Warmest Spring on record in Alaska

Since records started 91 years ago, meteorologists have never recorded a Spring this warm in Alaska. Temperatures came in about 8 degrees above average for March, April, May.

The 2016 average Spring temperature was 32 degrees in the state of Alaska, which destroyed the previous 1998 record of 30 degrees.

The state as a whole had the warmest spring on record and most of the cities in Alaska also had the first or second warmest.

This alarming statistic went hand-in-hand with another first in Alaska. The northern Alaska Barrow Observatory had the earliest snow melt on record and even slithered past the old 2002 record by 10 days.

The  spring warmth continued the gradually warming trend in typically one of our coldest states. According to NOAA, the winter in Alaska also came in more than 10 degrees above average. In 2016, January to April was the warmest on record and the month of April was the warmest recorded in Alaska.

NOAA has expressed concern with the rapid seasonal snow melt and also the lack of sea-ice off the coast of Alaska. It is unclear exactly how this will effect wildlife in the state, but scientists know that some negative changes are likely.

What do you think about this warming? Please share your thoughts with me on Twitter and Facebook!

Brittney Bryant
WMC Action News 5 Meteorologist
First Alert Storm Tracking Team
Facebook: Meteorologist Brittney Bryant
Twitter: @WX_BrittneyB

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