NPR-A Weekly Weather and Tundra Travel Report
NOTICE: As of April 21, 2023, the North Slope Borough (NSB) is discontinuing trail maintenance for the season, removing route delineators and slotting river crossings. With conditions deteriorating, the trail is unsafe for continued use until further notice. Weekly Tundra Travel Reports will cease until next winter when tundra conditions again become suitable for safe tundra travel.
The NPR-A Weekly Weather and Tundra Travel Report gives National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska users and the public easily accessible data about the status of soil and weather conditions across the NPR-A. Satellite telemetry allows BLM to monitor freeze-up and thawing conditions in real time and report on snow depths, soil and air temperatures, weather, and water conditions.
BLM Alaska's Arctic District Office posts its findings each week in reports below leading up to and during tundra travel season.
Reports by Year
- 2023
- 2022
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December 1, 2022
November 25, 2022November 10, 2022
November 3, 2022 (Beginning 2022-2023 winter season monitoring)
May 13, 2022 (Final spring 2022 report, tundra travel closed May 13, 2022) - 2021
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June 18, 2021 (Final Spring 2021 Report)
About NPR-A Soil and Weather Stations
The Community Winter Access Trail (CWAT) reduces commodity shipping costs to Alaska Native villages in the North Slope Borough (NSB) by providing critical seasonal access for authorized vehicles and goods. The CWAT is also used by industry to transport equipment and connect winter infrastructure for permitted actions, such as those involved with oil and gas leasing activities. The CWAT is managed by the NSB for authorized users with a federal right-of-way permitted by the BLM.
BLM installed subsurface digital temperature sensing cables along the CWAT. These cables are connected to a solar-powered data logger, which uses satellite telemetry to transmit daily temperature readings. These temperature readings at multiple depths allow BLM to monitor freeze-up and thawing conditions in real time. In addition, sonic depth sounders are collocated with the digital temperature cables at each site along the CWAT. The sonic sounders record an acoustic signal, and a real time snow depth is extrapolated and transmitted daily along with the soil temperature data. Weather and stream gauging stations have been installed at key river crossings to detect and transmit water stage and weather data as well as monitor breakup conditions.
These important data are used to make ongoing management decisions about the condition of travel over the tundra, and to monitor soil, snow, weather, and water parameters over time. Increased resolution and accuracy of real time environmental data allow BLM to evaluate the effectiveness of required operating procedures and stipulations as permitted actions occur.
The Bureau of Land Management is committed to making the best possible land management decisions to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.