Alaska

Bitter cold returns to Southcentral Alaska, more snow for Southeast

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2024

Bitter cold returns to Southcentral Alaska, more snow for Southeast

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Anchorage is nearly four inches away from surpassing last year’s snowfall, following the record-breaking two-day snow that fell across parts of Southcentral Alaska.

While the snow has tapered off for some, some light snow is still falling across Southcentral. Additional accumulation for many will likely top out near a trace to less than 0.20 inches; the only exception will be through eastern Prince William Sound and the Copper River Basin where several more inches can be expected. Valdez could end the day with an additional 6-9 inches of snowfall through the evening.

With the recent snow, visibility issues will be common the next few mornings, largely due to areas of blowing snow being lofted from passing vehicles, but also because freezing fog looks possible over the next few mornings. A reminder that with any freezing fog, visibility will suddenly drop off in areas of dense fog. Take it easy and slow on the roads the next few mornings when required, as you will want to get to your destination as safely as possible.

Clouds will slowly depart through the day and into Wednesday, setting the stage for the return of colder weather. For Southcentral, we’ll see temperatures fall at or below zero through the rest of the week, with overnight lows dropping as low as -25 in some spots. Warmer conditions will be felt near the Gulf Coast, where temperatures will likely warm into the single digits and teens. It will be an unseasonably cold start to February in many spots across Southcentral and the state as a whole.

Southeast Alaska continues to see fairly mild conditions, although cooler weather is set to return to the region over the coming days. For Tuesday, we’ll see rain transitioning to a wintry mix and then eventually snow through the night. The recent wild weather in Southeast will likely mean many roads continue to remain either slick or icy in some of the cooler locations. Use caution on the roads or any difficult conditions you may encounter.

A winter storm watch is in effect for the Northern Panhandle beginning tomorrow morning, as our next storm moves in from the northern Pacific. Six to 9 inches of snowfall looks likely for the region, with gusts as high as 40 mph, leading to reduced visibility at times. Farther south through Southeast, snow will gradually filter into areas of wintry mix. This will be due to warmer conditions through the Southern Inner Channels. All locations in Southeast should see a better opportunity for snow later this week into the weekend, as temperatures drop below freezing.

Take it easy today and have a wonderful Tuesday!

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Alaska

Musician performs under the aurora in Nenana — without gloves, in 17 degrees

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Musician performs under the aurora in Nenana — without gloves, in 17 degrees

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A musician with Alaska Native roots recorded an hour-long live set in Interior Alaska beneath the aurora.

Chastity Ashley, a drummer, vocalist and DJ who performs under the name Neon Pony, celebrated a year since she traveled to Nenana to record a live music set beneath the northern lights for her series Beats and Hidden Retreats.

Ashley, who has Indigenous roots in New Mexico, said she was drawn to Alaska in part because of the role drums play in Alaska Native culture. A handmade Alaskan hand drum, brought to her by a man from just outside Anchorage, was incorporated into the performance in February 2025.

Recording in the cold

The team spent eight days in Nenana waiting for the aurora to appear. Ashley said the lights did not come out until around 4 a.m., and she performed a continuous, uninterrupted hour-long set in 17-degree weather without gloves.

“It was freezing. I couldn’t wear gloves because I’m actually playing, yeah, hand drums and holding drumsticks. And there was ice underneath my feet,” Ashley said.

“So, I had to really utilize my balance and my willpower and my ability to just really immerse in the music and let go and make it about the celebration of what I was doing as opposed to worrying about all the other elements or what could go wrong.”

She said she performed in a leotard to allow full range of motion while drumming, DJing and singing.

Filming on Nenana tribal land

Ashley said she did not initially know the filming location was on indigenous land. After local authorities told her the decision was not theirs to make, she contacted the Nenana tribe directly for permission.

“I went into it kind of starting to tell them who I was and that I too was a part of a native background,” Ashley said. “And they just did not even care. They’re like, listen, we’re about to have a party for one of our friends here. Go and do what you like.”

Ashley said the tribe gave her full permission to film on the reservation, and that the aurora footage seen in the episode was captured there.

Seeing the aurora for the first time

Ashley said the Nenana performance marked her first time seeing the northern lights in person.

“It felt as if I were awake in a dream,” she said. “It really doesn’t seem real.”

She said she felt humbled and blessed to perform beneath the aurora and to celebrate its beauty and grandeur through her music.

“I feel incredibly humbled and blessed that not only did I get to take part in seeing something like that, but to play underneath it and celebrate its beauty and its grandeur.”

The Alaska episode is the second installment of Beats and Hidden Retreats, which is available on YouTube at @NeonPony. Ashley said two additional episodes are in production and she hopes to make it back up to Alaska in the future.

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Alaska

Over $150K worth of drugs seized from man in Juneau, police say

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Over 0K worth of drugs seized from man in Juneau, police say

JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) – An Alaska drug task force seized roughly $162,000 worth of controlled substances during an operation in Juneau Thursday, according to the Juneau Police Department.

Around 3 p.m. Thursday, investigators with the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) approached 50-year-old Juneau resident Jermiah Pond in the Nugget Mall parking lot while he was sitting in his car, according to JPD.

A probation search of the car revealed a container holding about 7.3 gross grams of a substance that tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine, as well as about 1.21 gross grams of a substance that tested presumptively positive for fentanyl.

As part of the investigation, investigators executed a search warrant at Pond’s residence, during which they found about 46.63 gross grams of ketamine, 293.56 gross grams of fentanyl, 25.84 gross grams of methamphetamine and 25.5 gross grams of MDMA.

In all, it amounted to just less than a pound of drugs worth $162,500.

Investigators also seized $102,640 in cash and multiple recreational vehicles believed to be associated with the investigation.

Pond was lodged on charges of second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, five counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a substance and an outstanding felony probation warrant.

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Alaska

Sand Point teen found 3 days after going missing in lake

Published

1 day 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.

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