Alaska to Plunge into Frigid 40s Below Zero Next Week

Brian Donegan
Published: January 12,2017
While much of the Lower 48 enjoys a January thaw next week, Alaska will experience some of its coldest air of this winter season. This follows a record-warm 2016 for the nation's 49th state, where some locations even shattered average temperature records by 5 degrees or more.
The incoming frigid air mass is caused by a blocking jet stream pattern, dipping over the state and trapping the bitterly cold air in place for several days. Cold snaps like this one are not uncommon in the heart of winter.
(MORE: For the U.S., 2016 Was the Second Warmest Year on Record)

Tuesday's Jet Stream Forecast

This bone-chilling air mass will arrive Sunday night into Monday, especially over Alaska's interior. Places near the coast won't be nearly as cold as inland locations, such as Fairbanks.
Highs during the first half of next week will only reach the 20s and 30s below zero over the state's interior, with coastal areas, such as Anchorage, topping out in the single digits above and below zero.
(FORECAST: Anchorage | Fairbanks | Utqiaġvik (Barrow))

Forecast Highs

If you thought those high temperatures sounded cold, take a look at the low temperatures in the map below.
Alaska's interior will fall into the 40s to near 50 degrees below zero for morning lows early and mid-week, while locations closer to the coast will be in the teens and single digits below zero.
(MORE: When Is the Coldest Time of the Year?)

Forecast Morning Lows

The last time Fairbanks experienced a week with an average temperature of 40 degrees below zero or colder was in January 2009, when temperatures averaged 42.7 degrees below zero for a seven-day period.
Widespread record lows are unexpected next week in Alaska, despite temperatures potentially dipping to around 50 degrees below zero. Next week's record lows in Fairbanks range from 57 to 65 degrees below zero.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Fairbanks is 66 degrees below zero. Below is a map of locations that have fallen to 70 degrees below zero or colder in their recorded history. One state in the Lower 48 qualifies – Montana.
(MORE: The Coldest Temperatures Ever Recorded in All 50 States)
The coldest temperature recorded in Alaska is 80 degrees below zero.