Ask a Climatologist: Anchorage avoids Chinook wind events, holds onto snow

Anchorage is within its usual range, and has held onto its snow, as the city's been missed by a couple Chinook wind events like those that've caused melting in recent winters, like 2019 (pictured).

A trail covered in ice and snow in the Kincaid area of Anchorage, Alaska in early December 2019. (Joey Mendolia/Alaska Public Media)

Most parts of mainland Alaska are at, near or above their normal snowfall amount at this point in the winter.

Fairbanks is several inches above average; Anchorage is within its usual range and has held onto its snow.

National Weather Service climate researcher Brian Brettschneider said some places, including Anchorage, have not seen the rapid warm-ups of recent winters that decimated snow pack, even though they were forecasted.

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