Fall’s Running Late This Year in Alaska

Observation by Sylar Smith

It’s already a week into October, and only now are the leaves starting to fall rapidly here in Anchorage. On top of that, we’ve seen noticeably less rain compared to this time last year. Could this be another sign of our shifting climate?

LEO Says

Fall temperatures in 2025 have been higher than the historical average. Traditionally, leaves in the Anchorage Bowl begin changing color from mid-August through October. Over the past 5–10 years, fall weather patterns have varied significantly—some years have seen early snowfall, while others, like 2025, have been noticeably warmer than usual. We’ve included several related articles in the sidebar to add context and depth to the discussion. Thank you for your observation.