Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in Anchorage, Alaska

Several observation sites across Bristol Bay and the northern Alaska Peninsula recorded periods lasting several hours of northerly winds above 15 mph and wind chills lower than -40F. Naknek recorded the longest stretch with wind chills below -40F between 10 PM AKST 1/27 and 4 PM AKST 1/28.

Strong high pressure over Siberia pushed a very cold Arctic air mass south over mainland Alaska on Jan 26 & 27. Low pressure in the Gulf helped draw colder air southward and kept a modest northerly wind across much of Southwest Alaska, leading to cold wind chills below -40F at several locations across Bristol Bay and the Kuskokwim Delta for multiple days near the end of January.