Qiteq – Rain Sun’ami qitengtaartuq. – It rains all the time in Kodiak. From September to April, a winter storm crosses the Gulf of Alaska about every five days, bringing intense rain, high winds, and heavy seas. Surrounded by ocean and encircled by Alaska’s high coastal mountains, Kodiak is continually exposed to the full force of […]
It has been a rainy week in middle Alaska. Blah. But perhaps I judge liquid precipitation a bit harshly. Rain is, after all, the free distribution of a substance more valuable than gold. And, even in the Southeast’s Little Port Walter — where residents endure 80 days each year with precipitation amounts greater than […]
Due to the recent rain and cooler temperatures, the burn ban within the Municipality of Anchorage has been lifted. Outdoor recreational fires are allowed. This includes barbeque grills, portable outdoor fireplaces, recreational, ceremonial and open cooking fires. See the attachment for specific information on allowable types of fires within the Municipality of Anchorage. Prior to […]
Photo: An atmospheric river that transported immense amounts of water vapor from the tropics to Southcentral Alaska in November 2018. NOAA image Nome, August 2019: More than 2 inches of rainfall falls in one day, setting a new record. Thompson Pass, December 2017: 1.7 inches of snow piles up in 10 minutes. Seven feet of […]
Climate Crisis Sends Stream Temperatures Off the Charts HOMER, AK— As Alaskans suffer through the smoke, haze and danger of a record-breaking heat wave, Alaska’s salmon are suffering too. On July 7th, stream temperatures topped 81.7 oF (27.6 oC) in the Deshka River, a major salmon stream on the west side of Cook Inlet […]
The forces shaping Alaska never sleep, especially near Yakutat. I visited the fishing town of about 800 people and many dogs a few years back. My assignment was to write about scientists studying Hubbard Glacier, which slammed the door on Russell Fiord in summer 2002, creating the largest glacier-dammed lake in the world for a […]
Houston, the fourth largest U.S. city, and large parts of southeastern Texas are under water, overwhelmed by tropical storm rains of historic proportions, and the heavy rain resumed Sunday night, making rescuers’ tasks more difficult. Hundreds of rescue operations have been underway throughout the area — by helicopter, by boat, by rescue crews churning through […]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A powerful weather system swept up the U.S. East Coast on Monday with pounding rain and high winds, potentially snarling travel for millions after tornados killed at least 18 people in Georgia and Mississippi over the weekend. Emergency management officials warned New York City residents to brace for winds of up […]
A powerful el Niño influenced storm has hit the coast of California, dumping much needed rains on a state stricken with a severe drought. Much of the state’s coastline saw heavy winds and rain late Wednesday, toppling trees, causing car crashes, and flooding streets and streams. No serious property damage or injuries were reported, but […]