Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2025
Blizzard Warning 3, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Jan 17, 2025, 2:00 PM AKST for Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. It was in force for 25 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 17, 2025, 2:00 PM AKST (23:00 UTC)
- Expired
- Jan 18, 2025, 3:00 PM AKST
- In force
- 25 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
County Northwest Arctic Borough, AK
The nearest sounding before it
Kotzebue, (POTZ), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 70 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1619 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 59 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 329 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 393 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
659 WWAK42 PAFG 172300 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 AKZ827-181600- /O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250118T0300Z/ /O.EXA.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ St Lawrence Island- Including Gambell and Savoonga 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST SATURDAY... ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... * WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 30 mph. * WHERE...St Lawrence Island. * WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... Winds weakened below Blizzard criteria, reduced visibility due to blowing snow expected to continue. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling. && $$ AKZ817-181600- /O.UPG.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0003.250117T2300Z-250119T0000Z/ Baldwin Peninsula- Including Kotzebue 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph. * WHERE...Baldwin Peninsula. * WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Falling and blowing snow is expected to significantly reduce visibility leading to very difficult travel conditions. Strong winds may lead to the development of large snow drifts. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. && $$ AKZ822-823-181600- /O.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ Southern Seward Peninsula Coast-Interior Seward Peninsula- Including Nome, White Mountain, Golovin, Serpentine Hot Springs, Council, Haycock, Pilgrim Springs, and Taylor 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow with areas of blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 14 inches. East-southeast winds gusting as high as 40 mph may reduce visibility to 1/2 mile or less at times. * WHERE...Southern Seward Peninsula Coast and Interior Seward Peninsula. * WHEN...From 3 AM Friday to 3 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow is expected to mix with or change over to light rain or drizzle on Saturday into Saturday night. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$ AKZ829-830-181600- /O.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250118T1800Z/ Middle Yukon Valley-Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys- Including Galena, Nulato, Kaltag, Ruby, Koyukuk, Grayling, Holy Cross, Shageluk, and Anvik 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, highest near the Nulato Hills. * WHERE...Middle Yukon Valley and Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys. * WHEN...From 3 AM Friday to 9 AM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$ AKZ813-814-816-818-819-181600- /O.EXT.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0600Z/ South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range-Noatak Valley- Lower Kobuk Valley-Northern Seward Peninsula-Upper Kobuk Valleys- Including Walker Lake, Noatak, Red Dog Mine, Noorvik, Selawik, Kiana, Deering, Buckland, Candle, Ambler, Shungnak, and Kobuk 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range and Noatak Valley. * WHEN...Until 9 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Large snow drifts may develop. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Periods of Blizzard like conditions possible, but are not expected to long lasting. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ AKZ820-821-181600- /O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ Shishmaref-Bering Strait Coast- Including Shishmaref, Diomede, Wales, Brevig Mission, and Teller 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will reduce visibility to 1/2 mile or less. * WHERE...Shishmaref and Bering Strait Coast. * WHEN...From 3 AM Friday to 3 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ AKZ824-181600- /O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills- Including Unalakleet, Stebbins, St Michael, Elim, Koyuk, and Shaktoolik 200 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches except up to 8 inches near Elim and the Nulato Hills. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph will reduce visibility to 1/2 mile or less. * WHERE...Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills. * WHEN...From 3 AM Friday to 3 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow is expected to mix with or change over to light rain or drizzle on Saturday into Saturday night. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$
2 follow-up statements
734 WWAK42 PAFG 181234 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 334 AM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 AKZ830-181345- /O.CAN.PAFG.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250118T1800Z/ Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys- Including Grayling, Holy Cross, Shageluk, and Anvik 334 AM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED... $$ AKZ820-821-824-827-181345- /O.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ Shishmaref-Bering Strait Coast- Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills-St Lawrence Island- Including Shishmaref, Diomede, Wales, Brevig Mission, Teller, Unalakleet, Stebbins, St Michael, Elim, Koyuk, Shaktoolik, Gambell, and Savoonga 334 AM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... $$ AKZ829-190000- /O.EXT.PAFG.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250119T0600Z/ Middle Yukon Valley- Including Galena, Nulato, Kaltag, Ruby, and Koyukuk 334 AM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Periods of heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of up to 7 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Nulato Hills including Kaltag and Nulato. * WHEN...Until 9 PM AKST this evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$ AKZ817-190000- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ Baldwin Peninsula- Including Kotzebue 334 AM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of up to two inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Baldwin Peninsula. * WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. 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. && $$ AKZ822-823-190000- /O.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ Southern Seward Peninsula Coast-Interior Seward Peninsula- Including Nome, White Mountain, Golovin, Serpentine Hot Springs, Council, Haycock, Pilgrim Springs, and Taylor 334 AM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Periods of heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Southern Seward Peninsula Coast and Interior Seward Peninsula. * WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow may change over to rain along coastal areas this morning. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$ AKZ813-814-816-818-819-190000- /O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0600Z/ South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range-Noatak Valley- Lower Kobuk Valley-Northern Seward Peninsula-Upper Kobuk Valleys- Including Walker Lake, Noatak, Red Dog Mine, Noorvik, Selawik, Kiana, Deering, Buckland, Candle, Ambler, Shungnak, and Kobuk 334 AM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of up to 11 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. * WHERE...South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range, Noatak Valley, Lower Kobuk Valley, Northern Seward Peninsula and Upper Kobuk Valleys. * WHEN...Until 9 PM AKST this evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Periods of near blizzard conditions possible, but are not expected to be long lasting. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$
364 WWAK42 PAFG 182359 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 259 PM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 AKZ829-190100- /O.CAN.PAFG.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250119T0600Z/ Middle Yukon Valley- Including Galena, Nulato, Kaltag, Ruby, and Koyukuk 259 PM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED... Conditions have improved. $$ AKZ817-191600- /O.EXP.PAFG.BZ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ /O.EXB.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.250119T0000Z-250120T0000Z/ Baldwin Peninsula- Including Kotzebue 259 PM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST SUNDAY... ...BLIZZARD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Kotzebue. * WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ AKZ822-823-191600- /O.EXP.PAFG.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250119T0000Z/ /O.EXB.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.250119T0000Z-250119T1800Z/ Southern Seward Peninsula Coast-Interior Seward Peninsula- Including Nome, White Mountain, Golovin, Serpentine Hot Springs, Council, Haycock, Pilgrim Springs, and Taylor 259 PM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST SUNDAY... ...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Additional snow accumulations of up to 6 inches through Sunday morning. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. * WHERE...Southern Seward Peninsula Coast and Interior Seward Peninsula. * WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ AKZ816-818-190100- /O.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0600Z/ Lower Kobuk Valley-Northern Seward Peninsula- Including Noorvik, Selawik, Kiana, Deering, Buckland, and Candle 259 PM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... Conditions have improved. $$ AKZ813-814-819-190600- /O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-250119T0600Z/ South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range-Noatak Valley- Upper Kobuk Valleys- Including Walker Lake, Noatak, Red Dog Mine, Ambler, Shungnak, and Kobuk 259 PM AKST Sat Jan 18 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow. Additional snow accumulations of up to 3 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. * WHERE...South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range, Noatak Valley and Upper Kobuk Valleys. * WHEN...Until 9 PM AKST this evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$
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 17, 1:36 PM AKST, 24 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 17, 1:36 PM AKST, 24 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
136 PM AKST Fri Jan 17 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
West Coast Storminess continues through the weekend. The heaviest
snowfall is expected along south facing slopes of the Nulato
Hills, western Brooks Range, and south Seward Peninsula with an
additional foot or more expected. Temperatures rise through the
weekend for the Interior and North Slope.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Key Weather Messages:
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Temperatures warm now through the weekend as southerly flow and
additional cloud cover moves over the region. High temperatures
generally in the teens and 20s by Sunday.
- The Tanana Valley Jet is currently blowing with winds gusting
through Delta Junction up to 40 mph and through Nenana up to 30
mph. The jet is expected to last through the weekend with gusts
at Delta Junction peaking near 50mph.
- Strong southerly winds through the Alaska Range passes through
this weekend. The strongest winds will be Saturday with gusts up
to 65mph possible. Winds weaken Sunday.
West Coast and Western Interior...
- Heavy snowfall continues along the West Coast and parts of the
Western Interior. The heaviest snow will fall on south facing
slopes of the Nulato Hills, south Seward Peninsula, and western
Brooks Range. These areas will see a foot or more of snowfall
through the weekend.
- Strong easterly winds are currently flowing through the Norton
sound and from the Kobuk Valley through the Kotzebue Sound with
gusts up to 45 mph. These winds will shift southeasterly
Saturday AM and weaken overnight Saturday into Sunday.
- Blizzard conditions are expected to continue for St Lawrence
Island into this afternoon. Winds weaken and shift easterly this
afternoon, but additional snow accumulations of up to 5 inches
are possible through Sunday AM. Visibility restrictions may
continue overnight as easterly winds transport blowable snow
into Gambell and Savoonga from the ice pack.
- Snow shifts to snow/rain mix in the Y-K Delta today as
temperatures increase. Rain or a rain/snow mix is expected to
continue there until Sunday when conditions shift back to mostly
snow. There is a chance that a rain snow mix reaches as far
north of Nome Saturday afternoon.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
- Southerly flow over the Brooks Range will increase high
temperatures to the mid 20s for the Arctic Plains and Arctic
Coast Saturday and Sunday.
- The south slopes of the Western Brooks Range, north of the Kobuk
Valley will see an additional foot of snow through the weekend.
- Point Hope will see snow showers through the weekend with
accumulations of 4 to 6 inches. As winds shift southeasterly
Saturday there may be periods of reduced visibility from blowing
snow. Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible through Sunday PM.
- Atigun Pass and Anaktuvuk Pass will see southerly winds up to 40
mph this weekend. Periods of blowing snow are
Extended Forecast Days 4-8...
- Warmer than normal temperatures continue into next week.
- A low pressure system moving into Bristol Bay Tuesday night will
bring light snow to much of the Interior by Thursday.
- A stronger low moves into the Bering Sea Thursday and towards
the West Coast Friday. There is much uncertainty as to exactly
where, when, and how strong this low will be, but it will likely
be stronger than the Tuesday night to Thursday system.
Forecast Analysis and Confidence...
A weakening 980 surface low about 100 miles west of St Matthew
Island is providing snow and easterly winds to the West Coast
today. A 977 surface low near Unalaska weakens as it moves north
overnight and joins with the St Matthew Low as a 985 low pressure
area near St Matthew Island. A shortwave feature rotating around
this low pressure area moves into the Chukchi sea and closes off
as a more distinct surface low Saturday night. This Chukchi Sea
low will shift the wind direction over the west coast to mostly
southeasterly and begin to pull the remainder of the energy of the
low pressure area further north.
A 988mb surface low moves into Bristol Bay early Sunday morning
and then to the YK Delta by Sunday afternoon. This will provide
additional precipitation to the West Coast through Sunday. Between
these lows dry air aloft will move across the west coast and
limit snow development Saturday evening from Nome south. Saturday
evening through Sunday morning will see the largest area of rain
or rain/snow mix due to the limited snow growth.
Sunday night a high pressure region in eastern Siberia shifts
east into the Bering Sea which will push the remnants of the west
coast lows to the north east and weaken them. As this moves to the
northeast much of the remaining moisture will fall as snow in the
southwestern Brooks Range with some managing to reach the North
Slope as light snow Monday.
A 990 low will move into Bristol Bay Tuesday and will bring snow
to much of the Interior through Thursday.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Wind Advisory for AKZ847-849.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ813-814-816-818-819.
Blizzard Warning for AKZ817.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ820-821-824.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ822-823.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ829-830.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ808.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801>803-811-816-817-850-853-854-857.
Gale Warning for PKZ804-805-851-852.
Gale Warning for PKZ806.
Gale Warning for PKZ807-808.
Gale Warning for PKZ809-855.
Gale Warning for PKZ810-856.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ813.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ858.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ859.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ861.
&&
StokesThe office that day
Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17, 6:29 AM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFG | North Slope | 29 hr |
| Jan 17, 2:25 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 14 hr | |
| Jan 17, 2:25 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFG | 37 hr |
Nearby
Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2025Every blizzard warning in 2025
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.