Noatak's recent cold spell provided some creative inspiration for photographer Lola Arey, who took advantage of sunshine to capture some of the beauty of the area, from frost covered branches, to a raven taking in the sunset. The National Weather Service says the cold temperatures are expected to continue for at least another week in Northwest Alaska. - Photo by Lola Arey / for Alaska Newspapers

Most Popular Stories

Kotzebue floats idea of Coast Guard Auxiliary

Taking the long way home: Mushing across the state Part 1

Spring whaling safe, successful so far

Far from home, close call for mother daughter travelers

Arctic in bloom: Scientist seeks study of microscopic plant life in ice

Cold snap likely to hold on at least a week

January 13th 1:50 am | Carey Restino

There's cold and then there's really cold. Right now, in Northwest Alaska, it's really cold.

Fairbanks weather forecaster Ted Fathauer said it was unlikely that the current cold snap was going to produce any record-breaking cold, but consistent temperatures of 30 below are certainly within reach.

"We've got a flow aloft from the high Arctic, and it's not letting up very much," Fathauer said. "It's going to be a long winter."

Fathauer said after a warmer-than-usual December, the temperatures dropped shortly after Christmas in much of Northwest Alaska.

While temperatures have been below normal in Barrow, Kotzebue and surrounding areas have gotten the most severe temperatures. Some days have been 30 degrees lower than average for this time — about 10 below. In Barrow, the lows have hovered around 30 below, when the typical lows are closer to 20 below.

"The chances of this coming to some kind of happy end sometime soon are not good," Fathauer said. "But it doesn't look like it's going to be severe cold."

Copyright 2012 • The Arctic Sounder is a publication of Alaska Media, LLC. This site, its design and contents are © 2012 and may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher and owner, including duplication on not-for-profit websites. Alaska Media, LLC may not own copyright to portions of articles published; those sections are reproduced here with permission and Alaska Media, LLC makes no provisions for further distribution.

The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope - A publication of Alaska Media, LLC, Alaska's rural news leader.

Copyright 2012 The Arctic Sounder is a publication of Alaska Media, LLC. This article is © 2012 and limited reproduction rights for personal use are granted for this printing only. This article, in any form, may not be further reproduced without written permission of the publisher and owner, including duplication for not-for-profit purposes. Portions of this article may belong to other agencies; those sections are reproduced here with permission and Alaska Media, LLC makes no provisions for further distribution.