A surge of Arctic air brought temperatures near or below -40°F to Alaska’s Interior and significantly below-average highs statewide, with dangerous wind chills and some blizzard conditions in the eastern Alaska Range.

Iron Dog snowmachine racers on Alaska’s west coast faced intense winter storms, whiteout conditions, and very deep snow, prompting delays and rescues near Golovin. Sea ice breaking out in front of Elim forced racers onto an alternate overland route where racers and local riders spent hours breaking trail.

Norway experienced an unusually cold and dry January 2026, averaging 4.4°C below normal nationwide. Karasjok recorded −41.5°C on 11 January, and many stations set records for low temperatures and low precipitation.

A cold snap persisted in Norrbotten, Sweden, with overnight temperatures in Tornedalen and the Malmfälten region dropping to near −40°C. Pajala recorded −38.4°C, with several nearby locations also below −38°C.

Fairbanks set a daily snowfall record with 10.9 inches on Dec. 12, followed by a return to deep cold with temperatures expected to drop into the -30s and possibly -40°F. National Weather Service forecasters note limited additional snow in the near term.

An official temperature of minus 65 was recorded 15 miles northeast of Manley Hot Springs, according to the National Weather Service. It is the coldest official temperature in Alaska since