Rick Thoman

@alaskawx.bsky.social

Climate specialist with ACCAP/IARC at UAF, highlighting Alaska and Arctic climate, environment & Indigenous cultures. Opinions are my own.
Alaska and Arctic Climate Newsletter: https://alaska-arctic-climate.beehiiv.com

@drkimwood.bsky.socialReposted by @alaskawx.bsky.social

Combined, the eastern + central North Pacific basins have exceeded their record *seasonal* Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE). Notably, both the ENP and CNP currently rank third when evaluated *separately*. Those years were hyperactive in one or the other, not both: CNP < 2015, 2018 ENP < 1990, 1992

Central North Pacific (180-140W) daily accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), a metric based on tropical cyclone (TC) wind speed that helps capture both strength (how high the winds are) and duration (how long the storm lasts). "Cumulative" means the daily ACE is added up from the start of the season through that day. Dates are labeled along the x-axis. The green line shows 2026 daily ACE through October 11. Thin gray lines are individual years from 1982 to 2025.Eastern North Pacific (140W to North America) daily accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), a metric based on tropical cyclone (TC) wind speed that helps capture both strength (how high the winds are) and duration (how long the storm lasts). "Cumulative" means the daily ACE is added up from the start of the season through that day. Dates are labeled along the x-axis. The green line shows 2026 daily ACE through October 11. Thin gray lines are individual years from 1982 to 2025.
@alaskawx.bsky.social

Sea ice extent in the Beaufort Sea (north of Alaska, NW of Canada) is the highest for Oct 10 since 2009 in NSIDC analysis. Current ice extent would have been typical in the early 2000s. Chukchi Sea ice extent is also well above the 1990-2020 median but similar to 2021. #akwx #Arctic #SeaIce

Left: Daily sea ice extent in the Beaufort Sea the past two years plus the smoothed decadal medians (1980s to 2010s). Right: NWS Alaska Sea Ice Program sea ice concentration analysis to October 10, 2026.
@alaskawx.bsky.social

Sea surface temperatures relative to the 1991-2020 baseline average around Alaska for the week ending October 9. Gulf of Alaska warmer than normal. Bering Sea mixed, and mostly below normal north of the Bering Strait except for some near shore areas. Data courtesy NOAA/PSL/ESRL. #akwx #Arctic #SST

Map centered on Alaska showing sea surface temperature difference (°C) from the 1991-2020 baseline average for the week of October 3-9, 2026.
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