alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman
@alaskawx.bsky.social
3.2K followers 310 following 2.7K posts
Climate specialist with ACCAP/IARC at UAF, highlighting Alaska and Arctic climate, environment & Indigenous cultures. Opinions are my own. Alaska and Arctic Climate Newsletter: https://alaskaclimate.substack.com/
alaskaclimate.substack.com
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Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · Dec 3
Hot off the digital press: Alaska’s Changing Environment 2.0 is now online! Focused on observations and impacts to Alaskans. From warming air & ocean, ice & snow to salmon & berries. Please check it out. #akwx #Alaska #Climate #ClimateChange @climatologist49.bsky.social
uaf-accap.org/alaskas-chan...
Cover page of Alaska’s Change Environment with a photo of the November 2023 Wrangell landslide.
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Reposted by Rick Thoman
akktwriter.bsky.social
Katie Writer @akktwriter.bsky.social · 1h
www.buzzsprout.com/951223/episo...

Coastal flooding in Kotzebue, watching Typhoon Halong, and Arctic Report Card 2025.
#rickthoman#kotzebue#storms
@alaskawx.bsky.social
Kotzebue Storm~Oct 8th, 2025~Rick Thoman - Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast
A strong storm impacting Kotzebue on Oct. 8th, 2025 ...(one year after a 2024 storm)has the community evacuated from homes along the coast to the high school, which is on higher ground. Climatologist,...
www.buzzsprout.com
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 2h
As of 7pm AKDT Wednesday the ocean water level at Kotzebue was rising rapidly and was already at the level reached in the October 2024 storm, which caused the worst flooding in living memory at Kotz. #akwx #weather #ExtremeWeather
Water level at the DGGS ocean water level gauge at Kotzebue, Alaska for October 2-8, 2025 showing water level at the major flood category.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 2h
Water levels in the October 2004 storm. Stayed high for ~12 hours.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 3h
Maybe a little snow Friday and Saturday but then warms up again. No sign at this point of the permanent winter snowpack.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 3h
Ocean level on the NOAA tide gauge at Nome probably peaked with the early evening high tide. This is slightly higher than the October 2024 storm but well below Merbok in September 2022. #akwx #ExtermeWeather
@hanners64n.bsky.social
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 3h
Not questing into the 50s mph at least now.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 3h
Whoa. That is way up from this morning.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 3h
From western Alaska storminess to Arctic Report Card, there's a lot to talk about with Katie Writer on the latest Alaska Climate and Aviation podcast. #akwx #Climate #weather

www.buzzsprout.com/951223/episo...
Kotzebue Storm~Oct 8th, 2025~Rick Thoman - Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast
A strong storm impacting Kotzebue on Oct. 8th, 2025 ...(one year after a 2024 storm)has the community evacuated from homes along the coast to the high school, which is on higher ground. Climatologist,...
www.buzzsprout.com
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 3h
Can't be dogmatic about it because of significant missing data, but evidently the high temperature Wednesday of 50F (10.0C) at Umiat (North Slope, Inupiat county) is the latest date in the year with high of 50F or higher. Previous latest October 7, 1993. #akwx #Arcrtic #Climate
Summary climate statistics for the Remote Automated Weather Station at Umiat, Alaska on October 8, 2025.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 4h
Unfortunately, no functional water level gauges in those communities.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 4h
How cloudy was it in September around Alaska? For Anchorage and Fairbanks, this was either the first or second cloudiest since 1979. For western Alaska and parts of the North Slope, much less cloudiness than usual. Graphic courtesy @climatologist49.bsky.social using ERA5 data. @leahwrenn.bsky.social
Map centered on Alaska showing the rank of average cloudiness in September 2025 compared to all other September since 1979.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 5h
Thanks.
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Reposted by Rick Thoman
climatologist49.bsky.social
Climatologist49 @climatologist49.bsky.social · 21h
Let's check in and see how September temperatures have changed in the U.S. and Canada over the last 75 years. 🔥😢
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Reposted by Rick Thoman
hanners64n.bsky.social
Hannah 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 @hanners64n.bsky.social · 5h
A little water cresting over the wall at the inner port.
Taken at 5pm 10/8
Picture showing high water during a high wind event Nome Alaska
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 5h
Have you heard of any problems with water over the road around Safety?
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Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 6h
Facebook
alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 6h
Also good news on the City Council and FNSB Assembly elections.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 7h
FB reports that Kivalina (northwest of Kotzebue) is now evacuating due to coastal flood threat. Kivalina does have road access to inland area. #akwx #AlaskaSky
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 7h
Water level in northwest Alaska available through AOOS data dashboard. #AlaskaSky #akwx #ExtremeWeather
aoos-alaska.bsky.social
Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) @aoos-alaska.bsky.social · 7h
Thinking of everyone in Kotzebue braving this storm — stay safe! 💙🌊

View local water level data (not all data is up to the minute):
🔗 water-level-watch.portal.aoos.org#metadata/100...

More info: awlw.aoos.org

@alaskaskies.bsky.social @alaskawx.bsky.social
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 8h
Unfortunately water level is now rising rapidly and seems very likely to reach at least as high as last October and likely a bit higher. Much like last year, water levels should recede quickly late tonight and tomorrow morning.
Reposted by Rick Thoman
alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 1d
September 2025 Arctic and Alaska climate summary is now posted. Spoiler: Arctic Canada was especially mild. #Arctic #akwx #Climate

alaskaclimate.substack.com/p/arctic-and...
Splash screen for the post: Arctic and Alaska September 2025 Climate Summary: Again mild but not so wet
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 9h
Yes it is.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 9h
Wednesday early afternoon: mandatory evacuation for the entire city of Kotzebue (posted on the city FB page) for expected coastal flooding later today. No roads in or out of Kotz, so in this case, evacuation means go to the High School. #akwx #weatther #Alaska
City of Kotzebue Mandatory Evacuation Order Issued 1205pm October 8, 2025. Due to incoming storm.water surge, the City of Kotzebue is issuing a mandatory evacuation order for all residents, effective immediately.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 11h
Also, Dems won Fairbanks City Council and Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly seats.
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alaskawx.bsky.social
Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 11h
Peak wind so far this morning 51mph at the airport and 48F at Port.
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