Home / Weather / Alaska Braces for -40°F Arctic Blast
Alaska Braces for -40°F Arctic Blast
7 Dec
Summary
- Alaska faces dangerously cold temperatures plunging to -40°F.
- Extreme cold watch and advisory issued for Klondike Highway region.
- Wind chills could reach -40°F, heightening frostbite risk.
Residents in Alaska are facing extreme cold conditions, with forecasters predicting temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service has activated an extreme cold watch and a cold weather advisory for areas around the Klondike Highway, warning of wind chills that could reach the same dangerous lows. This surge of frigid air poses a significant threat, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
The advisory is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon, with the most severe conditions expected Monday evening into Tuesday. High winds, with gusts up to 60 mph, are exacerbating the danger. Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing, leading to numbness and hardening of the skin, while hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat rapidly, dangerously lowering core temperature.
This extreme weather event occurs amidst a backdrop of rising cold-related fatalities in the U.S., which have more than doubled between 1999 and 2022. Public health officials urge vulnerable populations, including the homeless and elderly, to seek shelter and ensure adequate heating. The NWS advises all residents to monitor forecasts, limit outdoor exposure, and check on neighbors during this hazardous cold snap.
