Polar Night Begins in Utqiagvik, Alaska: Sun Won’t Rise for 64 Days
Utqiagvik, Alaska, November 21, 2025 – Residents of Utqiagvik, America’s northernmost city, have seen their last sunrise of the year. The Arctic town, located about 500 miles northwest of Fairbanks and home to roughly 4,400 people, has entered Polar Night, a natural phenomenon where the Sun does not rise above the horizon. Utqiagvik will remain in this state until January 22, 2026.
While the city won’t see the Sun for the next 64 days, it will not be in complete darkness. Instead, locals will experience civil twilight—a pale blue light visible before dawn—providing some illumination during the long Arctic night.
Extreme Cold and the Polar Vortex
Without sunlight and daytime warming, temperatures in Utqiagvik drop sharply during Polar Night. This seasonal darkness contributes to the formation of the Polar Vortex, a low-pressure system in the stratosphere containing frigid Arctic air. Occasionally, this icy air spills south, affecting weather across the contiguous United States.
Despite the long, dark winters, Utqiagvik experiences the opposite extreme during summer, enjoying nearly three months of continuous sunlight, sometimes referred to as the “Midnight Sun.”
Life in the Arctic Circle
Utqiagvik’s rich history includes archaeological sites dating back to 500 CE, and the city also boasts America’s northernmost high school football team, which plays under near-continuous sunlight during the summer season.
As the Polar Night begins, residents brace for the long, cold stretch of darkness, a unique natural rhythm of life in the Arctic Circle.
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