How’s the weather up there? It’ll be harder for Alaska to tell as a longtime program goes off air

Alaska’s long-running weather program, “Alaska Weather,” is going off air after 47 years, leaving residents concerned about the loss of vital information. The program, designed for rural and roadless areas of the state, provides separate forecasts for mariners, aviators, and residents to make informed decisions regarding hunting, fishing, and flying in extreme weather conditions. However, due to business considerations, the program will no longer be distributed to public television stations in Juneau and Fairbanks, marking its last on-air broadcast. Going forward, the program will only be available on YouTube, raising concerns for vulnerable residents in Indigenous communities with unreliable internet service or those who prefer traditional means of information gathering.

In Stebbins, a Yup’ik village with limited internet access, Morris Nashoanak, who relies on the program for subsistence hunting and fishing decisions, expressed the importance of “Alaska Weather.” Unfortunately, with slow and intermittent internet, some residents may be left without critical information. Traditionally, Alaska Public Media has provided the show through its Fairbanks station to the Alaska Rural Communication System, a network of low-power transmitters reaching rural areas. However, Alaska Public Media decided to discontinue distribution unless it received $50,000 annually from the federal government. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agreed to provide the funds, a subsequent review revealed that the actual annual costs were $200,000, making it financially unfeasible for Alaska Public Media to continue the distribution.

Linda Wei, Alaska Public Media’s chief content officer, stated that distributing the show for free is no longer sustainable for the network. Allan Eustis, the show’s first anchor, who witnessed the program’s impact during his visits to distant villages, highlighted its importance for supporting subsistence hunting and whaling activities. Initially produced live at Alaska Public Media’s studios, the show was later moved to the National Weather Service’s office in Anchorage, where two meteorologists produce forecasts and film the segments. The program is then compiled by technicians at Alaska Public Media into a 30-minute show. With the on-air broadcast ending, the forecast segments will be uploaded to a National Weather Service YouTube channel.

Rick Thoman, a climate specialist, expressed disappointment at the discontinuation of the on-air broadcast, emphasizing the challenges faced by Alaskans in obtaining weather information without reliable internet connectivity. Although efforts are underway to address connectivity inequities in Alaska, building a robust network across the challenging terrain will take time. Even with internet access, unforeseen issues such as cable damage caused by ice scouring can disrupt services. The weather service and Alaska Public Media are open to further discussions and public input to explore alternative means of delivering weather information, although suggestions such as radio programs or podcasts may not support the visual graphics provided by the TV show.

Despite the ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide in Alaska, the loss of “Alaska Weather” on public television raises concerns about the accessibility of vital weather information for rural and Indigenous communities in the state.

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• Alaska Weather
• Alaska Public Media
• National Weather Service
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Alaska Rural Communication System
• Digital Divide