Alaska

Alaska and NW Canada Cold Snap Review

Published

4 weeks ago

February 2, 2026

Most of December and the first two weeks of January were very cold in most of Alaska and northwest Canada. I posted about the cold in the first half of December here, the cold snap through Christmas here, December overall for Alaska here and Arctic context for the cold snap in the December climate review here.

This post serves as an event recap, though because of the breath and duration of event this review is necessarily selective. Also I have only limited tools to assess the historical context of this event in northwest Canada, so I’ve surely missed some important highlights. Because this event was international scope, I provide temperature information in both degrees F and degrees C. This makes the post longer, but I hope it’s relevant whatever your preferred temperature scale.

The 2025-26 cold snap was distinguished primarily by the long duration of the very cold weather rather than daily extremes. Based on ERA5 Land reanalysis, for Alaska overall, every day but two between December 4 and January 15 was colder than the 1991-2020 baseline average (Fig. 1 top), making this the most significant prolonged cold snap since 2012 (which was colder). For the Yukon Territory, every day between December 5 and January 9 was colder than average (Fig. 1 bottom).

Fig. 1 Daily average temperature difference from the 1991-2020 baseline average December 4, 2025 to January 20, 2026 for Alaska (top) and the Yukon Territory (bottom). Data from ERA5 Land courtesy of ECMWF/Copernicus

The coldest period for northwest North America overall was December 5 to January 15 (Fig. 2). The departures are quite markable given this is a seven week period.

Fig. 2 Average temperature departure from 1991-2020 baseline average for the seven weeks December 5, 2025 to January 15, 2026. For Alaska and the Yukon Territory overall, this was the coldest 42 day period during this cold snap. Data from ERA5 Land courtesy of ECMWF/Copernicus.

For the Yukon Territory overall the coldest day was December 22, with temperatures south of 65°N widely 20°C or more below normal (Fig. 3). The very low temperatures extended into the eastern Interior, but Alaska west of about 160°W was notably warmer than normal.

Fig. 3 December 22, 2025 average temperature difference from the smoothed 1991-2020 average, degrees F (top) and degrees C (bottom). Data from ERA5 Land courtesy of ECMWF/Copernicus.

The coldest day from the central Yukon Territory westward into eastern and central Interior Alaska was January 4th (Fig. 4). Temperatures in southern YT were not quite as low as around winter solstice. With above normal temperatures across the Alaska Peninsula this wasn’t quite coldest day for Alaska overall.

Fig. 4 January 4, 2026 average temperature difference from the smoothed 1991-2020 average, degrees F (top) and degrees C (bottom). Data from ERA5 Land courtesy of ECMWF/Copernicus.

The coldest day for Alaska overall was January 8, anchored by the deep cold over southwest mainland but temperatures widely 15°F (9°C) or more below normal over mainland Alaska (Fig. 5). At this point temperatures had moderated considerably in the Yukon Territory and Southeast Alaska.

Fig. 5 January 8, 2026 average temperature difference from the smoothed 1991-2020 average, degrees F (top) and degrees C (bottom). Data from ERA5 Land courtesy of ECMWF/Copernicus.

The lowest temperatures recorded during December and January (Fig. 6) were notable, though not to record levels across Interior Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Both Tok and Chicken, Alaska, with lows of -63F (-52.8C), recorded the lowest temperatures at their respective locations since January 2009. Fairbanks’ and Tanana’s lowest temperature was the same as the low in 2024, and Bettles had a lower temperature last winter. Carmacks, YT reported the lowest temperature since 1996 but Whitehorse, Dawson, Beaver Creek and Pelly Crossing all had the lowest temperature only since 2022.

Fig. 6 plot of site specific lowest temperature reported in December 2025 and January 2026 in degrees F (top) and degrees C (bottom).

Beyond the Yukon and Interior Alaska there were a few daily records and other short term extremes during this cold snap.

Juneau airport low temperature of -10F (-23.3C) on December 22 and 23 were daily record lows and also the lowest temperature there since 1995.

In Southcentral Alaska there were a scattering of daily record lows the first and second weeks of January. Talkeetna set a daily record of -38F (-38.9C) on January 8. This is the first daily record low to be set in January since 1975. Also notable was the exceptionally cold January 3rd at Portage Glacier Visitor Center southeast of Girdwood. Calm winds and clear skies allowed the temperature to stay low all day, with a high temperature of -22F (-30.0C) and a low of -30F (-34.9C) the coldest day at this location since the observation site was established in 1998, though January 1989 probably had at least one day as cold or colder. Kenai’s low temperature of -36F (-37.8C) on January 8 wasn’t a daily record but it was the lowest temperature there since 1999.

In Southwest Alaska, King Salmon set daily record lows on two days and Bethel on one day.

The duration of cold snap is illustrated in these site-specific highlights:

Fairbanks Airport:
- 21 days with lows of -40F/C or lower, all between December 14 and January 13, the most since the winter of 1970-71
- 57 hours with dense ice fog (visibility one-quarter mile or lower), the most since the winter of 2008-09
- 30-day average temperature -31.0F (-35.0C) December 15 to January 13, the lowest since 1970-71
Tok: 22 days with lows of -50F (-45.6C) or lower, all between December 8 and January 6
Chicken: 29 days with lows of -40F/C or lower, all between December 6 and January 10

Notable “consecutive days” streaks include:

Fairbanks Airport:
- 32 straight days high temperature 0F (-17.8C) or lower (December 14 to January 14), second longest on record
- 43 straight days with daily low temperature -10F (-23.3C) or lower (December 4 to January 15), second longest on record
Tanana:
Eagle (cooperative station):
- 42 straight days with daily high temperature 0F (-17.8C) or lower, (December 5 to January 15), longest on record
Northway:
Anchorage:
Dawson, YT: 19 straight days with lows -40F/C or lower, longest since 1996

The daily temperature ranges are shown at Fairbanks and Tok (Fig. 7). Fairbanks, the westernmost location shown, had two notable moderating events in December, both associated with pulses of warmer air aloft moving from the Bering Sea into the central Interior and both produced significant snowfall. The first of these made as far east as Tok. Also notable at all these valley locations are a number of very cold days with only a few degrees spread between the high and low temperature. These days were clear (excepting local ice fog) and calm and vividly illustrates that although the sun scraps above the horizon for a few hours, in December and early January this provides no significant solar heating poleward of 60°N.

Fig. 7 daily low to high temperature (blue bars) and 1991-2020 normal (gray band) between December 4, 2025 to January 15, 2026 at Fairbanks (top) and Tok (bottom). Data courtesy NOAA.NWS and NCEI.

The cold was particularly unrelenting at Dawson, YT in December (Fig. 8, top), although the coldest day occurred on January 4. At Whitehorse (Fig. 8, bottom), there we two distinct episodes of deep cold, one in early December and another around winter solstice.

Fig. 8 daily low to high temperature (blue bars) and 1991-2020 normal (gray band) between December 4, 2025 to January 15, 2026 at Dawson (top) and Whitehorse (bottom). Data courtesy Environment and Climate Change Canada.

An historical perspective on this cold snap at Fairbanks is shown in the times series plotting the coldest 10-day periods each winter since the early 1900s (Fig. 9). By this measure, this cold snap was slightly colder than 2011-12 and not quite as cold as 1988-89. However, about a dozen winters prior to 1980 had a 10-day period colder than this event.

Fig. 9 Fairbanks lowest 10-day average temperature each winter 1905-06 to 2025-26. A few winters are missing prior to 1916 due to excessive missing data. Data courtesy NOAA/NCEI and NWS.

The mid-atmospheric flow pattern and its slow evolution in December and January explains a lot of what happened on the ground. During the second half of December (Fig. 10, left) extremely strong high pressure aloft over the Bering Sea supported high pressure at the surface over eastern Interior Alaska and the Yukon. Because of the lack of solar heating, clear skies allowed continuous escape of heat from the top of the snowpack to outer space, with the cold air pooling in valleys. In early January (Fig 10, right) the pattern changed, with a general westward shift of the high and low pressure centers aloft compared to December. For example, the the Being high pressure shifted northwest to be near the Sea Of Okhotsk, while the low pressure over central Arctic Canada in December shifted west to be over the Beaufort Sea in early January. This westward “retrogression”, so-called because it’s in contrast to the more usual west-to-east progression of mid-latitude weather features near ground, is a common feature of the mid-atmosphere flow pattern during the cold season.

Fig. 10 Average 500 hPa heights and departures from 1991-2020 baseline for the second half of December (left) and the first half January (right). Data from the NCAR/NCEP R1 reanalysis data courtesy NOAA/ESRL.

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Alaska

Sand Point teen found 3 days after going missing in lake

Published

5 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Sand Point teen found 3 days after going missing in lake

SAND POINT, Alaska (KTUU) – A teenage boy who was last seen Monday when the canoe he was in tipped over has been found by a dive team in a lake near Sand Point, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Alaska’s News Source confirmed with the person, who is close to the search efforts, that the dive team found 15-year-old Kaipo Kaminanga deceased Thursday in Red Cove Lake, located a short drive from the town of Sand Point on the Aleutian Island chain.

Kaminanga was last seen canoeing with three other friends on Monday when the boat tipped over.

A search and rescue operation ensued shortly after.

Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team posted on Facebook Thursday night that they were able to “locate and recover” Kaminanga at around 5 p.m. Thursday.

“We are glad we could bring closure to his family, friends and community,” the post said.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more details become available.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

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Alaska

Opinion: Homework for Alaska: Sales tax or income tax?

Published

17 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Opinion: Homework for Alaska: Sales tax or income tax?

iStock / Getty Images

This is a tax tutorial for gubernatorial candidates, for legislators who will report to work next year and for the Alaska public.

Think of it as homework, with more than eight months to complete the assignment that is not due until the November election. The homework is intended to inform, not settle the debate over a state sales tax or state income tax — or neither, which is the preferred option for many Alaskans.

But for those Alaskans willing to consider a tax as a personal responsibility to help fund schools, roads, public safety, child care, state troopers, prisons, foster care and everything else necessary for healthy and productive lives, someday they will need to decide on a state income tax or a state sales tax after they accept the checkbook reality that oil and Permanent Fund earnings are not enough.

This homework assignment is intended to get people thinking with facts, not emotions. Electing the right candidates will be the first test.

Alaskans have until the next election because nothing will change this year. It will take a new political alignment led by a reality-based governor to organize support in the Legislature and among the public.

But next year, maybe, with the right elected leadership, Alaskans can debate a state sales tax or personal income tax. Plus, of course, corporate taxes and oil production taxes, but those are for another school day.

One of the biggest arguments in favor of a state sales tax is that visitors would pay it. Yes, they would, but not as much as many Alaskans think.

Air travel is exempt from sales taxes. So are cruise ship tickets. That’s federal law, which means much of what tourists spend on their Alaska vacation is beyond the reach of a state sales tax.

Cutting further into potential revenues, state and federal law exempts flightseeing tours from sales tax, which is a particularly costly exemption when you think about how much visitors spend on airplane and helicopter tours.

That leaves sales tax supporters collecting from tourists on T-shirts, gifts for grandchildren, artwork, postcards, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals and restaurant meals. Still a substantial take for taxes, but far short of total tourism spending.

An argument against a state sales tax is that more than 100 cities and boroughs already depend on local sales taxes to pay for schools and other public services. Try to imagine what a state tax piled on top of a local tax would do to kill shopping in Homer, already at 7.85%, or Kodiak, Wrangell and Cordova, all at 7%, and all the other municipalities.

Supporters of an income tax say it would share the responsibility burden with nonresidents who earn income in Alaska and then return home to spend their money.

Almost one in four workers in Alaska in 2024 were nonresidents, as reported by the state Department of Labor in January. That doesn’t include federal employees, active-duty military or self-employed people.

Nonresidents earned roughly $3.8 billion, or about 17% of every dollar covered in the report.

However, many of those nonresident workers are lower-wage and seasonal, employed in the seafood processing and tourism industries, unlikely to pay much in income taxes. But a tax could be structured so that they pay something, which is fair.

Meanwhile, higher-wage workers in oil and gas, mining, construction and airlines (freight and passenger service) would pay taxes on their income earned in Alaska, which also is fair.

It comes down to what would direct more of the tax burden to nonresidents: a tax on income or on visitor spending. Wages or wasabi-crusted salmon dinners.

Larry Persily is a longtime Alaska journalist, with breaks for federal, state and municipal public policy work in Alaska and Washington, D.C. He lives in Anchorage and is publisher of the Wrangell Sentinel weekly newspaper.

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Alaska

Nome brothers summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, carry Alaska flag to third major peak

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Nome brothers summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, carry Alaska flag to third major peak

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Two brothers from Nome recently stood at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, planting an Alaska flag at 19,000 feet above the African plains.

The Hoogendorns completed the seven-day climb — five and a half days up and a day and a half down — trekking through rainforest, desert, and alpine terrain before reaching snow near the summit. The climb marks their third of the world’s seven summits.

Night hike to the top

The brothers began their final summit push at midnight, hiking through the night to reach the top by dawn.

“It was almost like a dream,” Oliver said. “Because we hiked through the night. We started the summit hike at midnight when you’re supposed to be sleeping. So, it was kind of like, not mind boggling, but disorienting. Because you’re hiking all night, but then you get to the top and you can finally see. It’s totally different from what you’d expect.”

At the summit, temperatures hovered around 10 degrees — a familiar range for the Nome brothers. Their guides repeatedly urged them to put on jackets, but the brothers declined.

“We got to the crater, and it was dark out and then it started getting brighter out,” Wilson said. “And then you could slowly see the crater like illuminating and it’s huge. It’s like 3 miles across or something. Like you could fly a plane down on the crater and be circles if you want to. Really dramatic view.”

A team of 17 for two climbers

Unlike their previous expeditions, the brothers were supported by a crew of 17 — including porters, a cook, guides, a summit assistant, and a tent setup crew.

The experience deviated from their earlier climbs, where they carried their own food, melted snow for water, and navigated routes independently.

“I felt spoiled,” Wilson said. “I was like, man, the next mountain’s gonna be kind of hard after being spoiled.”

Alaska flag on every summit

Oliver carried the same full-size Alaska flag on all three of his major summits, including in South America and Denali in North America, despite the added weight in his pack.

“I take it everywhere these days,” Oliver said. “It’s always cool to bring it out. And then people ask, you know, ‘where’s that flag from?’ Say Alaska.”

When asked about his motivation for the expeditions, Wilson said “I guess to like inspire other people. Because it seems like a lot of people think they can’t do something, but if you just try it, you probably won’t do good the first time, but second time you’ll do better. Because you just got to try it out. Believe in yourself.”

Background and next goals

The Hoogendorns won the reality competition series “Race to Survive: Alaska” in 2023. In 2019, they were the first to climb Mount McKinley and ski down that season. Oliver also started a biking trip from the tip of South America to Prudhoe Bay with hopes of still completing it.

Kilimanjaro is their third summit. The brothers said they hope to eventually complete all seven summits, with Mount Vinson in Antarctica among the peaks they are considering next… all while taking Alaska with them every step of the way.

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