Utqiagvik, Alaska, Enters 65-Day Period of Continuous Darkness

Utqiagvik, Alaska, the northernmost municipality in the United States, officially commenced its annual Polar Night on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, following the final sunrise of the calendar year. This event initiates a period lasting approximately 65 days during which the sun remains continuously below the horizon. The last direct sunlight on that concluding day was observed around 1:38 p.m. local time, preceded by only 45 to 52 minutes of total daylight. Projections indicate that the community will not experience the next sunrise until January 22, 2026.

The town, which officially changed its name from Barrow on December 1, 2016, is situated between 300 and 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle. This extreme geographical positioning dictates the pronounced seasonal light variations. The sustained absence of direct solar radiation is a direct consequence of the Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt, causing the Northern Hemisphere to lean away from the sun during the winter months.

Despite the cessation of direct sunlight, the nearly 4,400 inhabitants will not face absolute blackness. The period is punctuated by several hours of civil twilight daily, which manifests as a pale blue luminescence near the southern horizon. Additional natural light sources include the moon and the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. This lack of solar input correlates with severe environmental conditions, as temperatures in Utqiagvik frequently drop to between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore, the sustained lack of solar radiation contributes to the intensification of the Polar Vortex, a significant low-pressure system in the stratosphere. Perturbations within this vortex can sometimes expel frigid Arctic air southward, influencing weather patterns across the continental United States. This extended period of darkness contrasts sharply with the summer's Midnight Sun, which provides continuous daylight for nearly three months, supporting local activities.

The community adapts to the Polar Night by relying on artificial illumination and adjusting routines, reflecting the long-standing resilience of the Iñupiaq people who have inhabited the area for an estimated 1,500 years. For context, more northerly locations experience longer periods without light; for example, Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard, Norway, faces an 84-day stretch without even civil twilight. The structure of twilight in Utqiagvik will shift significantly, with civil twilight lasting approximately three hours on the winter solstice, December 21, 2025, and increasing to around six hours by the end of the Polar Night period leading up to the sun's return in late January.