Winter in Alaska

Please welcome guest commentator, David Staat…

While on our trip to Alaska this year, I received an email from a good friend of mine. He asked, "When does winter start in Alaska?"  Very good question, and one I hadn't contemplated much.

I have found that the winter season and/or preparation for it drives much of the activities in Alaska. Storing up food and heating materials for the long cold months, completing home projects, roadwork activity, and migration for seasonal workers, tourists and wildlife… even how much partying and outdoor activities the Alaskans participate in during the "non winter" months. 

It is a good question, and I have heard many comments about the start of winter as we travel through this great and beautiful state. So, I think this subject warrants a blog post.

Here are some of the responses I have received to date from both native Alaskans to the more recent Alaska immigrants. So here goes…

When is it winter in Alaska?

· October… that is when the bears start to hibernate.

· When the caribou start showing up during migration (this is around the Arctic Circle), any time between late August and mid September. 

· When we start getting sustained freezing temperatures... about mid November... of course that depends on the elevation and latitude.

· When the leaves start turning... which could be any time from late August to September.

When road construction stops for the year, which is normally September.

· When the birds flock up and start to fly south... late August and early September.

· When the people who don't live here year round start heading south.

· When it is time to put on the snow tires.

· When it is required to have chains on your vehicle to travel some roads, which is from October 1 to April 1.

· When moose or caribou hunting season opens in early August.

· The official start of winter... like the Lower 48... which is December 21.

· When the ice roads open which is mid to late January.

· When the whales head south to warmer waters to give birth.

· Whenever it snows, which means winter could be any time of year.

· And my favorite to date is: "There are two seasons in Alaska, July and winter."

For us, winter comes to Alaska when my wife is wearing every stitch if clothing we brought along for our trip.

So I guess the answer to the question "When does winter come to Alaska?" depends on the time of year you pose the question and who you talk to.  Then again, I guess that is true of any place you travel.  Thanks for the question, Glenn!

So when does winter come to your neck of the woods? Leave us a comment, we would love to hear from you.