Background Articles

In the face of changing climate, an updated planning tool will act as Anchorage's guide to preparing for and living with increased wildfire risk. A public comment period is open until Nov. 30.

More than 120 responders are cleaning up oil and gas spills and restoring western Alaska communities after former Typhoon Halong’s storm-surge flooding. The U.S. Coast Guard and partners are recovering fuels and staging safe storage sites as winter conditions and limited daylight complicate work.

Storm damage has left multiple trees blocking paths in Cullaird Wood on the outskirts of Inverness, obstructing a key section of the South Loch Ness Trail. Highland Council says it is seeking an arrangement with the landowner’s agents to clear the routes after recent storms Floris and Amy.

Typhoon Halong’s storm surge eroded the Nunalleq archaeological site near Quinhagak, exposing and scattering centuries-old Yup’ik artifacts along the Bering Sea coast. Local residents and archaeologists rushed to recover figurines, mask pieces, and other items as permafrost thaw and coastal erosion accelerate losses.

Remnants of Typhoon Halong caused severe coastal erosion in Quinhagak, Alaska, stripping up to 60 feet of shoreline, flooding parts of town, and pushing boats into riverside trees. The storm imperiled the community’s sewage lagoon and scattered priceless artifacts from the Nunalleq archaeological site along the beach.

As the remnants of Typhoon Halong drove flooding and 69 mph winds across Norton Sound, Unalakleet sheltered 88 evacuees from nearby Shaktoolik and moved elders to higher ground. Minor structural damage was reported in Shaktoolik, and flights began returning residents after the storm passed.

Remnants of Typhoon Halong drove record storm surge and hurricane-force winds into Western Alaska, devastating Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. Officials report dozens of homes destroyed, mass rescues, widespread outages, and at least one death, with many residents sheltering and recovery efforts underway.

A powerful coastal storm brought flooding and damaging winds to western Alaska on Oct. 8, with severe flooding and evacuations in Kotzebue and high water reported across the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region. Communities are now preparing for a larger storm expected over the weekend, with state emergency operations activated.

Extreme weather 'Amy' brought destructive winds and flooding across Norway, damaging buildings and vehicles, causing landslides, and knocking out power to tens of thousands. Insurance firms received thousands of damage reports as cleanup began across multiple regions.

Tverrelvdalen School in Alta, Finnmark, closed on Thursday due to concerns about underlying quick clay. The municipality notified students and parents about the precautionary closure.

The close call in Tracy Arm 50 miles south of Juneau on 10 August is the latest sign that as glaciers melt, risks may rise

BC Hydro crews have begun assessing damage to power infrastructure in Bamfield following the Mount Underwood wildfire, but the full extent remains unknown as the fire zone is still unsafe to enter.

A high-temperature geothermal field has been discovered under the thinning ice of Vatnajökull’s Esjufjöll mountains, revealed by historical aerial images reviewed by geologist Jón Viðar Sigurðsson.

Photos show flooding and structural damage in Severo-Kurilsk and Kamchatka after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake and tsunami struck Russia’s Far East on July 30, 2025.

A UNBC study finds glaciers feeding the Slave River watershed are melting twice as fast as a decade ago, contributing to record low water levels in Northwest Territories rivers, while GNWT officials expect short-term stability from snowmelt and summer rains.

The Village of Gwa’yas’dums on Gilford Island will receive over $3.2 million from the Canadian federal government to reinforce its shoreline against climate-driven erosion and coastal flooding.

Areas north of Healy remained under evacuation orders though fire activity slowed since flaring to life last week. Evacuation alerts in several areas north of Fairbanks were reduced Thursday.

After years of assessments, a major step forward in riverbank stabilization for the Kuskokwim Delta coastal community has been derailed by wide-ranging cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

State fire crews began a 35-acre prescribed burn on Anchorage’s Hillside May 12 between Hilltop Ski Area and the Prospect Heights Trailhead, expecting visible smoke and temporary trail closures.

Better knowledge and mapping of existing infrastructure is leading to a new estimate of future thaw costs under varying climate scenarios.