Residents in Utqiagvik, Alaska, have watched their final sunrise of the year. The city entered Polar Night this week, meaning the sun will not rise again until January 22, 2026. Utqiagvik is the northernmost community in the United States.
The phenomenon happens because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis as it moves around the sun. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Arctic region receives no direct sunlight during winter months, keeping the sun below the horizon for weeks.
The City Will Not Be in Complete Darkness
Although the sun is gone, the community will still experience a few hours of civil twilight each day. Civil twilight is a dim blue light that occurs when the sun is just below the horizon. It is similar to the sky just before sunrise or right after sunset.
Utqiagvik, located roughly 500 miles northwest of Fairbanks, is home to about 4,400 residents. The area holds archaeological history dating back more than 1,500 years, according to the city’s official website.
Extreme Cold Ahead
The lack of sunlight means temperatures drop sharply. The National Weather Service notes that Polar Night affects atmospheric circulation and contributes to the formation of the polar vortex. The vortex is a region of extremely cold air high in the atmosphere over the Arctic.
Sometimes, that cold air slips south and affects the lower 48 states, bringing harsh winter weather events.
Endless Darkness, Then Endless Light
While the next two months bring long, dark days, the opposite will happen in summer. Utqiagvik will experience nearly 24 hours of daylight for about 83 straight days next year.
For now, residents prepare for weeks of cold, twilight skies, and winter conditions that few places on Earth ever experience.