Alaska Faces Record Cold March While Southwest Swelters

As a historic heat wave grips the southwestern United States, Alaska is experiencing one of its coldest March periods on record, with temperatures 15 to 20 degrees below average. This stark contrast highlights the unusual weather patterns currently affecting the country.

Alaska’s Deep Freeze

The 49th state typically remains cold in March, but this year’s temperatures have been particularly extreme. Many Alaskan cities are experiencing a March ranking among their five coldest on record.

Anchorage is currently averaging 9 degrees Fahrenheit, 15 degrees below normal, marking its fifth-coldest March to date. Further north in Fairbanks, conditions are even more severe. The city has endured 31 days this winter with temperatures reaching -40 degrees Fahrenheit. The average monthly temperature in Fairbanks this March is -15.5 degrees, 22 degrees below normal, making it the second-coldest start to March in the city’s history.

Southeast Alaska is also experiencing below-average temperatures, though not as drastically as Interior Alaska. Juneau’s average temperature this month is 7 degrees below normal, ranking as the 12th coldest start to March for the city.

National Weather Service Forecast

While some relief may arrive in northern Alaska by the end of the month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center forecasts below-average temperatures for most of the state through March. Weather.com

Recent Extreme Weather Events in Alaska

Alaska’s recent weather patterns have been marked by extremes. In December 2025, Juneau abruptly lifted a temporary ban on wood heat amid an extreme cold warning, which included negative temperatures and high winds. Alaska Watchman

Juneau experienced its first-ever heat advisory in July 2025, with temperatures reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit. ktoo.org

The region has also been grappling with glacial lake floods, as Suicide Basin, an ice-dammed lake on Mendenhall Glacier, has flooded for three consecutive summers (2023, 2024, and 2025), causing destructive surges of water into Juneau. The Conversation

Looking Ahead

The contrasting weather patterns in Alaska and the Southwest underscore the increasing volatility of global weather systems. Continued monitoring of these trends is crucial for understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change.