Warm Winter Weather Patterns along Kuskokwim River

Observation by Patricia Yaska:

This is the second year in a row that people from Chuathbaluk are able to use boats (skiffs) on the Kuskokwim River in November. In October 2012, the river froze, and people were traveling to our hub, Aniak, by the end of the month. In November 2014, the Kuskokwim was frozen solid and the ice was at least 8 inches thick by November 1st, 2014. But on December 2nd, 2014, the ice broke and it was like spring breakup in December. I wanted to assist with documenting this "weather pattern" since it seems to be the norm for these parts.

I remember growing up in Chuathbaluk and in Aniak, and by the end of October and by Thanksgiving, we were traveling between the two villages (Aniak & Chuathbaluk) on the "ice road." This day and age, we cannot do that. We are still traveling to Aniak for groceries with a boat in an ice-free river.

Comments from LEO Editors:

Beginning in 2013, LEO has received observations of unseasonably warm winter weather in Alaska. The first observation was of record warm weather on Halloween in Anchorage. Soon after, an observation from Koyukuk was sent in, explaining that the weather was so warm in western Alaska that boats were still able to travel the river to neighboring communities. In December of 2013, LEO members from Quinhagak and Port Heiden described warm temperatures and rapidly melting snow. Since then, similar observations documenting winter rain, late freeze up, mid-winter river ice thaw, and the effects of warm winters on plants and animals have continued to be submitted. These observations are able to be viewed on a map, or as a timeline, by clicking the option above the list of related posts.

This observation has been shared with the National Weather Service Alaska Region, NOAA.

Rick Thoman with the National Weather Service (NWS) Alaska Region, writes:

Many Octobers over mainland Alaska since 2002 have been significantly warmer than was typical since the 1940s. In fact, 2008 is the only significantly colder than average October in the past 15 years. The result is slower freeze up of rivers and later establishment of the winter snowpack. The reasons for the change are complex but likely include the impacts of decreasing autumn sea ice near Alaska and higher late summer temperatures in the Bering Sea.

Resources:

NWS is responsible for monitoring ice breakup conditions throughout Alaska to assess flood threats and navigational hazards. Ground observations, aerial reconnaissance, and remote sensing are sources used to assess ice conditions. Although ice jam flooding is most common during the ice breakup season, ice condition reports are welcome during freezeup and mid-winter as well. (NWS River Watch Program)