So, you're wondering if Alaska is basically a giant, frozen cave at this exact moment. It’s a classic question. Honestly, the answer depends entirely on which part of the 586,000 square miles you’re standing on. Right now, on January 16, 2026, the state is caught in a wild transition.
The short version? It's not nearly as dark as it was three weeks ago. We've officially passed the winter solstice, and the "Great Gain" is in full swing.
In Anchorage, the sun came up around 9:56 AM today. It’ll dip back down at 4:22 PM. That’s about six and a half hours of true daylight. If you’re used to Florida or California, that probably sounds depressing. But for Alaskans? That’s a victory lap. We’re gaining over four minutes of light every single day right now. By next week, the days will feel significantly longer.
The Reality of the Polar Night in Utqiaġvik
If you go way up north to Utqiaġvik (you might know it as Barrow), the answer is a hard yes. It is dark. Very dark.
Utqiaġvik is currently in the tail end of its Polar Night. The sun set there back on November 18, 2025, and it hasn't peeked over the horizon since. Imagine two months without a single sunrise. It sounds like a sci-fi movie, but it’s just life at 71 degrees north.
But even there, it’s not "pitch black" 24/7.
Around midday, the sun gets close enough to the horizon to create what’s called civil twilight. It’s a deep, surreal blue glow. It looks like the world is stuck in that moment just after the sun goes down but before you need to turn your high beams on. The residents will finally see the sun again on January 22, 2026. They are just six days away from the end of the long dark.
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Fairbanks and the Interior: The Golden Twilight
Fairbanks is a different beast. Being further south than Utqiaġvik but north of Anchorage, it’s currently getting about five and a half hours of daylight.
Sunrise was roughly 10:23 AM and sunset hits at 3:35 PM.
The cool thing about Fairbanks in January is the quality of the light. Because the sun stays so low on the horizon, the entire "day" is basically one long, extended golden hour. Everything looks pink and orange. If you’re a photographer, this is actually the best time to be there, despite the -20°F temperatures.
Why January 16th is a Turning Point
Most people think the darkness stays the same all winter. It doesn't.
Alaska is currently "gaining" daylight faster than almost anywhere else on Earth. While a city like Miami might only gain a few seconds of light today, Anchorage is gaining over four minutes. Fairbanks is gaining over five minutes.
- Anchorage: ~6 hours 26 minutes of light.
- Fairbanks: ~5 hours 12 minutes of light.
- Juneau: ~7 hours 14 minutes of light.
- Utqiaġvik: 0 hours (Sun returns Jan 22).
It’s a rush. You can actually feel the difference from Monday to Friday. It’s like the world is waking up from a long, cold nap.
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The "False Dark" and Civil Twilight
One thing that confuses travelers is the difference between "sunlight" and "light."
In the Lower 48, when the sun sets, it gets dark pretty fast. In Alaska, the sun sets at a very shallow angle. This means civil twilight—the time when you can still see clearly enough to do stuff outside—lasts much longer.
Today in Anchorage, civil twilight started at 9:00 AM and won't end until 5:18 PM. So, while the "sun" is only up for six hours, you’ve actually got over eight hours of usable light. You could go for a hike or clear your driveway without a headlamp for a decent chunk of the day.
How Alaskans Handle the "Dark" Right Now
People always ask, "How do you not go crazy?"
Honestly? You lean into it. Right now, the darkness is actually a benefit for one specific reason: the Aurora Borealis.
January 16, 2026, is actually looking like a great night for northern lights. Because the nights are still long and the sky is often clear in the interior, the "dark" becomes a canvas. Many locals use "Happy Lamps" (SAD lamps) to mimic 10,000 lux of sunlight during breakfast, but by the time 10:00 AM rolls around, they’re out skiing or fat-biking in the twilight.
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It’s about a mindset shift. You don't stay inside and wait for summer. You buy better gear and go out anyway.
Practical Tips for Tracking Alaska’s Light
If you're planning a trip or just checking in on a friend, don't just look at the "hours of daylight" on a weather app. It doesn't tell the whole story.
Check the Solar Noon altitude. Today in Anchorage, the sun only reaches about 8 degrees above the horizon at its highest point. That’s low. It means the sun is constantly in your eyes while driving, and shadows are incredibly long all day.
Also, look at the moon phase. We are currently coming off a New Moon from yesterday, so the skies are exceptionally dark at night. This is perfect for stargazing or seeing the Aurora if the solar activity is high. If there were a Full Moon, the snow would reflect so much light that you could almost walk through the woods at midnight without a flashlight.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most accurate picture of what's happening on the ground in Alaska right now, follow these steps:
- Check the "Daylight Gain": Use a tool like Time and Date to see exactly how many minutes your specific Alaska destination is gaining today. It'll give you a sense of the momentum.
- Monitor the Kp-Index: Since it’s dark enough for the Aurora, check the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Geophysical Institute forecast. A Kp of 3 or higher means you should be looking up.
- Watch a Live Cam: Look up the "Anchorage Downtown Cam" or the "University of Alaska Fairbanks" webcam. It’s the best way to see the actual "quality" of the light in real-time.
- Plan for "The Gain": If you’re visiting, aim for late February or March. You’ll get the snow and the Aurora, but you’ll also have 10-12 hours of light to actually see the mountains.
Alaska isn't just dark; it's a sliding scale that's moving toward the light faster every single day.