Late Freeze-Up on Elim Creek

Weather

Ice / Snow Change

Human Health

Elim, Alaska, United States

DMS:	N 64º 38' 50.67" W 162º 17' 14.253"
Lat/Lng:	64.6474084375652 -162.287292480469

Nearby

Observers in Elim, Alaska, report an unusually late freeze-up of local creeks, a trend echoed across the Seward Peninsula and other parts of Alaska, attributed to warmer than normal air temperatures and impacting travel and subsistence activities.

Observation by Leigh Takak

The Elim creek is nestled in the lower basin of the rolling hills of the southern Seward Peninsula flowing out to the Norton Bay. In the past it seemed like the creek used to freeze up at least by late September and first part of October. It is alarming to see that late of a freeze-up. It was mentioned that the Fairbanks area had one of the latest freeze-ups on record.

LEO Says

Over the past ten years we have received many similar observations in regards to "late freeze-up." Many places on the Seward Peninsula have experienced this later freeze up impacting such things as travel. In addition, this has been observed in other parts of Alaska such as Northwest and North Slope. Our neighbors in Northwest Territories have experienced late freeze up and give future predictions of warmer winters with no ice.

Consult by Rick Thoman

There was little sustained freezing weather in Elim until the fourth week of October. Sea surface temperatures in eastern Norton Sound were close to normal during the autumn and combined with generally warmer than normal air temperatures in late September and most of October continued to a late freeze-up.