After Alaska's coldest winter in a half-century, El Niño warmup is coming
Alaska Public Media • • nation
Key Points:
- Alaska experienced its coldest December-through-March period in 50 years, with Fairbanks recording its coldest winter on record, Juneau its coldest December and snowiest winter, and Anchorage its coldest March ever.
- The persistent cold was due to a sustained weather pattern involving high pressure over eastern Siberia and low pressure over central Canada, causing prolonged northerly flow and clear skies that led to extended freezing conditions.
- Juneau's record snowfall resulted from a northerly flow turning east over the Gulf of Alaska, generating low-pressure systems that tapped subtropical moisture, leading to consecutive days of heavy snowfall and setting new records.
- Anchorage experienced a consistently cold winter, with March being the coldest month for the first time since 1960-61, marking a notably steady cold period across all winter months.
- Looking ahead, forecasts indicate a likely strong El Niño developing by mid-2024, expected to bring warmer temperatures and significantly reduced snowfall across most of Alaska, contrasting sharply with the harsh winter just passed.
