of rain in Southwest Alaska

As Alaska's glaciers retreat, new carbon-storing bogs are forming behind them

As Alaska's glaciers retreat, new carbon-storing peat bogs are forming on the bare ground behind them. A UAF grant will map how they form and how long they last.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: As Alaska's glaciers retreat, new carbon-storing bogs are forming behind them

Wind, high surf and rain batter four Y-K Delta villages into a second day

Four Y-K Delta villages spent a second day under coastal advisories, with high surf, winds gusting to 55 mph and days of rain — landing on Kipnuk as it still rebuilds from Typhoon Halong.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Cover image for article: Wind, high surf and rain batter four Y-K Delta villages into a second day

Strong winds hit the Anchorage Hillside and Turnagain Arm, with outages possible

Strong winds are hitting the Anchorage Hillside and Turnagain Arm, gusting up to 60 mph through Tuesday morning. Secure loose items — power outages are possible.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Strong winds hit the Anchorage Hillside and Turnagain Arm, with outages possible

Week of Jul 27

Seward faces heavy rain and flood risk again, weeks after July storm

Seward faces 2 to 4 inches of rain Monday through Thursday, with flood and landslide risk — the second such threat weeks after a July flood warning.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Seward faces heavy rain and flood risk again, weeks after July storm

Heavy rain now expected in the Mat-Su, with rivers set to crest Wednesday

Heavy rain is now expected in the Mat-Su, 3 to 5 inches, with rivers cresting Wednesday. The Yentna and Talkeetna corridors hit weeks ago are most exposed again.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Susitna River basin and Mat-Su Valley, Alaska
Cover image for article: Heavy rain now expected in the Mat-Su, with rivers set to crest Wednesday

Heavy sea ice off Alaska's north coast keeps shipping routes shut

Sea ice off Alaska's north coast is the heaviest in over 20 years, keeping Arctic shipping routes shut and complicating the resupply coastal villages depend on.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News3mo ago1 min read
Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea, Alaska
Cover image for article: Heavy sea ice off Alaska's north coast keeps shipping routes shut

Copper River Valley and McCarthy under a heat advisory through Sunday, up to 83

A heat advisory puts the Copper River Valley at 78 to 83 degrees through Sunday. Hydrate, skip midday exertion, and check on neighbors not used to the heat.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Copper River Valley and McCarthy under a heat advisory through Sunday, up to 83

Another round of damaging wind is headed for the Interior

More big wind for the Interior, with 70 mph gusts possible around Delta Junction and the Alaska Range. Trees, power lines and high-profile vehicles all at risk.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Another round of damaging wind is headed for the Interior

Juneau to Mendenhall Valley: the next glacial flood is coming, plan now

Juneau says the next Suicide Basin glacial flood is on its way, expected Aug. 1-9, with about 1,900 valley homes in the advisory area. Make a plan before the river rises.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Juneau to Mendenhall Valley: the next glacial flood is coming, plan now

The Gulf of Alaska's ocean station was saved. The funding still isn't.

The Gulf of Alaska's deep-sea monitoring station was saved from removal — but the money to keep the network Alaska's fisheries rely on is still unsettled.

Melinda Communities.Newsby Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: The Gulf of Alaska's ocean station was saved. The funding still isn't.

Alaska's senators move to shore up the NSF office that funds most UA research

Alaska's senators want to make permanent the NSF office that funds most UA research — even as the Trump budget would cut NSF by more than half.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska's senators move to shore up the NSF office that funds most UA research

AVCP chief executive presents on Arctic typhoons as Inuit assembly closes in Iqaluit

AVCP's CEO presented on Arctic typhoons at an Inuit assembly in Iqaluit, highlighting how Typhoon Halong destroyed homes and displaced hundreds in Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages in October 2025.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Cover image for article: AVCP chief executive presents on Arctic typhoons as Inuit assembly closes in Iqaluit

A magnitude 3.0 leads a weekend quake cluster in the Susitna Valley

A magnitude 3.0 led a weekend of small quakes in the Susitna Valley, felt as far as Anchorage — routine for ground sitting on three seismic sources.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Hatcher Pass area, Alaska
Cover image for article: A magnitude 3.0 leads a weekend quake cluster in the Susitna Valley

A rare stretch of 75-degree heat is coming to Bristol Bay this week, could disrupt berry picking and fishing

Bristol Bay is due for 70 to 75 degrees Wednesday and Thursday — heat this region sees about once a year, and enough to interrupt summer subsistence.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: A rare stretch of 75-degree heat is coming to Bristol Bay this week, could disrupt berry picking and fishing

It's July, and it's snowing on the road to the Arctic

It's late July and it's snowing on Atigun Pass — the 4,739-foot Brooks Range crossing that's the only road to Alaska's North Slope.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Atigun Pass, Alaska
Cover image for article: It's July, and it's snowing on the road to the Arctic

The water keeps coming back to Kotzebue Sound

Kotzebue Sound is getting its second high-water warning in two days — small rises on a coast where the flooding keeps getting worse.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Kotzebue Sound, Alaska
Cover image for article: The water keeps coming back to Kotzebue Sound

Week of Jul 20

Minor Chukchi surge hits Kivalina and Red Dog Dock

A minor Chukchi surge Sunday is small by 2022 standards, but it hits Kivalina and Red Dog Dock, where erosion and flooding are already permanent problems.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Kivalina and Red Dog Dock, Arctic Coast, Alaska
Cover image for article: Minor Chukchi surge hits Kivalina and Red Dog Dock

Small craft advisories hit Kodiak, Barren Islands waters through Sunday

Strong winds, caution to boats

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Small craft advisories hit Kodiak, Barren Islands waters through Sunday

Talkeetna's erosion fight reaches a new stage: buying people off the riverbank

Talkeetna's erosion fight has reached buyout territory: the borough wants federal money to pay people off the riverbank, if the state covers the match.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Talkeetna's erosion fight reaches a new stage: buying people off the riverbank