Policy brief: Winter rain in Interior Alaska

Alaskans regularly face extreme cold temperatures and high-impact winter weather. Winter rain, however, poses a unique and growing challenge in the Interior. As winter rain becomes more frequent, local and regional governments, utilities, and other sectors must understand the associated risks and remain prepared. This increasing challenge also presents an opportunity for decision-makers in the Interior to collaborate and leverage existing resources to strengthen preparedness and response.

This project, led by Alaska Fellow Eleanor Greenbaum, included interviews with 24 practitioners and managers in the Fairbanks area to better understand the impacts of winter rain in Interior Alaska. Participants identified key concerns, including transportation challenges, power outages, threats to personal safety, disruptions to emergency care and response, school and business closures, delays in the delivery of essential goods, stress on wildlife, and long-term infrastructure degradation. These conversations also examined the December 2021 “icemageddon” event as a case study, highlighting the risks associated with winter rain and how organizational policy shifts — alongside operational strategies and long-term planning — can help mitigate these impacts.

A policy brief is forthcoming in spring 2026.