Spring?

The Farmer’s Almanac missed the mark this year. Their Alaska winter forecast called for a “milder-than-normal, drier winter for 2025–2026.”

It’s been just the opposite.

And it’s pretty much been that way across the whole state. 

Fairbanks had their 9th coldest winter on record. Imagine having 31 days where the temperature reached -40 or colder. Brrrr. It brought back some not-so-fond memories for me of attending college there in the ‘80’s. 

How would you like to wake up in the morning and see -62 on your thermometer? That happened in Chicken, Alaska. It was the coldest temperature recorded in the state this year.

Juneau made the weather news this winter too. As of March 23–24, the National Weather Service station at Juneau International Airport recorded 201.2 inches of snowfall for the season. That’s a new record. Most likely they’ll add a little bit more this spring. 

Southcentral Alaska didn’t set any records but it’s been locked in with unseasonably long and cold temperatures. The annual Winter King derby in Homer was originally scheduled for March 21st, but since the harbor was frozen, it was postponed to March 28th. Unfortunately, conditions did not improve, so it’s now rescheduled for April 4th. Hopefully, the ice will disappear this week so it’s not moved for a fourth time.

If there is any “good” weather news right now it’s that we’re at that time of year when the sun will eventually prevail and soon the rites of spring will be upon us. 

For me, one of the rites of spring is putting in the dock. Many years I’ve been able to do it during the first high tide cycle in April. Yeah, that’s clearly not going to happen this year. Hopefully, all will be fine by the high tides of May.

Before I end this weather report,  I’d like to thank Mack for the use of his photos. He, along with Rusty, were snowshoeing on the opposite side of the creek (the island). I appreciate seeing our property from a different perspective.