The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

A very snowy start - January has been quite a month for extreme weather. In the U.S., the blast from the North made headlines as freezing temperatures covered the nation like a blue blanket. In Alaska, the weather has also been the main topic of conversation. The city of Nome shut down for three days to due to blizzards starting on the 18th. Then it was the south's turn. On the 22nd Juneau received 10.4 inches in a 24-hour period. The warming and rain that followed raised big concerns about avalanches. Here in Anchorage we are in the midst of the snowiest winter on record. We topped 107 inches this week after the last storm dumped 17 inches. That is over eight feet of snow so far this winter! The record accumulation has overwhelmed snowplows and caused roofs to collapse. This week the municipality sent notices to over 1,000 businesses warning that they should not allow people into their buildings until the snow is removed. Today it is -20 F and the residents are taking advantage of the break to dig out. There has also been yoyo weather in some regions. In Norrbotten, Sweden, the temperature went from -43.6 C (the coldest in Sweden) to +0.9 C (warmest) in just a few hours. Whitehorse also saw a crazy swing rising from -19 C to +1 C overnight. Whether buried in snow or somewhere on the yoyo trajectory, this winter of extremes is providing its share of damage, disruption, and amazement. M. Brubaker Editor

	Winter storms bring deep snow, high winds and delays to Nome Nome, Alaska, United States The Nome Nugget / January 19, 2024 A series of winter storms hit Nome with deep snow and high winds, causing school closures, flight cancellations, and significant snow removal challenges. Read article on The Nome Nugget
	Lingering storm may dump more than two feet of snow; avalanche, other warnings issued Juneau, Alaska, United States Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire / January 22, 2024 Snowfall totals for the 24-hour period ending at about noon Monday were 10.4 inches at Juneau International Airport. Rain is forecast from Tuesday night through at least next Monday as temperatures hover between the mid-30s and about 40, according to NWS Juneau. Read article on Juneau Empire
	Winter Storm Paralyzes Far East Russia's Sakhalin Sakhalin, Russia The Moscow Times / The Moscow Times / January 24, 2024 A severe winter storm has led to a state of emergency in Sakhalin, Russia, disrupting transportation and daily life. The storm paralyzed the public transportation system in the regional capital of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and major roadways were made inaccessible. Read article on The Moscow Times
	Anchorage hits 100-inch winter snow total at earliest date on record Anchorage, Alaska, United States Anchorage Daily News / January 29, 2024 A storm that started Sunday and largely tailed off by Monday afternoon had dropped nearly 17 inches on the city by evening to establish the new seasonal snowfall total, according to the National Weather Service. The storm closed schools in Anchorage and Mat-Su on Monday, and contributed to a fatal collision on the Parks Highway. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	After icy record last week, Kvikkjokk is now Sweden's warmest place Kvikkjokk, Norrbotten, Sweden Sveriges Radio / January 8, 2024 Kvikkjokk was the coldest place in Sweden last Wednesday at with a temperature reaching as low as -43.6 degrees Celsius. But warm northwesterly winds increased the temperatures by about 40 degrees in a matter of hours. Read article
	Road slipperiness increases in Ulan Bator Ulan Bator, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia The UB Post / January 10, 2024 Ulaanbaatar's road slipperiness issue is being addressed with ample supplies and workforce, while district governors now oversee local cleaning services and public communication for slippery conditions. From January 5-7, 1,225 people received care for injuries. Over 267 people were injured due to slipping and 47 people received emergency care after falling from sledding. Read article on The UB Post
	'Yo-yo kind of weather' hits southern Yukon with rain, slush and flooded streets Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada CBC / January 29, 2024 Winter has taken a brief holiday in southern Yukon this week, with a sudden spell of spring-like weather making for wet, slushy conditions — and setting the stage for some slippery roads when winter conditions return later this week. Read article on CBC
	'You just want to give up': Pond Inlet hunter swam to qamutik after snowmobile sank through ice Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada Teresa Qiatsuq / CBC / December 27, 2023 A young Nunavummiut hunter, who's known for providing country food to his community, fell through the ice in late December on a snowmobile route he'd safely traveled just weeks before. Read article on CBC
	No other polar bears in Kuujjuaq after Tuesday’s incident, police say Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada Nunatsiaq News / Nunatsiaq News / January 31, 2024 Police confirm no further polar bear sightings in Kuujjuaq following the shooting of a young bear in the town center, with ongoing vigilance for potential wildlife threats. Read article on Nunatsiaq News

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published weekly by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer