Drought in Alaska

Alaska has experienced significant drought events in recent years, a phenomenon that is unusual given its reputation for abundant rainfall and vast freshwater resources. The most notable recent drought occurred from 2016 to 2019, particularly affecting Southeast Alaska, which is typically one of the rainiest regions in North America^[1][2][3]. During this period, the U.S. Drought Monitor declared “extreme drought” (D3) in areas including Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island, Wrangell, and Metlakatla—marking the first time such conditions were recorded in this part of the state^[2][1].

Impacts of the drought included:

• Water shortages: Many small communities, such as Nanwalek, Seldovia, Chignik Lagoon, and Tatitlek, faced severe water shortages as reservoirs, wells, and aquifers ran dry. Some communities had to import drinking water, limit water use, and switch to extreme conservation measures like using paper plates and collecting seawater to flush toilets^[4][5][6][7].
• Ecological effects: The drought stressed local ecosystems. Warmer, drier conditions led to disruptions in salmon hatcheries, bug outbreaks (such as sawfly infestations), and negative impacts on subsistence crops like wild berries^[8][3].
• Infrastructure challenges: The crisis was exacerbated by aging or inadequate water infrastructure, which struggled to cope with reduced precipitation and increased evaporation^[5].
• Wildfires: The hot, dry conditions contributed to an uptick in wildfires, with the Tongass National Forest experiencing about twice as many fires as usual in 2018^[3].

Drivers and climate context:

• The 2016–2019 drought was characterized by both warm and dry conditions, a departure from earlier droughts in Alaska’s history, which were typically colder^[3].
• Climate change is believed to be altering precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures in Alaska, making such droughts more likely and severe^[2][3]. While climate change may not have been the sole cause, it has affected atmospheric circulation and the balance between rain and snow, which in turn impacts water availability^[2][3].

Current status and outlook:

• As of recent years, drought conditions have persisted intermittently, especially in southern and southeastern Alaska, with the U.S. Drought Monitor continuing to track areas of abnormally dry to severe drought^[9][10].
• The impacts of these droughts have prompted communities and officials to reconsider water management strategies and infrastructure resilience in the face of a warming climate^[5][6].

In summary:
Drought in Alaska, especially in the southeast, has become a pressing issue due to a combination of record-low precipitation, warmer temperatures, and climate change-driven shifts in weather patterns. The consequences have been acute for small communities and ecosystems, challenging long-held assumptions about water abundance in the state^{[1][4][5][2][3]}.

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• https://uaf-iarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Southeast-Alaska-drought-HISTORY.pdf   
• https://psmag.com/news/the-wettest-part-of-alaska-is-experiencing-extreme-drought-is-climate-change-to-blame/     
• https://www.ktoo.org/2023/01/20/a-warming-climate-is-changing-how-drought-plays-out-in-southeast-alaska/       
• https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/alaskans-suffering-through-disaster-drought  
• https://www.earth.com/news/water-shortages-alaska/    
• https://www.ktoo.org/2019/09/09/alaska-communities-used-to-have-plenty-of-fresh-water-then-came-severe-drought/  
• https://alaskapublic.org/uncategorized/2019-09-04/alaska-communities-used-to-have-plenty-of-fresh-water-then-came-severe-drought 
• https://uaf-iarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Southeast-Alaska-Drought-1.pdf 
• https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?AK 
• https://www.drought.gov/watersheds/alaska