An early snowfall was observed in Anchorage on October 9, 2024, weeks ahead of the typical mid-October snow, following a sudden temperature drop from the mid-50s to low 30s Fahrenheit.

Fairbanks finally got its first freezing temperature at 4 a.m. Saturday, setting the record for the latest frost, according to the National Weather Service in Fairbanks.

Some temperatures in the eastern Interior hit 90 degrees Sunday, as ex-Typhoon Ampil moves toward Western Alaska this week.

"The river was iced over for less then 6 weeks! As opposed to 5 months of ice 2 to 3 feet thick before climate change."

"Now I have seen the current muddy at break up but usually after prolonged warming and winds. This one is about a month ahead of the game."

Buds are appearing right as we move into a 2-day cold spell of below zero nights. An adjacent willow budded a few weeks ago during a similar cycle of warmth followed by cold, and it appears to be putting some buds out, although on different branches.

"The Chistochina River froze over and went to overflow by the second of February which means we went through the New Year and January with the river running open. First time that I know of."

The winds have been unusual this fall. Usually a north wind is "part and parcel of the turn of the season" but so far the wind has been "sporadic without a sense of direction."

Chistochina River change

Mount Sanford has been losing its ice cover for decades around its base.