The Alaska climate summary for May is now posted in the Alaska and Arctic Climate newsletter. As usual, lots of regional variability but more cool and wet than not. @Climatologist49

https://alaskaclimate.substack.com/p/alaska-may-2025-climate-summary

There was less sun this past Spring in most of Southeast and parts of southwest Alaska than any other spring since the late 1970s. Most of Southcentral was sun-limited too. In contrast, Northwest Arctic Borough and portions of the North Slope coast had much more sunshine than usual. Data from ERA5 and analysis and plotting courtesy @Climatologist49

Spring (March through May) average temperature departure from the 1991-2020 baseline around the Arctic. Most of Iceland and the Nordic Arctic had a top-3 warmest spring since 1950, as did parts of Greenland and eastern Siberia. Nowhere in the Arctic had a top-3 coolest Spring. ERA5 courtesy of ECMWF/Copernicus. @Climatologist49

#Arctic #Climate #Spring2025

Fairbanks Airport reported thunder on Tuesday between 140pm and 215pm AKDT. This is the third day this month with thunder. This ties with 2004 and 1935 for most May days with thunder. Most Mays have no thunder. #akwx #weather #Spring2025 @anisian

Fairbanks Airport reporting thunder at 1230pm Monday. This is the second day this month with thunder (May 18 was the first day), making this the first May with two days of thunder since 2012. #akwx #Spring2025 #thunder @anisian @Climatologist49 @debmcqueen

May has been a very rainy month in Southeast Alaska, with most places seeing 1.5 to 3 times normal rainfall through the first 25 days of the month. Quite variable elsewhere, though very little data in western Alaska. Base graphic from the NOAA funded High Plains Regional Climate Center with some modifications for data QC. #akwx #Climate #Spring2025 @SilverSalmonAK @seachanger

The transition of winter to summer happens quickly in the Arctic, with the loss of snowpack and sea ice leading the way. I've got an update on where things stand this year in that annual cycle with a new post on the Alaska and Arctic Climate newsletter. @Climatologist49

https://alaskaclimate.substack.com/p/late-may-2025-snow-and-ice-update

Snow cover continues to decrease over Alaska and vicinity. As of May 23, low elevations now mostly clear of snow except northwest Arctic and Brooks Range northward. Meltout is not as far advanced north of about 67N as this date last year in both Alaska and northwest Canada, but more snow-free ground in western Alaska. Analysis from National Ice Center and data courtesy NSIDC. #akwx #Snow #Spring2025 @Climatologist49

The Crooked Fire west of Central looks like it is under control according to a late Saturday evening report from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center. @anisian @BakerRL75

Fairbanks Airport up to 65F for the first time this year as of 6pm AKDT Saturday. This is 9 days later than average date of the "first 65" over the past 50 years. #akwx #weather #Spring2025 @anisian @Climatologist49

Here we go. The Crooked Fire at 15 acres west of Central, Alaska. Cause is undetermined. #AKWildfire #Spring2025 #akwx #wildfire
@Climatologist49 @BakerRL75 @anisian
https://akfireinfo.com/2025/05/17/blm-afs-smokejumpers-make-seasons-first-jump-on-wildfire-near-central/

Scenes from the #garden

First bud on the cherry tomatoes.

Got two sunflowers planted.

Goji is going nuts, but I don't know if I'll get fruit this year.

April is typically a (comparatively) sunny and dry month in Alaska, but not this year. Details in the latest post from the Alaska and Arctic Climate newsletter. @Climatologist49

https://alaskaclimate.substack.com/p/a-wet-april-in-alaska

Fairly strong storm for mid-May hitting the Kodiak and Bristol Bay area Wednesday. Through 3pm AKDT peak winds include 60 mph at King Salmon, 48 mph at New Stuyahok and 47 mph at Kodiak Airport (52 mph at Kodiak Harbor). Analysis courtesy ECCC. #akwx #Spring2025 @Climatologist49

Lovely mid-May morning at Nome on Tuesday. Sunshine, some ice chunks drifting by. At 9am AKDT 37F (2.8C), east wind 10 mph. Webcam image courtesy Nome CVB. #akwx #Spring2025 @Jdnome @Climatologist49

Snow melt is progressing across Alaska and vicinity at low elevations. The Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS) from the National Ice Center and NSIDC for May 10 shows snow-free ground now appearing in the Yukon Flats and up the Koyukuk River valley. North Slope and most of Northwest Arctic Borough snow melt has barely started, if at all. #akwx #Spring2025 #Snow @Climatologist49

NWS Fairbanks reported "green-up" on Chena Ridge near Fairbanks on Saturday. This is six days later than last year but very close to the 50-year median. There is no long term trend in green-up date over that time. #akwx #Spring2025 @Climatologist49 @mivox @anisian @debmcqueen

Nice to have the Utqiaġvik sea ice cam back online. Wednesday mostly sunny at 7pm, 25F and northeast wind 15 mph. Open water visible at the edge of the fast ice on the left side of the image. #akwx #Spring2025
@cinderbdt @Climatologist49