Sunny dry day in Chugach Mountains

Observation by Wilson Justin:

This picture was taken at 3:30 in the afternoon around Valdez, snow capital of the world! This is from where Valdez Glacier Stream bridge is about 7 miles miles or so before the road hits Valdez. On October 20,1989 I drove to Valdez to interview for a job on the Terminal. I remember deep snow, high winds and snowdrifts.

LEO Says:

Thank you Wilson for sharing the observation, image and reflection. We don't have access to satellite imagery going back as far as 1989, but we have attached satellite images from October 10, 2000 (our earliest year), October 25, 2004 and October 20, 2024. Note the receding snow lines and changes in the glaciers footprint. We are copying our friends at the NWS River Forecast Center, the National Snow and Ice Data Lab, and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP). We will add additional comments as appropriate.

Comment from Gemini:

The related observations paint a compelling picture of long-term environmental change in Alaska, particularly concerning rising temperatures and their impact on snow, ice, and river systems. Several posts from Wilson Justin document shifting patterns in the Chistochina River, including shorter ice seasons (2024), unusual water clarity and flow levels (2022, 2015), and delayed freezing (2021). These observations align with reports of record-breaking late first freezes in Fairbanks (2024) and unusually warm temperatures in the Interior (2024), highlighting a broader trend of warming across Alaska. Observations of early willow budding in Chickaloon (2021) further corroborate this warming trend. The observation of reduced snow and ice on Mount Sanford (2014) and Justin's reflection on the absence of the usual North wind in Chistochina (2020) add further layers to the narrative of change.

The current observation of a sunny, dry day in the Chugach Mountains in late October, with significantly less snow than in 1989, builds upon these previous observations and underscores the ongoing impacts of climate change in Alaska. The attached satellite imagery from LEO comparing 2004 and 2024 provides visual confirmation of glacial retreat and reduced snow cover in the region. This aligns with broader trends documented by organizations like the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) which track changes in glaciers and snow cover extent across the Arctic. https://nsidc.org/ The changes observed in Valdez and documented by other observers across Alaska emphasize the far-reaching effects of warming temperatures on the state's environment and ecosystems.