By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | January 2026
Alaska is having one of those days where the weather demands your full attention while the community calendar keeps rolling right along.
Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley are coming off the latest snow event, with official measurements taken at the National Weather Service office on the west side of Anchorage and additional reports from across the region. The newly released Snowfall Event Stats graphic breaks down totals, timing, and intensity, giving residents a clear snapshot of how this system impacted Southcentral and how it compares to other storms this winter. For anyone who shoveled, plowed, or slid their way through it, the numbers help explain why this storm packed such a punch.
Conditions grow more dangerous as you move away from Southcentral. A Blizzard Warning is in effect for the northeast end of Kodiak Island, including Kodiak City, where heavy snow, strong winds, and near whiteout conditions are expected. Across Southwest Alaska and the Bering Sea, multiple warnings and advisories are in place for snow, wind, and extreme cold, stretching across the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay regions.
The cold is especially severe along the Northern Alaska Peninsula. From this evening through Saturday, wind chills could plunge as low as minus 40 to minus 60 degrees in some locations. Communities such as Pilot Point and Port Heiden are bracing for dangerous wind chills ranging from minus 30 to minus 45 degrees.
Farther west, the Pribilof Islands remain under a Blizzard Warning through noon Thursday, with blowing snow reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less. Adak and Atka are under a Winter Storm Watch for possible blizzard conditions late Thursday into Friday, with several inches of snow expected and wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph. Unalaska could see similar snowfall totals with gusts up to 55 mph. Travel and outdoor activity across much of western Alaska are strongly discouraged as these systems continue to move through.
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
As snow and extreme cold dominate headlines across Alaska, one place where winter rarely slows things down is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Even on a snowy Anchorage day, airport operations rolled on as usual, with crews keeping runways, taxiways, and jetways clear as planes continued to arrive and depart. A newly shared photo from the airport shows a snow covered but fully functional jetway, a familiar reminder of how accustomed Alaska’s largest airport is to operating in harsh winter conditions.
Photo credit: Kyle Klein
Looking ahead to warmer days, the airport also announced a major travel milestone. For the first time ever, Alaska travelers will be able to fly nonstop from Anchorage to Boston. Alaska Airlines will operate the seasonal route on Saturdays only from June 13 through August 15, giving Alaskans a direct connection to the East Coast for summer travel, historic sightseeing, and baseball season at Fenway Park.
Flight schedules and frequencies are subject to change. Travelers are encouraged to check directly with Alaska Airlines for the most up to date information and booking details.
Around Anchorage and the Community
Beyond weather and travel, Anchorage residents have opportunities to connect and unwind. Tom Begich is hosting a Community Conversation at the Z.J. Loussac Library tonight at 6 PM, inviting residents to share concerns, ask questions, and engage in open discussion.
At the University of Alaska Anchorage, alumni are invited to College Alumni Night on Saturday, January 10, when the Seawolves women’s basketball team takes on UAF. Alumni receive one complimentary ticket, discounted guest tickets, free swag while supplies last, and a lively night of rivalry basketball.
On Screen Tonight
Video courtesy of A&E
Alaska State Troopers are also back in the spotlight. A new season of Alaska State Troopers premieres tonight at 7 PM on A&E, offering a behind the scenes look at the daily work of troopers across the state. New episodes air Wednesdays, with streaming available through the A&E app.
From blizzard warnings and extreme cold to busy runways and packed community calendars, today is a reminder of Alaska’s unique balance between harsh conditions and everyday resilience. There is a bright spot even in the heart of winter. Alaska is already gaining daylight, with Anchorage adding roughly three minutes of sunlight each day and nearly a half hour gained since the winter solstice. It is a quiet but steady reminder that longer days are on the way. Stay weather aware, check official forecasts before traveling, and bundle up.
