Open water in February.

It is November, we have snow and we are skiing the Southcentral Alaska backcountry early and in the best conditions in years.

"The first snowfall of this year happened so early that the leaves on the trees had not fallen yet. The weight of the snow on top of the trees that had not shed their leaves caused the trees to incur damage."

Snow blanketed parts of Alaska’s largest city Tuesday morning, as Anchorage saw an early, though unofficial, first snowfall of the season. It's technically unofficial because none was reported at the National Weather Service’s official measuring spot on the city’s west side.

From 10:45am until 11:50am a sudden flurry of snow came and went on an otherwise warm spring day.

Unseasonably cold air swept into Alaska’s largest city Thursday, and forecasters expect it to stay through the weekend. The cold is plunging south into Alaska all the way from the North Pole, pushing a band of snow through Southcentral.

The number of salmon returning to Chester Creek has improved since 2008. This year, spawning salmon are lingering in the creek later than usual.

A wild rose (Rosa acicularis) blooms late during a warm fall.

Robins are migratory birds, but may stay in one place if the temperature is warm and/or there is food available.

As much of the Lower 48 braces for frigid weather, Anchorage-area temperatures have run some 13 degrees above normal so far this month.

Anemone narcissiflora, which typically blooms in June, is experiencing a second bloom in Hatcher Pass.

On another year, Christy might just now be finishing up the harvest. But today, the only flowers left from this season are stored in a walk-in cooler.

“The growth-cycle this year is unprecedented,” with carrots, peas and broccoli heads “as big as a platter,” farmers market vendors say.

I rarely see trumpeter swans on the lake, and I don't ever remember seeing them so early.

Why air quality is worse at different times of day and how you might be violating city code with your leaf blower.

Spring has come about a month early. Is the mating season for our state bird, the Willow Ptarmigan, early as well?

Warmer than normal temperatures in Anchorage may be causing willows (genus Salix) to bud early.

Avalanche monitors say danger remains high in Turnagain Pass, Girdwood and Portage.