Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2024

Blizzard Warning 8, NWS Fairbanks, AK

January 25, 2024North Slope Borough, Alaska

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Jan 25, 2024, 12:30 AM AKST for North Slope Borough, Alaska. It was in force for 24 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 25, 2024, 12:30 AM AKST (09:30 UTC)
Expired
Jan 26, 2024, 12:00 AM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

County North Slope Borough, AK

The nearest sounding before it

Point Barrow, (PBRW), launched 00:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 288 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Point Barrow, at 00:00Z on 2024-01-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Point Barrow, at 00:00Z on 2024-01-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 41 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
696 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
41 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

451 
WWAK41 PAFG 250930
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1230 AM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

AKZ805-260630-
/O.UPG.PAFG.WW.Y.0025.000000T0000Z-240126T0000Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0008.240125T0930Z-240126T0900Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson
1230 AM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Visibility near zero at times. West
  winds gusting to 60 mph. Winds chills to 50 below. 

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight.

* IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow will cause zero visibility at
  times. Snow drifts will form. Wind chills to 50 below zero 
  could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds are expected to decrease late tonight
  with blizzard conditions ending then. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult. 

&&

$$

AKZ804-260600-
/O.EXT.PAFG.WW.Y.0025.000000T0000Z-240126T0600Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, 
and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387
1230 AM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Blowing snow with low visibility. Visibility one half
  mile or less at times. West winds gusting to 45 mph. Wind 
  chills to 50 below. 

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until 9 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce
  visibility. Snow drifts will form. Wind chills to 50 below zero
  could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds are expected to decrease late this
  evening with blowing snow ending then. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling, especially in open areas. 

The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
839 
WWAK41 PAFG 251406
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
506 AM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

AKZ805-260615-
/O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0008.000000T0000Z-240126T0900Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson
506 AM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Visibility near zero at times. 
  West winds gusting to 60 mph. Winds chills to 50 below.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight.

* IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow will cause zero visibility at 
  times. Snow drifts will form. Wind chills to 50 below zero 
  could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 
  minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds are expected to decrease late tonight
  with blizzard conditions ending then. Cold wind chills to 50
  below are expected to last into Friday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult.

&&

$$

AKZ802-803-260615-
/O.NEW.PAFG.WC.Y.0008.240125T1406Z-240127T0000Z/
Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, and Utqiagvik
506 AM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills to 50 below zero.

* WHERE...Northwest Arctic Coast and Northern Arctic Coast.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Friday.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause 
  frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and sustained wind
speeds of 15 mph or more will create low wind chills. Frost bite
and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. 

&&

$$

AKZ804-260600-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0025.000000T0000Z-240126T0600Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, 
and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387
506 AM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Blowing snow with low visibility. Visibility one half 
  mile or less at times. West winds gusting to 45 mph. Wind 
  chills to 50 below.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until 9 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce 
  visibility. Snow drifts will form. Wind chills to 50 below 
  zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 
  minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds are expected to decrease late this 
  evening with blowing snow ending then.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling, especially in open areas.

The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$
000 
WWAK41 PAFG 260013
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
313 PM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

AKZ804-260900-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0025.000000T0000Z-240126T0600Z/
/O.EXA.PAFG.WC.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-240127T0000Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, 
and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387
313 PM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST FRIDAY...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills. Wind chills as low as 50 below 
  zero.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Friday.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite
  on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and sustained wind
speeds of 15 mph or more will create low wind chills. Frost bite
and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. 

&&

$$

AKZ805-260900-
/O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0008.000000T0000Z-240126T0900Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson
313 PM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Visibility near zero at times. West
  winds gusting to 45 mph. Winds chills to 50 below.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight.

* IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow will cause zero visibility at
  times. Snow drifts will form. Wind chills to 50 below zero could
  cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds are expected to decrease late tonight
  with blizzard conditions ending then. Cold wind chills to 50
  below are expected to last into Friday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult. 

The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$

AKZ802-803-260900-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-240127T0000Z/
Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, and Utqiagvik
313 PM AKST Thu Jan 25 2024

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills. Wind chills as low as 50 below 
  zero.

* WHERE...Northwest Arctic Coast and Northern Arctic Coast.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Friday.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause 
  frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and sustained wind
speeds of 15 mph or more will create low wind chills. Frost bite
and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. 

&&

$$
831 
WWAK41 PAFG 260922
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1222 AM AKST Fri Jan 26 2024

AKZ805-270000-
/O.EXP.PAFG.BZ.W.0008.000000T0000Z-240126T0900Z/
/O.EXA.PAFG.WC.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-240127T0000Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson
1222 AM AKST Fri Jan 26 2024

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON...
...BLIZZARD WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills to 55 below zero. West winds
  gusting 30 to 40 mph. Blowing and drifting snow. 

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite
  on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. Blowing snow will
  cause reduced visibility through early Friday morning. Snow
  drifts will form. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds are now gusting 30 to 40 mph and
  will decrease through the day to 15 mph by Friday afternoon.
  Blowing snow is causing limited visibility that will increase by
  Friday morning. As the winds decrease the temperatures will also
  fall, keeping wind chills very cold through Friday afternoon.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and sustained wind
speeds of 15 mph or more will create low wind chills. Frost bite
and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. 

&&

$$

AKZ802-803-270000-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-240127T0000Z/
Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, and Utqiagvik
1222 AM AKST Fri Jan 26 2024

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills to 55 below zero.

* WHERE...Northwest Arctic Coast and Northern Arctic Coast.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite
  on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. Drifting snow will
  continue tonight. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds 20 mph and will decrease through
  the day to 10 mph by Friday afternoon. As the winds decrease 
  the temperatures will also fall, keeping wind chills very cold 
  through Friday afternoon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and sustained wind
speeds of 15 mph or more will create low wind chills. Frost bite
and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken.

&&

$$

AKZ804-270000-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-240127T0000Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, 
and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387
1222 AM AKST Fri Jan 26 2024

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Very cold wind to 50 below zero.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause 
  frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and sustained wind
speeds of 15 mph or more will create low wind chills. Frost bite
and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this blizzard warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this blizzard warning went out at Jan 24, 2:11 PM AKST, 10 hours 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 24, 2:11 PM AKST, 10 hours 19 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
211 PM AKST Wed Jan 24 2024

.SYNOPSIS...Cold Arctic air will remain in place through this week
across much of northern Alaska. Conditions along the North Slope
have generally improved, but light snow, gusty winds, and cold
wind chills will still linger into Thursday for areas generally
from Deadhorse east. Longwave troughing looks to set up over central
and western Alaska over the weekend and looks to persist into
next week. Expect temperatures to moderate some for the Eastern
and Central Interior by next week, but look to remain cold across
the for the Western Interior.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Synoptic Analysis and Forecast...A 474 dam low will continue to
move east over the Arctic while a 543 dam high over the western
Bering Sea continues to retrograde westward. With this setup,
expect west to northwesterly flow to continue aloft for the
majority of the forecast area through Thursday. Upper level
troughing then looks to strengthen over north-central Alaska
Friday and looks to become more of a longwave trough over central
and western Alaska into the weekend. This upper troughing will
bring more southerly flow over the Central and Eastern Interior
and north-northwest flow over the Bering Sea and West Coast into
next week.

At the surface, high pressure generally persists along the Yukon
and the western Bering Sea this afternoon. Weak low pressure in
the eastern Bering Sea will continue to move southeastward today
and dissipate, allowing for the high pressure over the West Bering
to nudge further eastward into the West Coast. Meanwhile, a 993
mb low over the Beaufort Sea continues to weaken and push to the
northeast. Expect gusty winds to continue for areas generally
from Deadhorse east, with gusts to 45 mph possible at times
tonight into Thursday. A strong low pressure system in the Gulf of
Alaska will move northward towards Valdez Friday and through the
weekend. Moisture from this low could bring some increased cloud
cover and snow chances to the Eastern Interior this weekend, which
could help moderate some of the cold temperatures.

Overall, model guidance is in pretty good agreement with the
weather pattern in the short term, though uncertainty still lies
with the snow chances over the weekend. Have trended the precipitation
forecast in the near term towards the NAM and EC for now, which
keep the initial precipitation generally a bit more east of
Fairbanks. With southerly flow aloft, downsloping Chinook winds
from the Alaska Range could result in precipitation holding off a
bit initially for the Eastern Interior. This will be something to
monitor over the next few days.

North Slope and Brooks Range...Cold temperatures and gusty winds
will create wind chills of -50F to -55F through Thursday along the
Central and Eastern Beaufort Sea coast. Winds will pick up again
this evening, gusting to 40 to 50mph at times and could result in
blowing snow and visibilities being reduced down to a half mile
at times. As a result, have maintained the Winter Weather Advisories
for areas generally from Deadhorse east through Thursday afternoon.
Some light flurries may develop this afternoon and evening, but
expect little to no accumulation. Outside of this, dry and cold
weather should persist through the the remainder of the short
term.

Central and Eastern Interior...Cold temperatures are the main
story for the Central and Eastern Interior over the next few days
as Arctic air remains in place. Could see a few flurries and light
snow develop later this afternoon and tonight for areas in and
around Fairbanks as guidance does pick up on some energy swinging
across the area and around the broad upper level low to the
north. No impacts are expected and any accumulation would be a
dusting at best should conditions materialize. Otherwise, expect
cold temperatures to continue into Saturday, with highs generally
expected to be in the -20F to -45F range and lows expected to be
in the -35F to 55F range. The coldest spots could develop some
dense ice fog at times. Heading into the weekend, could see an
influx of moisture work its way into the region from the Southeast
Interior, resulting in more cloud cover and increased chances of
snow. Will have to see how guidance continues to trend in the snow
chances, as downsloping winds off the Alaska Range could
initially hold off on precipitation. For now, have kept chances of
snow in the forecast. Should precipitation and cloud cover make
it into the region, this will help to moderate temperatures some.
Snow does look to develop along the Eastern Alaska range on
Saturday, where roughly 5-10 inches will be possible. Will need to
monitor how guidance trends on this over the next few days as
details will become more refined.

West Coast and Western Interior...Cold temperatures will continue
through the end of the week, especially as the upper level trough
digs along the West Coast over the weekend. Lows in the Western
Interior will generally dip into the -20F to -45F range, though
could see some -50s develop in the coldest valleys by Saturday.
Highs will generally trend in the -15F to -40F range across the
Western Interior. Warmer temperatures are expected for areas near
the water (like the YK Delta and the Seward Peninsula), though
expect to see a gradually cooling trend the next few days. Highs
look to top out between -5F to -15F by Saturday, with lows generally
dipping down between -15F to -25F.

Extended Forecast Days 4-7...Models are in decent agreement with a
longwave trough remaining centered over the Western Interior
Sunday and retrograding to the northwest early next week. This
overall set up would promote a moderation of temperatures for
areas across the Eastern and Central Interior, yet would continue
to promote cold temperatures for the Western Interior and West
Coast. Uncertainty also remains in how far the influx of moisture
from the low in the Gulf of Alaska makes it as just how much
moisture makes it into the Central and Eastern Interior will
depend on the placement of the upper level low and direction of winds.
For now, have maintained the trend of moisture making it into the
Central Interior and for moderating temperatures for the Central
and Eastern Interior for early next week.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ804-805.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ813-859.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ814-860.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ815.
     Gale Warning for PKZ815-861.
&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 25, 5:06 AM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFGNorth Slope55 hr
Jan 25, 5:58 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG9 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2024Every blizzard warning in 2024

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.