Alaska has traded weather with the northeast U.S. When will it reverse?
Pittsburgh felt more like Anchorage last week, while Anchorage felt more like New York City. Why the change, and when will it reverse?
Residents of the northeastern United States know it's been colder than normal this month, but how cold has it been? Over the week of Jan. 5 to 11, Pittsburgh's temperatures have been most similar to Anchorage, Alaska's historical average temperatures for this time of year, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.
Meanwhile, temperatures in Anchorage, Alaska, have been higher than Pittsburgh's —matching New York City's historical average temperatures last week, and southern Alaska is basking in the second-warmest second week of January on record. Climatologist Brian Brettschnider said on Blue Sky that the majority of the weather stations in the contiguous U.S. were warmer than Anchorage during the last week.
What is the culprit of this topsy-turvy weather? An area of high pressure anchored along the west coast of Canada.
"This has produced a flow of Pacific air into much of Alaska, which has cut off the normal supply of Arctic and Siberian air into the state, resulting in unusual midwinter warmth," AccuWeather Canada Expert Brett Anderson explained.
Meanwhile, the Arctic air that has been deflected around Alaska has ended up in the eastern part of the U.S., bringing cold air, snow and ice.
Daily record highs were set Monday in the towns of Anchorage, Fairbanks, North Pole, Bettles, McGrath, Northway, Tok, Deadhorse, Nenana, Tanana and Eagle. In the last week, 73 daily high-temperature records have been broken in the state.
Fairbanks and McGrath, Alaska, both should have a high temperature of 1 degree Fahrenheit this time of year, but thermometers in the towns spiked to 42 and 41 degrees on Monday.
A map showing the locations of 73 daily record highs broken and 21 tied between January 6 and 13, 2024. (NOAA)
When will the pattern reverse? After the next week or two, consistent cold should return to Alaska while temperatures rise in the eastern U.S., Anderson said. February doesn't look to be nearly as cold as January has been, when compared to historical average.
A strong storm delivered extreme winds as high as 132 mph to the mountains around Anchorage on Sunday. Wind gusts in the city as high as 91 mph damaged homes and knocked down a pedestrian bridge.
This image provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities shows fencing and the roof of a walkway after collapsing onto the Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska, on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities via AP)
