‘This town is just exhausted’: Cooper Landing wrestles with aftermath of a summer lost to wildfire
The Swan Lake fire choked the tiny Kenai Peninsula town with smoke, blanketed it with ash and kept tourists away during the typically bustling summer.
Weather
Remnants of two typhoons will bring wind and rain to Southcentral Alaska
As winds funnel through Portage Pass, they are expected to reach up to 50 mph along Turnagain Arm and 30 to 40 mph on the Anchorage Hillside, a meteorologist with the weather service said.
Typhoon that blasted Japan morphs into rainy, windy autumn storm for Southwest Alaska
The National Weather Service predicts that the storm will strike hardest on Wednesday with driving winds and heavy rainfall.
Above-freezing temperatures smash record in Utqiagvik
Sea surface temperatures, one of the most significant contributors to air temperature in the area, have been well above normal this summer.
Evacuation orders eased on Kenai Peninsula, pilot cars gone as rain moderates wildfire
The Sterling Highway was open again Tuesday after several weeks of delays caused by the Swan Lake fire.
This August was Anchorage’s warmest on record as hot air stalled over Southcentral Alaska
Normal temperatures were recorded on only one day of the month.
High winds headed to Anchorage Hillside, Turnagain Arm
Winds could reach 50-60 mph on the Anchorage Hillside tonight.
Overnight rain slows Swan Lake fire
Fire managers say the 162,000-acre blaze on the Kenai Peninsula remains a threat, but much-needed rain has reduced smoke and fire activity.
Low water supply in two Kenai Peninsula communities prompts disaster declaration
Little rainfall during this year’s warm, dry summer left Seldovia and Nanwalek scrambling to conserve water.
Rain is in the forecast for Southcentral Alaska, but not enough to put out wildfires
Even a little rain would be welcome, the weather service says, with parts of the region in extreme drought and fire danger high.
Swan Lake fire shows ‘very little, if any’ growth toward Cooper Landing since Tuesday
“There’s probably more firefighters in Cooper Landing than there are residents,” one spokesman said.
Lightning strikes Alaska Airlines jets in Southeast
Alaska Airlines said flights 64 and 65 had lightning strikes from storms that moved through the northern Panhandle and also knocked out power in Juneau.
Cooper Landing told to be ready for quick evacuation
Wildfire updates: The Swan Lake fire crossed Resurrection Trail and was about two miles from the town on Tuesday, authorities said.
Coughing, breathing issues, sore eyes: As wildfire smoke cloaks Anchorage, people feel its effects
Some doctors are hearing from more patients about respiratory health concerns.
Alaska State Fair train service this weekend and fireworks show both canceled
Ongoing wildfire danger, along with other hazards, may throw a wrench into some fairgoers’ plans.
Alaska salmon deaths blamed on record high temperatures
Dead salmon have shown up in river systems throughout Alaska, and the mortalities are probably connected to warm water or low river water levels, said a Fish and Game official.
In Alaska, a summer of extreme weather continues
This summer, Alaska has faced extreme heat, irregular rains and wildfires.
This summer is on track to be the driest on record for Southcentral Alaska
The region has seen less than an inch of rainfall since June 1 and no measurable rain at all during August, putting it on track to beat a 50-year record.
Southcentral Alaska wildfire updates: Calmer winds aid firefighters, but evacuation notices remain in place
Smoke crept back into Anchorage on Friday morning and air quality in the city was again at an “unhealthy” level.
Lost Lake Run canceled over worries about wildfire smoke
Recent closures along the Sterling Highway and a flood advisory in the area were also factors in the decision to call off the Saturday race.