Shivering solstice: Record cold, high winds don’t keep Juneau from heading out during shortest days of year
- Mark Sabbatini
- Dec 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Temperatures well below zero in Mendenhall Valley, winds up to 75 mph in downtown and Douglas forecast during weekend
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
Adult runners were sinking in snow to their knees, the temperature was barely above 10°F and occasional sudden wind gusts topping 60 miles an hour were strong enough to knock people over. That might explain how Finn Taintor, 9, claimed first prize for the "one-mile" course of the second annual Solstice Sweater Shuffle on Saturday morning.
"I found a strategy with moving your feet really fast so that you could jump through the snow without sinking into it," he said while taking refuge in the cabin shelter at Sandy Beach after the race. He was wearing a Gingerbread Running Team ("You can’t catch me!") fleece jacket, in keeping with the theme of the event that saw most other participants also clad in holiday-themed sweaters and other attire.
The race in Douglas that started at 10 a.m. was part of a full weekend of outdoor holiday and winter solstice events, which are occurring despite record-cold temperatures well below zero in some parts of Juneau and winds gusting up to 75 mph forecast between 3 a.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service Juneau.
But the forecast notes the coldest temperatures are expected in the Mendenhall Valley, and the highest winds downtown and in Douglas, so while predicted wind chills of minus 15°F are expected citywide the impacts will be felt differently.
The Solstice Sweater Shuffle might have been the coldest event ever hosted by Juneau Trail and Road Runners, co-organizer Quinn Tracy told the 48 participants before the race that officially had one-mile and 5K courses. But the mile race was shortened to just a section passing through a tree-lined portion of the Treadwell Mine Historic Trail — thus avoiding open-air exposure — after he conducted an impromptu poll of participants during the briefing.
"The number-one goal is to, like, not get frostbite," he said. "We don't want anyone hurt. So if you need to bail, then bail."
The winner of the 5K race, Ian Novak, wore five upper layers — including his only Christmas sweater — which he said helped keep him going on a course with a lot of exposed sections. He said he’s skied in similarly cold conditions, but this is his first running race in such weather.
"The ice was good," he said about the conditions of the running surface. "They were patches with no ice that we could stay on. But this snowy stuff was harder."
Plenty of other people were outside under nearly cloudless skies on Saturday, including people clearing rink space on the ice at Twin Lakes. Some people also ventured out on the ice on Mendenhall Lake — although officials have said there is always a risk in doing so and a warning was posted on Facebook on Friday based an assessment conducted on Wednesday by the Nordic Ski Club on the west side of the lake.
"Three holes were bored and results revealed 5.5 inches of ice and 12 inches of snow," the post notes. "The first 4 inches of ice was very soft and weak followed by 1.5 inches of very hard ice. In this condition the Lake is not ready for Grooming by the Nordic Ski Club."
The ski club is hosting a Light the Night winter solstice gathering from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at the Mendenhall Glacier Campground.
Also occurring this weekend is Capital City Fire/Rescue’s annual Santa Run, on an adjusted schedule due to weather conditions. Santa and his escort of fire trucks made stops at four schools in the Mendenhall Valley on Friday evening, and is scheduled to make stops in downtown and Douglas between 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday.
A record-low temperature of minus 6°F was recorded Friday at Juneau International Airport, beating the previous record of minus 3°F set in 1980, according to NWS Juneau.
"We are already on track to set another record low temperature for the Juneau Airport today," a forecast issued at about 9 a.m. Saturday notes. "The Mendenhall Valley is also seeing temperatures of -10 F to -15 F this morning. Continue to dress appropriately for this cold, and limit time outdoors if possible."
An update posted at NWS Juneau’s Facebook page states the cold, dry conditions will likely continue at least until the middle of next week before possibly warming up — with some snow possible — starting on Christmas Day.
"But for now through Wednesday, expect dry and dangerously cold wind chills with areas of strong wind," the update notes. "This includes a strong Taku Wind event expected for downtown Juneau, south Douglas Island, and Thane Saturday night through Sunday night. Wind gusts upwards of 65 to 75 mph are possible for these areas. Thursday could be our transition day with clouds increasing and snow chances ramping up. Friday into the weekend, there is some potential for heavy snow accumulations."
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
More photos from the second annual Solstice Sweater Shuffle
(All by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)
