The spring equinox, marking the beginning of the season, was officially observed in Alaska at 7:06 p.m. on Tuesday. With the arrival of spring, Alaska experiences a significant increase in daylight, a trend that will continue to brighten the state until June 20, heralding the start of longer days and shorter nights.
Alaska’s weather pattern is currently influenced by low pressure and a deep trough impacting the Aleutian chain and Western Alaska, with Cold Bay experiencing a wind gust reaching 78 mph. The presence of a large ridge of high pressure in the Gulf of Alaska, extending north into Southcentral, is forcing storm systems to reroute northward. This atmospheric division is responsible for maintaining milder weather conditions in the Southcentral and Southeast regions of the state.
The community of Unalaska faced heavy rainfall, receiving 1.99 inches, prompting a flood advisory effective through 11:45 a.m. Wednesday. Additionally, a moist airstream is moving north along the state’s west coast, leading to ongoing weather warnings and advisories.
Blizzard conditions are expected to continue overnight for St. Lawrence Island, accompanied by winds gusting up to 55 mph and additional snowfall, potentially topped with an ice glaze. Similar gusts are forecasted for the Yukon Delta, Nome, and extending north to Kotzebue and Point Lay. The week is set to see a series of low-pressure systems moving across the western part of Alaska.
In terms of temperatures, Juneau experienced a warm spell, reaching 56 degrees, making it the hot spot of the state. Conversely, the cold spot was recorded at Atqasuk, with a chilling -28 degrees.
