Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2025

Blizzard Warning 37, NWS Fairbanks, AK

December 30, 2025North Slope Borough, Alaska

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Dec 30, 2025, 10:33 PM AKST for North Slope Borough, Alaska. It took effect at Dec 31, 2025, 1:50 PM AKST. It was in force for 19 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
Dec 30, 2025, 10:33 PM AKST (07:33 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 31, 2025, 1:50 PM AKST
Expired
Jan 1, 2026, 8:52 AM AKST
In force
19 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

County North Slope Borough, AK

The nearest sounding before it

Point Barrow, (PBRW), launched 00:00Z, 7.6 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 2025-12-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 2025-12-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 31 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
458 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
31 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-12 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

974 
WWAK41 PAFG 310733
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1033 PM AKST Tue Dec 30 2025

AKZ805-010100-
/O.UPG.PAFG.WS.A.0034.260101T0300Z-260102T0000Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0037.260101T0300Z-260102T0600Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including the cities of Point Thomson, Flaxman Island, and
Kaktovik
1033 PM AKST Tue Dec 30 2025

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 9 PM AKST 
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations up 
  to one inch possible. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...From 6 PM Wednesday to 9 PM AKST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and 
  blowing snow. Plan on difficult travel conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

&&

$$

AKZ804-808-809-010100-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0094.251231T1800Z-260101T1800Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-Central Arctic Plains-Central Brooks
Range-
Including the cities of Atigun Pass, Anaktuvuk Pass, Deadhorse,
the Dalton Highway from MP 322 to MP 387, Franklin Bluffs, the
Dalton Highway from MP 232 to MP 322, Kuparuk, Galbraith Lake,
Alpine, Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, the Dalton Highway north of MP 387,
and Sagwon
1033 PM AKST Tue Dec 30 2025

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM WEDNESDAY TO 
9 AM AKST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations up 
  to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph with visibility down 
  to one-half mile at times.

* WHERE...Central Arctic Plains, Central Beaufort Sea Coast, and 
  Central Brooks Range.

* WHEN...From 9 AM Wednesday to 9 AM AKST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Wind gusts up to 35 
  mph can result in visibility to one-half mile or less at times 
  from Wednesday to Thursday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road 
conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by 
calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
120 
WWAK41 PAFG 311745
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
845 AM AKST Wed Dec 31 2025

AKZ805-010100-
/O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0037.260101T0300Z-260102T0600Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including the cities of Point Thomson, Flaxman Island, and
Kaktovik
845 AM AKST Wed Dec 31 2025

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM 
AKST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations up 
  to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 9 PM AKST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and 
  blowing snow. Plan on difficult travel conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

&&

$$

AKZ804-808-809-010100-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0094.251231T1800Z-260101T1800Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-Central Arctic Plains-Central Brooks
Range-
Including the cities of the Dalton Highway from MP 232 to MP 322,
Sagwon, Deadhorse, Anaktuvuk Pass, Franklin Bluffs, Galbraith
Lake, Kuparuk, Nuiqsut, the Dalton Highway from MP 322 to MP 387,
Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Atigun Pass, and the Dalton Highway north of
MP 387
845 AM AKST Wed Dec 31 2025

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST 
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow. Total snow accumulations up to two 
  inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph with visibility down to 
  one-half mile at times.

* WHERE...Central Arctic Plains, Central Beaufort Sea Coast, and 
  Central Brooks Range.

* WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Wind gusts up to 35 
  mph can result in visibility to one-half mile or less at times 
  from Wednesday to Thursday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road 
conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1 or by visiting 
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$
901 
WWAK41 PAFG 312250
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
150 PM AKST Wed Dec 31 2025

AKZ805-011800-
/O.EXT.PAFG.BZ.W.0037.251231T2250Z-260102T0600Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including the cities of Point Thomson, Flaxman Island, and
Kaktovik
150 PM AKST Wed Dec 31 2025

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Total snow accumulations up to one 
  inch. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until 9 PM AKST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Wind gusts up to 50 mph can result in visibility to 1/4 
  mile or less at times. Plan on difficult travel conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

&&

$$

AKZ804-808-809-011800-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0094.000000T0000Z-260101T1800Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-Central Arctic Plains-Central Brooks
Range-
Including the cities of the Dalton Highway from MP 232 to MP 322,
Sagwon, Deadhorse, Anaktuvuk Pass, Franklin Bluffs, Galbraith
Lake, Kuparuk, Nuiqsut, the Dalton Highway from MP 322 to MP 387,
Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Atigun Pass, and the Dalton Highway north of
MP 387
150 PM AKST Wed Dec 31 2025

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST 
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow. Additional snow accumulations up to 
  one inch. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE...Central Arctic Plains, Central Beaufort Sea Coast, and 
  Central Brooks Range.

* WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Wind gusts up to 40 mph can result in visibility to 1/2 
  mile or less at times. Plan on difficult travel conditions, 
  especially over Atigun Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road 
conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1 or by visiting 
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$
516 
WWAK41 PAFG 011303
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
403 AM AKST Thu Jan 1 2026

AKZ804-808-809-011415-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0094.000000T0000Z-260101T1800Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-Central Arctic Plains-Central Brooks
Range-
Including the cities of Galbraith Lake, Prudhoe Bay, Atigun Pass,
Alpine, Franklin Bluffs, Kuparuk, Nuiqsut, the Dalton Highway
north of MP 387, the Dalton Highway from MP 232 to MP 322,
Deadhorse, Sagwon, Anaktuvuk Pass, and the Dalton Highway from MP
322 to MP 387
403 AM AKST Thu Jan 1 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

The threat has ended.

$$

AKZ805-011815-
/O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0037.000000T0000Z-260102T0600Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including the cities of Kaktovik, Point Thomson, and Flaxman
Island
403 AM AKST Thu Jan 1 2026

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Total snow accumulations up to one 
  inch. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

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

* IMPACTS...Wind gusts up to 50 mph can result in visibility to 1/4 
  mile or less at times. Plan on difficult travel conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling.

&&

$$
907 
WWAK41 PAFG 011752
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
852 AM AKST Thu Jan 1 2026

AKZ805-011900-
/O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0037.000000T0000Z-260102T0600Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including the cities of Kaktovik, Point Thomson, and Flaxman
Island
852 AM AKST Thu Jan 1 2026

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The threat has ended.

$$

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 Dec 30, 1:59 PM AKST, 8 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 30, 1:59 PM AKST, 8 hours 34 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
159 PM AKST Tue Dec 30 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Snow and wind on the West Coast with near blizzard conditions in
Wales will be ending this afternoon as a front moves through.
Light snow is expected across most of the West Coast with
accumulations around 1 to 2 inches. The Interior has some cloud
cover south and east of Fairbanks resulting in milder temperatures
in the upper Tanana and very cold temperatures persisting
north/west. The North Slope will see some light snow today and
tomorrow with increasing winds tomorrow afternoon. Blizzard or
near blizzard conditions will be possible from the south side of
Atigun Pass to Deadhorse and Kaktovik.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Persistent cold weather in the Interior will keep temperatures
  well below normal for the foreseeable future.

- Widespread 30s/40s below or colder where there are clear skies.

- Most cloud cover moves northeast by this weekend leaving much of
  the Interior clear and calm.
	- Most extreme temperatures will be in the Eastern Interior
   Valleys where temperatures near 60 below zero will be possible.
	- Central Interior Temperatures may get near 50F below zero or
   colder.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- Snow and gusty wind today in the Bering Strait with mostly light
  snow and light winds along the rest of the coast.
	- 1 to 2 inches of snow expected.
	- Low visibility to 1/2 mile in the Bering Strait through the
   afternoon.

- Gradually dropping temperatures tonight through the end of the
  week with temperatures in the teens/20s below zero along the
  coast and widespread 40s below zero in the Interior Valleys.

North Slope and Brooks Range..
- Light snow and flurries from the northern slopes of the Brooks
  Range to the Arctic Coast today and tomorrow.
	- Snow accumulations around 1 inch or less.

- Wind increases with northerly winds through Atigun and Anaktuvuk
  Passes around 35 mph tomorrow morning through Thursday morning.

- Wind in Kaktovik will also increase Wednesday evening and
  continue through Thursday afternoon with gusts to 50 mph.

- Blowing snow is likely to occur with visibility 1/2 mile along
  the Dalton Highway and 1/4 mile in Kaktovik.
	- Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Watches are issued.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
The Omega block continues in the North Pacific with an area of
lower pressure stations from the Western Aleutians to Japan, ridge
over the Central Aleutians and low over the Gulf. This pattern has
been nearly stationary for 2+ weeks with no signs of changing too
much this week. A cold pattern across most of the state will only
get colder as we head into the weekend.

Prior to this though, the trough over the Gulf and Eastern Alaska
will interact with a high over the Arctic, resulting in breezy
west winds across the North Slope and Brooks Range. This will
cause blowing and drifting snow tomorrow through Thursday, mostly
from the Dalton Highway eastward. Farther southwest along the West
Coast and in the Western Interior, temperatures will continue to
drop beginning tonight with well below zero temperatures expected
from the coast to the Interior. While the coldest air will be in
the Western Interior Valleys, light northerly winds will likely
reside along the coast, and perhaps bring very cold wind chills,
as low as 60F below zero at times. However, the coldest ambient
temperatures will be in the Western Interior, which will range
from 30F to 50F below zero range.

Across the Central and Eastern Interior, 850mb temperatures will
be around 20C to 30C below zero which will support surface
temperatures around 40F to 50F below zero. There will be chances
for colder, especially in the Eastern Interior Valleys where
850mb temperatures are closer to 30C below zero. By this weekend,
we could be looking at the coldest air of the season for many
spots in the Interior.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
For Saturday through next Tuesday.
At the start of the extended forecast period, Saturday, broad
troughing will be reasserting with strong northwest flow expected
in the Interior from the Chukchi Sea. Temperatures well below 0
are expected for the entire region with many Interior valleys
seeing temperatures in the 30s to possibly even as cold as the
60 below zero. Some sparse cloud cover may provide some brief
warming across small portions of the Interior, but the timing and
placement of this cloud cover is very unpredictable.

There is a chance for some more notable warming late in the
period, as early as next Tuesday as another system moves through
the pattern potentially bringing some warmer and wetter air over
the region. Should this occur some light snow is expected along
with rising temperatures, but confidence is still far too low at
this time to give any particular qualitative or quantitative
details.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Cold Weather Advisory for AKZ811.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ804-808-809.
     Winter Storm Watch for AKZ805.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ805.
     Gale Warning for PKZ806.
     Gale Warning for PKZ807-854-856.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ808-809-855.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816-817-851.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ816.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ817-851-854.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ850.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ853.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ857.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ861.
&&

Bianco

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 30, 3:48 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG26 hr
Dec 30, 5:41 PM AKSTCold Weather AdvisoryAFGDenali, Fairbanks North Star, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area6 days
Dec 30, 9:07 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFGNome Census Area86 min
Dec 30, 10:33 PM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFGNome Census Area10 hr
Dec 31, 3:45 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG14 hr
Dec 31, 3:45 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG14 hr
Dec 31, 3:46 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG14 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.