Temperatures in parts of Alaska spiked to all-time record levels during the past few days. Utqiaġvik, which is the northernmost community in the U.S., saw its temperature reach 40°F on Monday morning despite winter darkness, Andrew writes.
Why it matters: This smashed that the all-time December high temperature record there by about 6°F.
The big picture: According to climate researcher Rick Thoman, it was also the highest temperature there on any date between Oct. 30 and April 22.
- Long-term, rapid climate change in the Far North is making such warm temperature extremes more likely and are melting permafrost, releasing more greenhouse gases in the process.
- A Twitter thread from meteorologist Philippe Papin explains how weather conditions came together to propel temperatures so high.
- Above average temperatures are present across much of the Arctic, particularly in Greenland, the Central Arctic and the Pacific side.
Go deeper: The AP has more.
