Earliest break up ever in Newhalen, spring is way early

Observation by Sonny Lamont:

This is the earliest I’ve ever seen it start spring breakups snow and ice in our Newhalen River, my observation is it might be a hot summer again due to the early warm spring breakup, could this be a cause due to climate change? My answer is absolutely yes! I have been speaking with elders in the community and they have never before seen the river break up that soon.

Comment by LEO Network Editors:

Thanks Sonny for the observation. We will copy our colleague Rick Thoman and see if he has any comments to add, along with Crane Johnson with the Alaska River Forecast Center. FYI - There have been some record temperatures (warm) occurring around Alaska, and actually in the Arctic and Antarctic in the past week.