December was second rainiest in Kodiak weather history

December in Kodiak was the second rainiest on record, with 14.73 inches of rain, driven by a weather pattern similar to December 1985. Only three days were without measurable precipitation, and the month was notably warmer, with rain continuing into January.

Comment from Gemini:

Several of the attached articles help to put this extremely wet December into a broader context. The observation "Alaska's climate and environment continue to change, including in some 'astounding' ways" discusses the overall trend of warming temperatures in Alaska. The "Rain in December" observation documents unusually warm and wet weather in Anchorage, experiencing the most December rainfall since 2018. This suggests a larger pattern of atypical weather across the southern parts of the state. The article titled "No white Christmas for Nome and the region" describes a similar lack of snow and unusually warm temperatures in another part of Alaska, further supporting the idea of a widespread weather anomaly. The earlier observation, "Winter Heat Wave: Kodiak temperature breaks state record-highs," from 2021, documents a prior instance of unusually warm weather in Kodiak, demonstrating that extreme temperature events are becoming more frequent. The observation, "Up to five inches of rain brings landslide, road flooding" highlights the immediate consequences of heavy rainfall events in Kodiak, such as landslides and flooding. While the "Warmer Kodiak seasons mean more fruit" observation discusses the longer-term effects of warming trends, like increased fruit production, it isn't directly relevant to this specific event. The temperature swing described in "Rapid Temperature Increase," while demonstrating temperature volatility, is a localized weather event and may not be directly related to the broader weather patterns affecting Kodiak's rainfall.

A similar weather pattern, with a low-pressure system over the Bering Sea drawing warm, moist air from the Pacific, was responsible for record rainfall in Kodiak in December 1985, as explained by the National Weather Service forecaster in the current observation. This persistent weather pattern is a key factor in understanding the extended period of rain and lack of snow. Arctic warming is likely contributing to the instability and strength of these weather systems. More information on the link between Arctic warming and extreme weather events can be found in this article: https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-how-climate-change-is-influencing-extreme-weather/ The lack of snow and increased rain also has significant impacts on local ecosystems and traditional activities, as seen in Nome, and these impacts are likely to be felt in Kodiak as well.