In Alaska's harsh and rapidly changing environment, knowledge about weather is critical. As a matter of survival, Alaska Native peoples have developed a base of traditional knowledge about the weather to determine when it is safe to go hunting or spend time on the water. Through careful observations and direct interaction with the environment, Alaska Native peoples recognized patterns in nature and they passed this knowledge down through the generations through an oral tradition of stories and local lore.

Predicting weather is very difficult because the atmosphere involves the complex interaction of many diverse variables. However, observations about the strength and direction of the wind, the smell and feel of the air, and changes in temperature or cloud cover have repeatedly proven to be reliable indicators of future weather conditions. Animal behavior and atmospheric phenomena (such as sun dogs—a halo of light around the Sun produced by tiny ice crystals in cirrus clouds) can also be indicative of changes in weather.

Meteorologists seek to understand and predict the weather using Western science and technology; their observations are gathered with the help of tools such as Doppler radar, satellites, and weather balloons. These technologies allow meteorologists to gather detailed data about the atmosphere over large areas. Computer models consider variables such as air pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, Earth rotation, and absorption or reflection of solar radiation to generate forecasts.

Traditional knowledge about the weather and the tools from Western science each have their strengths and can complement one another. Western scientific tools provide data that can describe weather on a global and regional scale and can provide both short- and long-range forecasts for large areas. Computer models may not be very specific at a local level, but Native knowledge excels at this scale. In Alaska, the general weather forecast can at times preclude flying altogether; however, Native knowledge and observations about local area weather patterns, topography, and environmental conditions provide valuable information to enhance forecasts and make flying possible.

The challenging terrain and harsh, rapidly changing weather contribute to a high rate of accidents in Alaska. In an effort to improve aviation safety in Alaska, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented the Capstone program to improve situational awareness. The program has successfully decreased accident rates with the installation of new cockpit equipment that displays information about terrain, air traffic, and weather updates.

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