Rick Thoman
@alaskawx.bsky.social
Climate specialist with ACCAP/IARC at UAF, highlighting Alaska and Arctic climate, environment & Indigenous cultures. Opinions are my own.
Alaska and Arctic Climate Newsletter: https://alaskaclimate.substack.com/
Alaska and Arctic Climate Newsletter: https://alaskaclimate.substack.com/
Pinned
Rick Thoman
@alaskawx.bsky.social
· Dec 3
Hot off the digital press: Alaska’s Changing Environment 2.0 is now online! Focused on observations and impacts to Alaskans. From warming air & ocean, ice & snow to salmon & berries. Please check it out. #akwx #Alaska #Climate #ClimateChange @climatologist49.bsky.social
uaf-accap.org/alaskas-chan...
uaf-accap.org/alaskas-chan...
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Fairbanks food banks are seeing demands spike as the shutdown disrupts SNAP benefits.
Fairbanks food banks and volunteers race to fight hunger amid shutdown SNAP disruptions
One food bank CEO said that, between benefits lapsing and high winter demand, she expects "a lot of silent hunger behind closed doors."
akpub.io
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Fairbanks food banks are seeing demands spike as the shutdown disrupts SNAP benefits.
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Tune in Nov. 13 @ 11am AKST to hear Rick Thoman and Ed Plumb discuss the weather and climate aspects of ex-Typhoon Halong which hit western Alaska on Oct. 11-12. Learn about the storm's evolution and what made this storm unique.
Register here: uaf-accap.org/event/ex-typ...
Register here: uaf-accap.org/event/ex-typ...
Ex-Typhoon Halong: The Weather and Climate Story | ACCAP
Speakers: Rick Thoman, Climate Specialist, and Ed Plumb, Weather and Flood Hazards Specialist, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Preparedness On October 11–12, 2025, ex-Typhoon Halong brough…
uaf-accap.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Tune in Nov. 13 @ 11am AKST to hear Rick Thoman and Ed Plumb discuss the weather and climate aspects of ex-Typhoon Halong which hit western Alaska on Oct. 11-12. Learn about the storm's evolution and what made this storm unique.
Register here: uaf-accap.org/event/ex-typ...
Register here: uaf-accap.org/event/ex-typ...
Sitka airport August through October average temperature of 55.5F (13.1C) was 3.2F above the 1991-2020 baseline and highest early autumn average temperature on record, just above 2013. Climate observations since 1948. #akwx #Climate @adriftalchemist.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Sitka airport August through October average temperature of 55.5F (13.1C) was 3.2F above the 1991-2020 baseline and highest early autumn average temperature on record, just above 2013. Climate observations since 1948. #akwx #Climate @adriftalchemist.bsky.social
Reposted by Rick Thoman
November 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
High temperatures (ºF) in and around Alaska on Sunday. Very mild and rainy in Southeast. Not as cool as recent days in Southwest Alaska and still mild on the North Slope. A bit cooler in the Interior and Southcentral. #akwx #weather @climatologist49.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
High temperatures (ºF) in and around Alaska on Sunday. Very mild and rainy in Southeast. Not as cool as recent days in Southwest Alaska and still mild on the North Slope. A bit cooler in the Interior and Southcentral. #akwx #weather @climatologist49.bsky.social
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Under Schumer's leadership, eight Democrats (Cortez Masto, Durbin, Fetterman, Hassan, Kaine, King, Rosen, & Shaheen) joined the Republicans in moving forward a bill to reopen the government without ACA subsidies—Dems' stated key aim—or any other real concessions from the status before the shutdown.
November 10, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Under Schumer's leadership, eight Democrats (Cortez Masto, Durbin, Fetterman, Hassan, Kaine, King, Rosen, & Shaheen) joined the Republicans in moving forward a bill to reopen the government without ACA subsidies—Dems' stated key aim—or any other real concessions from the status before the shutdown.
Reposted by Rick Thoman
I’m so disgusted by the feckless, craven display by Senate Democrats tonight. Is it possible to be fueled entirely by disgust? Asking because I foresee another sleepless night….
November 10, 2025 at 3:21 AM
I’m so disgusted by the feckless, craven display by Senate Democrats tonight. Is it possible to be fueled entirely by disgust? Asking because I foresee another sleepless night….
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Timeline cleanse. Another picture of snow. ❄️❄️❄️
November 10, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Timeline cleanse. Another picture of snow. ❄️❄️❄️
Fairbanks Airport down to 0F (-18C) late Sunday afternoon. This is the first time it's been down to 0F this autumn and is 12 days later than the average "first 0ºF" over the past 50 years. Only one occurrence of the "first 0ºF" before Oct 22nd this century. That used to be common. #akwx #Climate
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Folks, it doesn’t matter that Schumer voted “no”. He got the Dem caucus on board with caving. THEN the caucus figured out who should vote yes to provide cover for D Sens up for reelection in 2026, who might have been in serious danger of being primaried. As for the retiring D Senators, doing […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Folks, it doesn’t matter that Schumer voted “no”. He got the Dem caucus on board with caving. THEN the caucus figured out who should vote yes to provide cover for D Sens up for reelection in 2026, who might have been in serious danger of being primaried. As for the retiring D Senators, doing […]
Reposted by Rick Thoman
After 40 days of a government shutdown, the Democrats walk away with...nothing.
They failed, in defending healthcare for 24 million Americans.
They failed politically, gaining no real concessions, with all this pain caused.
They failed morally, with all of us who care.
They failed, in defending healthcare for 24 million Americans.
They failed politically, gaining no real concessions, with all this pain caused.
They failed morally, with all of us who care.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 AM
After 40 days of a government shutdown, the Democrats walk away with...nothing.
They failed, in defending healthcare for 24 million Americans.
They failed politically, gaining no real concessions, with all this pain caused.
They failed morally, with all of us who care.
They failed, in defending healthcare for 24 million Americans.
They failed politically, gaining no real concessions, with all this pain caused.
They failed morally, with all of us who care.
Reposted by Rick Thoman
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Kodiak-born carver Jerry Laktonen was named the Rasmuson Foundation’s Distinguished Artist for 2025, reflecting decades of work featuring traditional Alutiiq methods. www.adn.com/arts/2025/11...
Pairing tradition and inspiration, Alutiiq artist Jerry Laktonen developed his skills as a necessity
Laktonen was named the Rasmuson Foundation’s Distinguished Artist for 2025, reflecting decades of work featuring traditional Alutiiq methods.
www.adn.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Kodiak-born carver Jerry Laktonen was named the Rasmuson Foundation’s Distinguished Artist for 2025, reflecting decades of work featuring traditional Alutiiq methods. www.adn.com/arts/2025/11...
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Out my kitchen window while I’m working here this morning!
November 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Out my kitchen window while I’m working here this morning!
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Let me get this right… a sufficient number Senate Democrats appear to be willing to reopen government to alleviate air travel for upper & upper-middle income people at the expense of access to healthcare for lower income people. Yes?
November 9, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Let me get this right… a sufficient number Senate Democrats appear to be willing to reopen government to alleviate air travel for upper & upper-middle income people at the expense of access to healthcare for lower income people. Yes?
The Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska and northwest of Canada, has been slow to freeze over this autumn, with the rate of increase of sea ice extent way below normal since early October. Sea ice is slowly growing and expanding in the Chukchi and Bering Seas. #akwx #Arctic #SeaIce
November 9, 2025 at 6:16 PM
High temperatures (ºF) in and around Alaska on Saturday. Clear and colder northwest Alaska. Southwest Alaska remains cooler than normal. Continued mild Yukon Territory. Stormy but mild southern Southeast and Haida Gwaii. #akwx #weather @climatologist49.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
High temperatures (ºF) in and around Alaska on Saturday. Clear and colder northwest Alaska. Southwest Alaska remains cooler than normal. Continued mild Yukon Territory. Stormy but mild southern Southeast and Haida Gwaii. #akwx #weather @climatologist49.bsky.social
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Who: Any Fairbanksan (veteran or not)
What: Town Hall
When: 5-7 pm Tuesday November 11
Where: 8-Star Event Center 1485 30th Avenue
Why: meet with your representative, senator, or their staff.
What: Town Hall
When: 5-7 pm Tuesday November 11
Where: 8-Star Event Center 1485 30th Avenue
Why: meet with your representative, senator, or their staff.
November 9, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Who: Any Fairbanksan (veteran or not)
What: Town Hall
When: 5-7 pm Tuesday November 11
Where: 8-Star Event Center 1485 30th Avenue
Why: meet with your representative, senator, or their staff.
What: Town Hall
When: 5-7 pm Tuesday November 11
Where: 8-Star Event Center 1485 30th Avenue
Why: meet with your representative, senator, or their staff.
Reposted by Rick Thoman
November snowfall trend past 50 years in and around Alaska. Big increases North Slope due to loss of sea ice/more open water in adjacent seas. Less snow on and near Bering Sea & Gulf of Alaska coasts reflect warming oceans. Data from ERA5 courtesy of @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social #akwx #Climate #Snow
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
November snowfall trend past 50 years in and around Alaska. Big increases North Slope due to loss of sea ice/more open water in adjacent seas. Less snow on and near Bering Sea & Gulf of Alaska coasts reflect warming oceans. Data from ERA5 courtesy of @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social #akwx #Climate #Snow
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Nice light pillars tonight
November 9, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Nice light pillars tonight
Reposted by Rick Thoman
Every day is a good day to head into the mountains.
November 9, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Every day is a good day to head into the mountains.
Admittedly, I've never lived in Anchorage, but I've spent plenty of time there over the decades, and I never realized that it was so lilliputian that less than seven inches would bury houses. 🤷🏻 #akwx #snow #AlaskaSky @climatologist49.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Admittedly, I've never lived in Anchorage, but I've spent plenty of time there over the decades, and I never realized that it was so lilliputian that less than seven inches would bury houses. 🤷🏻 #akwx #snow #AlaskaSky @climatologist49.bsky.social