Utqiagvik, Alaska Enters Polar Night: Understanding the Phenomenon
Photographer Mark Mahaney (from California) traveled to Utqiagvik, Alaska in 2019 to capture the final days of the season’s polar night. He documented the darkness for 12 days.
UTQIAGVIK, Alaska – Utqiagvik, Alaska has seen its last sunrise this year; America’s northernmost settlement will not see the Sun again until Jan. 22, 2026, as Polar Night begins in the Arctic Circle.
What is Polar Night?
Polar Night is a phenomenon that occurs when the Sun remains below the horizon for 24 hours, resulting in complete darkness. This event occurs in the Arctic Circle during the winter months. Due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, the Sun will not rise above the horizon in Utqiagvik for the next 64 days. However, the Alaskan borough will not be in complete darkness and will experience a few hours of what’s known as civil twilight, which is the pale blue light normally seen before dawn.
The sun sets beyond the frozen, snow-covered Arctic Ocean in Utqiagvik, Alaska, on April 9, 2019. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Impact on Utqiagvik and the Arctic Circle
Utqiagvik is about 500 miles northwest of Fairbanks and is home to roughly 4,400 people, with archeological sites dating back to 500 CE, according to the city’s website. Without the light of the Sun and daytime heating, temperatures plummet during Polar Night across the Arctic Circle. The Polar Night phenomenon also plays a role in the formation of the Polar Vortex, the area of extremely cold air in the Earth’s stratosphere.
FILE PHOTO: Seen from an aerial view, homes stand along the Arctic Ocean on August 10, 2023 in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Located above the Arctic Circle, Utqiagvik is the northernmost settlement in the United States. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Life in Utqiagvik During Polar Night
While winters in Utqiagvik feature more than 60 days of darkness, in the summer, the city experiences nearly three months of total sunlight. In the warmer months, Utqiagvik is also home to America’s northernmost football team, during football season at Barrow High School. Football coaches at Barrow High School, Andrew Downing and Chris Battle, join FOX Weather to share how the team handles the extreme weather conditions, located just south of the Arctic Circle, as the northernmost field in the world. 
The city’s next sunrise will be approximately 1:23 p.m. local time on Jan. 26, 2026. For more information on Polar Night and its effects on Utqiagvik, Alaska, visit Here
Image Source: www.foxweather.com
