The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

A Veneer of Snow - December brought all sorts of extreme weather and unusual conditions across the North. Headlines about ice and wind, atmospheric rivers, record breaking snow storms, and drought. There was also plenty of cold. In Anchorage, we saw one of the longest stretches of clear, cold, winter weather in memory. About twenty days of sunshine with many days below zero. The average temperature for the month was about 9 degrees Fahrenheit (-12C). There was skiing, but only on managed trails and slopes. If it were not for snow making, there would not have been much skiing at all. Wind and drought were the driving factors here. In mid December, the blanket of snow covering Mt. Susitna (know as locally as Sleeping Lady) was abruptly pulled off as Bora winds blasted out of the Matanuska Valley. Palmer and Wasilla experienced a brutal series of extreme wind events, stacked on top of the cold temperatures. What was left across much of Southcentral Alaska was little more than a veneer of snow. In the wind affected areas, almost none. So Anchoragites went for the ice-friendly activities: skating, fat tire biking, and ice fishing. Despite the temperatures, it was epic! Every lake frozen, many with perfect ice, and often decorated with fields of delicate frost flowers. The ice was the place to be. So we counted our cold weather blessings, sharpened our skates, bundled up and went out to enjoy the winter wonders. It is the adaptive behavior we are learning as an essential part of winter in the North. Be ready for anything, and when the conditions are good, don't hesitate. One thing for certain, it will not last. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Ice conditions are extremely weak in Rovaniemi Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland Iita Poijula / Lapin Kansa / December 1, 2025 Authorities in Rovaniemi warn that river ice is extremely weak and going onto the ice is life‑threatening. Locals and businesses are urged not to set a bad example for tourists unfamiliar with ice safety. Read article on Lapin Kansa
	Slippery-ice chaos creates queues at the Skellefteå emergency department: “Casting non‑stop” Skellefteå, Västerbotten County, Sweden Lina Bergström; Johannes Hjalmar / SVT Nyheter / December 1, 2025 SMHI warned of icy conditions in northern Sweden, and Skellefteå’s ER saw a surge of patients injured in falls. Staff report “casting non‑stop,” with most injuries linked to extremely slippery streets and sidewalks. Read article on SVT Nyheter
	Ski festival without snow? Sisimiut, Qeqqata, Greenland Henriette Dohm / Sermitsiaq.ag / December 3, 2025 Ahead of the Lârsêraq Ski Festival in Sisimiut, organizers are still waiting for the season’s first real snow, an unusual situation linked to warming winters. The youth-focused cross-country event is set for Dec. 10–14, and may adapt if snow arrives late. Read article on Sermitsiaq.ag
	Maine set record low temperatures overnight Portland, Maine, United States Morgan Womack / The Portland Press Herald / December 5, 2025 An arctic cold front drove overnight lows to record levels in Maine, with Portland hitting 2°F and Augusta 3°F and wind chills below zero. Communities opened warming centers as forecasters warned wind chills could drop to minus 30°F in parts of the state. Read article on The Portland Press Herald
	Napaskiak has been without power for days after weekend ice storm Napaskiak, Alaska, United States Samantha Watson / Alaska Public Media / December 6, 2025 An ice storm knocked out power in Napaskiak, Alaska on Dec. 6, leaving the whole village without electricity for days and prompting a local emergency declaration after water pipes burst. Residents have been traveling 10 miles to Bethel via snowmachine trails for food and generator fuel while the school runs on backup power with delays. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	Shadow tanker blocked by Arctic sea ice Gulf of Ob, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia Atle Staalesen / The Barents Observer / December 7, 2025 Early, stronger-than-expected sea ice in the Gulf of Ob stopped the LNG carrier Buran from reaching Novatek’s Utrenny terminal despite multiple nuclear icebreakers assisting. The ship made four failed attempts Dec 2–7 and remains near the Kara Sea. Read article on The Barents Observer
	Rainfall records broken in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Tiffany Crawford / Vancouver Sun / December 10, 2025 An atmospheric river shattered daily rainfall records across B.C.’s South Coast on Dec. 10, with Hope receiving 134.2 mm, prompting a local state of emergency and evacuations in the Fraser Valley. More wet weather is expected despite warnings being lifted. Read article on Vancouver Sun
	Snowstorm breaks daily snowfall record; deep cold returns Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Kris Capps / Fairbanks Daily News-Miner / December 12, 2025 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. Read article on Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
	Hunt for snow in Dalarna – are the mountains snow‑secure? Dalarna County, Sweden SVT Nyheter; Jonna Björnbom; Jennifer Howgate; Gunilla Wikström; Sofie Lind / SVT Nyheter / December 14, 2025 Several ski areas in Dalarna have opened, but natural snow is largely absent and temperatures remain above freezing with rain mixed with occasional snow. SVT’s meteorologist says there’s no clear sign of a cold shift before Christmas. Read article on SVT Nyheter
	4th windstorm this month pummels Mat-Su with hurricane-force gusts Palmer, Alaska, United States Anchorage Daily News / December 29, 2025 The fourth windstorm in December has hit Mat-Su, Alaska, with hurricane-force bora winds causing widespread power outages and damage, highlighting a pattern of severe wind events in the region. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	When will the deep freeze end? Alaska holds its breath. Eagle, Alaska, United States Nathaniel Herz / Northern Journal / December 24, 2025 A long-running weather pattern shows no sign of relenting. “Cranky’s a good way to describe it,” says one mayor whose village hit minus 50. Read article on Northern Journal

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

Please forward this newsletter or share it on social media. Join the LEO Network to share your own stories of environmental change.

You may subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking here.

Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate-change related events.

Explore Posts

Submit a Post

Directory

About

My LEO

The NorthernClimate Observer

Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer