The ice road on the frozen Kuskokwim River has been plowed to its longest length ever: 355 miles. That’s longer than most traditional highways in the state.

The river is so rough in the Upper Kuskokwim area that it is impassable to vehicle and snow machine traffic. Big boulders of snow-covered ice are scattered across the river caused by high water and a late freeze up.

Strong winds might have blown sea cucumbers (Cucumaria miniata) up on to the beach, exposing them to the cold at low tide.

Even if a storm does hit Western Alaska, thicker sea ice will always be more resistant than last year’s ice was at this time, a climatologist says.

Staircases are separating from building and utility poles leaning.

Willows are budding early, following temperature swings of 40 to approximately -32 degrees Fahrenheit between February and March.

Unusual winter sighting of a northern shrike (Lanius borealis) could become more common as temperatures rise.