Impacts of Extreme Weather of 2012 in Alaska

Alaska was impacted by extreme weather in both the cold season and the warm season of 2012. The cold season was notable for record snow in the southern part of the state, including Alaska's largest urban area (Anchorage), and for several extremely cold months in the interior and western portions of the state. The winter snowfall exceeded 130 inches in Anchorage, leading to roof collapses and adding several million dollars to the city's snow removal costs. The heavy snow was a boon for skiing in southcentral Alaska. The periods of severe cold were part of the extreme variability that characterized the cold season. The cold excursions dominated the cold-season means, and contributed to a satellite-era record maximum of sea ice in the Bering Sea. The heavy sea ice conditions impacted an icebreaker-aided resupply operation needed to provide Nome with fuel for the winter. In the summer season, heavy rains impacted eastern Alaska and the Yukon in June, closing portions of the Alaska highway and stranding vehicles for several days. Flooding rains also impacted the northwestern coastal region in August and the Denali Park area in September, washing out a section of the Alaska railroad. Storms that produced these rains also contributed to a record summer retreat of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.