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On October 11th and 12th, 2025, coastal villages of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta were hit by Typhoon Halong that devastated entire communities.  Weather forecasters saw the track of Typhoon Halong coming and yet most of those communities are located on low lying lands without roads to higher grounds.

The aftermath of Typhoon Halong just prior to winter has required the evacuation of entire communities to Anchorage, Alaska with military planes, as the entire infrastructure and access to clean water were destroyed by this historic weather event. 

Climatologist, Rick Thoman, discusses the weather pattern that led up to Typhoon Halong, as well as how to help displaced families and pets. 

Resources to Help:

Alaska Community Foundation
https://alaskacf.org/

World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/

YK Delta Dog Rescue
https://www.bethelfriendsofcanines.com/

Thank you for listening to the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast.

Katie Writer

[email protected]

907/863-7669

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You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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A strong storm impacting Kotzebue on Oct. 8th, 2025 ...(one year after a 2024 storm)has the community evacuated from homes along the coast to the high school, which is on higher ground. Climatologist, Rick Thoman discusses the conditions that is causing the storm. In addition, weather forecasters are watching Typhoon Halong's path,  that could impact the Bering Sea on Saturday/Sunday, Oct. 11th & 12th, 2025. 

Rick Thoman also discusses the upcoming release of the 20th edition of the Arctic Report Card that will be released mid December, 2025. 

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You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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Today's episode includes an interview with climate specialist, Rick Thoman. Rick discusses the conditions that lead to an atmospheric river, La Nina winter predictions and also the importance of weather forecasts and radio coverage for Alaskans. 

Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at IARC’s Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP).  Rick is a contributor and editor of the Arctic Report Card and was also awarded NOAA Distinguished Career Award for Professional Achievement in 2020. Rick was honored after a 30 plus year career with the National Weather Service for continued efforts to improve climate services in Alaska and for outstanding outreach efforts working with the Alaska Native community. We are happy that he has not yet retired, as his wealth of information is an invaluable resource for communities all around Alaska. Thank you, Rick!

Rick Thoman has a very informative newsletter on Substack called: Alaska and Arctic Climate Newsletter. You can see illustrations, graphs and be informed of all things Alaska weather.

Talkeetna River at Alaska Railroad Bridge NOAA link: 

 https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/TKTA2

Thank you for tuning into the Alaska Climate & Aviation Podcast!

Also, I'm happy to announce my scenic flight seeing business, Visionary Adventures, LLC.  "Cub Rides with Katie" offers scenic flights in a Piper Super Cub Airplane here in South Central Alaska.  Message me if you wish to book a flight. 

Katie Writer

[email protected]

907/873-7669

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You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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The 11th Arctic Encounter was held at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska, July 30-August 1st, 2025.  This years Arctic Encounter was attended by participants of over 27 countries. 

Founder and CEO of Arctic Encounter, Rachel Kallander, Advisor, Jackson Blackwell, and team members,  Reed Davidson, Anna Kardashyan, Harmony Wayner, and Trina Landlord welcomed Arctic ambassadors, policy makers, Indigenous leaders, Arctic business leaders and scientists to share perspectives and voices of the Arctic. 

Libby Casey, Senior News Anchor of The Washington Post, was the Moderator of this episode's topic, "Strategic Ground: Greenland in the Center of Arctic Geoploitics".

The panelists included on this episode are as follows:

Libby Casey, Senior News Anchor of The Washington Post.

Ms. Aki-Matilda Hough-Dam, Member of the Parliament of Greenland, Member of the Danish Parliament, Chair of the Arctic Delegation.

Mr. Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Executive Director, Arctic Economic Council of Norway. 

Mr Kuno Fencker, Member of the Parliament of Greenland.

Mr. Thomas Dans, Former Commissioner, US Arctic Research Commission.

The episode includes discussions of the sovereignty of Greenland, why it is not for sale as well as  the desire for self determination of Greenland.

Thank you for tuning into the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast.

Katie Writer

[email protected]

907/863-7669

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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The 11th Arctic Encounter was held at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska, July 30-August 1st, 2025 as well as the popular Far North Fashion Show held at the Anchorage Museum. This years Arctic Encounter was attended by participants of over 27 countries, including Arctic policy makers, Indigenous leaders, scientists, ambassadors, and business leaders in the North, US Military leaders, US government officials, artisans and fashion designers of the Arctic. 

Founder and CEO of Arctic Encounter, Rachel Kallander welcomed her newest family member, baby Jonah a bit earlier than expected this summer, which moved the event from April 2025 to late July, 2025. 

Libby Casey, Senior News Anchor of The Washington Post and Matt Hickey of Arctic Security Studies were two of many moderators that directed unique discussions of Arctic related topics, including, "Arctic Warfighters: Rapid Responses to an Evolving Northern Threat", "Strategic Ground: Greenland in the Center of Arctic Geoploitics", "Arctic Knowledge: Informing Policy Through Science", and "Navigating Governance Land Use and Sovereignty in the Arctic".

This year's episode covering the Arctic Encounter includes discussions of the sovereignty of Greenland and self determination of Arctic Peoples. 

Thank you for tuning into the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast.

Katie Writer

[email protected]

907/863-7669

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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Arctic Adventure by sailboat has been a longtime dream of American Arctic explorer, Lonnie Dupre.  Lonnie has been an Arctic explorer by dogsled, ski, and canoe for decades and is also a film maker documenting the impact of global warming on Arctic environments. His award winning movie, AMKA~One with a Friendly Spirit, shows his connection and his love for the Arctic and Arctic people.

Today's interview with Lonnie was a week after he and his partner, Pascale Marceau and two crew members, already set sail from the starting point of Grand Marais, Minnesota in a Brent Swain designed, 36-foot Bluewater Sloop. While many sails to Greenland begin on the ocean, their start on the Great Lakes brings an interesting course of navigating thru lock systems and rivers that will eventually drop them into the Atlantic Ocean.

Lonnie's website, www.lonniedupre.com is a valuable source of information of this journey and has a link where you can track their exciting journey. 

"In April 2025, a 6,000 nautical miles sailboat voyage will begin from the little town of Grand Marais, Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior.  Nord Hus will sail via the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway and enter the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Quebec. Nord Hus will serve as a support vessel for explorers, storytellers, filmmakers and the curious.Beyond Quebec's North Shore, Nord Hus will sail to Newfoundland, and make passage across the Labrador Sea to Southwest Greenland. From there, to northwestern Greenland and Canada’s High Arctic."

Live tracking at marinetraffic.com - search for NordHus.
For more detailed information, go to Lonnie's website:https://www.lonniedupre.com/nordhus

Thank you for listening to the Alaska Climate & Aviation Podcast.
Katie Writer
[email protected]

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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On January 12, 2025, Anchorage's Ted Stevens International Airport experienced high winds and severe turbulence that made it very difficult for landing aircraft. Lake Hood was temporarily closed and most of all other air traffic was diverted to Fairbanks International Airport. A heavy 777 Korean Cargo plane had to execute 3 missed approaches before safely landing. The teamwork of the air traffic controllers and pilots, who depend on information from weather models and wind data, can attempt to divert airliners from air pockets that contained unstable air causing the severe turbulence. 

Today's special guest is Climatologist, Brian Brettschneider, a dedicated Alaska Climate Specialist. Brian is developing weather models that illustrate variants of month to month meteorological flight conditions such as IFR, VFR and MVFR. 

Brian also talks about springtime in Alaska, including wildfire preparedness and awareness as well as discussion of a possible Mt. Spurr volcanic eruption in 2025.

Thank you for tuning into the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast!

Katie Writer

[email protected]

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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Today's conversation is with climatologist Brian Brettschneider. Recently, Brian was chosen for a new role for the National Weather Service of Alaska as "Senior Climate Scientist" and is a passionate communicator about expanding climate awareness. Topics include: weather forecasting, data & development of evolving technologies, La Nina Winter 2024 predictions and the teamwork of NWS with the FAA in improving weather forecasting.

Weather data is key component for weather forecasting that enables planning for fire fighting, sea ice travel and flooding preparation. The temperature and precipitation station of record for Anchorage is located at Ted Stevens International Airport. Brian discusses some of the history and importance of this data. 

Weather forecasting has evolved with modern technology. Brian discusses how the National Weather Service is incorporating AI into creating ways to forecast weather. The technical term is "Machine Learning" or "Nero Network Models". Tune in for this discussion.

Brian also talks about his experience seeing the "fin whale" that was recently beached on shores of Westchester Lagoon, near downtown Anchorage.

Brian welcomes questions about climate by providing his email:
[email protected]

Thank you for listening to the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast.
 
Katie Writer
Podcaster/Pilot/Photographer
[email protected]
http://www.katiewritergallery.com

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us a text

Today's conversation is with climate specialist, Rick Thoman. Topics discussed include climate impacts on caribou herds of the Arctic, The Arctic Report Card 2024, Arctic ERMA, CAPRI, and the challenges Arctic communities face as marine traffic increases in the Arctic. 

Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at IARC’s Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP).  Rick is a contributor and editor of the Arctic Report Card and was also awarded NOAA Distinguished Career Award for Professional Achievement in 2020. Rick was honored after a 30 plus year career with the National Weather Service for continued efforts to improve climate services in Alaska and for outstanding outreach efforts working with the Alaska Native community.

The Arctic Report Card is an annual report led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA). The efforts of scientists and climate specialists to create this robust scientific report every year is impressive.  The amount of work contributed to this scientific document is extremely important in documenting climate change in the Arctic, which is warming at an alarming rate.

The Report Card is intended for a wide audience, including scientists, teachers, students, decision-makers and the general public interested in the Arctic environment and science. It is encouraged that the Report Card to be utilized and studied, as the scientific community has created it to be an easily read report for the general population to better understand the complexities of the warming Arctic.

Here are the links to the 2023 Arctic Report Card and NOAA website:
https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2023/
The Arctic Report Card 2024 will be published on December 10th, 2024.

https://www.arctic.noaa.gov

Thanks for tuning into the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast!

Katie Writer
Journalist/Pilot/Photographer
[email protected]

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Send us a text

The Arctic Encounter Symposium celebrated it's 10th year in Anchorage, Alaska at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center.  Arctic leaders, policy makers and creatives gathered from April 10-12th, 2024 to discuss challenges and successes of the today's current events in the Arctic. This episode is about the importance of empowering storytelling of the Inupiaq and how their youth need positive role models that embody the values and traditions of their people.  Podcaster, Alice Glenn shares how she started Coffee and Quaq and how she has grown a world wide audience. Alice and her older sister, Patuk Glenn, Executive Director of the Arctic Slope Community Foundation, want to empower the youth of the Arctic to have pride and strength from their cultural identity.

Thank you, Rachel Kallander, founder & CEO of Arctic Encounter, for creating this incredible event. Congratulations on your 10th year and incredible leadership!

Here is the link to Alice's Coffee and Quaq Podcast: https://www.coffeeandquaq.com/podcast

Thank you, Alaska Climate & Aviation Podcast listeners for tuning in.
You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at: https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Sincerely, 

Katie Writer
journalist/pilot/photographer
[email protected]

Support the show

You can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:
https://www.katiewritergallery.com