Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2025
Blizzard Warning 6, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Jan 28, 2025, 1:45 PM AKST for North Slope Borough, Alaska. It took effect at Jan 29, 2025, 12:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 32 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 28, 2025, 1:45 PM AKST (22:45 UTC)
- In effect from
- Jan 29, 2025, 12:00 PM AKST
- Expired
- Jan 30, 2025, 7:34 PM AKST
- In force
- 32 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
County North Slope Borough, AK
The nearest sounding before it
Point Barrow, (PBRW), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 582 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 5 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 2 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -40 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
500 WWAK41 PAFG 282245 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 145 PM AKST Tue Jan 28 2025 AKZ805-291500- /O.UPG.PAFG.WS.A.0010.250129T2100Z-250131T1800Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.250129T2100Z-250131T1800Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 145 PM AKST Tue Jan 28 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...From noon Wednesday to 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Blowing snow will result in visibility to 1/4 mile or less at times. 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. && $$
5 follow-up statements
249 WWAK41 PAFG 290959 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 1259 AM AKST Wed Jan 29 2025 AKZ805-300300- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.250129T2100Z-250131T1800Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 1259 AM AKST Wed Jan 29 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...From noon Wednesday to 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && $$
529 WWAK41 PAFG 292335 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 235 PM AKST Wed Jan 29 2025 AKZ805-301600- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-250131T1800Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 235 PM AKST Wed Jan 29 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Travel will be very difficult. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. 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. && $$
016 WWAK41 PAFG 301346 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 446 AM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 AKZ805-310000- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-250131T1800Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 446 AM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Travel will be very difficult. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && $$ AKZ801-310000- /O.NEW.PAFG.WS.A.0014.250201T1200Z-250202T0000Z/ Western Arctic Coast- Including Point Hope, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne 446 AM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Visibility * WHERE...Western Arctic Coast. * WHEN...From late Friday night through Saturday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. && $$
491 WWAK41 PAFG 302249 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 149 PM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 AKZ805-311600- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-250131T1800Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 149 PM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Travel will be very difficult. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 60 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. && $$ AKZ801-311600- /O.UPG.PAFG.WS.A.0014.250201T1200Z-250202T0000Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.WW.Y.0025.250201T1200Z-250202T0000Z/ Western Arctic Coast- Including Point Hope, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne 149 PM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 3 PM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph may reduce visibility to one half mile or less at times. * WHERE...Western Arctic Coast. * WHEN...From 3 AM to 3 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Travel will be very difficult. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$
975 WWAK41 PAFG 310434 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 734 PM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 AKZ805-310545- /O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-250131T1800Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 734 PM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... Wind will still gust to 35 mph at times, with visibility lowered, but the overall trend will be improving conditions tonight. $$ AKZ801-311500- /O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0025.250201T1200Z-250202T0000Z/ Western Arctic Coast- Including Point Hope, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne 734 PM AKST Thu Jan 30 2025 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 3 PM AKST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph may reduce visibility to one half mile or less at times. * WHERE...Western Arctic Coast. * WHEN...From 3 AM to 3 PM AKST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Travel will be very difficult. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && $$
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 28, 1:36 PM AKST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 28, 1:36 PM AKST, 9 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
136 PM AKST Tue Jan 28 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
We're entering a much quieter period of weather overall with
minimal hazards expected. The main trend this week will be cooling
temperatures. However, there will be blizzard conditions from
northerly winds in the southern half of the Alaska Range Passes
late tonight through Thursday afternoon. Blizzard conditions are
also expected along the Eastern Arctic Coast Wednesday through
Friday morning. Looking later into the week, a front will approach
the West Coast with snow and gusty winds for St. Lawrence Island
and the Yukon Delta Coast. Winter Storm Watches are issued for
those areas.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Key Weather Messages:
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Northerly wind through Windy and Isabel Passes will gust up to
40 mph tonight through Thursday AM resulting in blizzard
conditions at times along the Parks Highway near Cantwell and
south of Trims Camp along the Richardson Highway.
- Light snow from Fairbanks east to the AlCan Border with an inch
or less expected in Fairbanks and 1 to 2 inches in the Eastern
Interior through Thursday.
- Temperatures plummet well below zero across the Interior this
week with valleys dropping into the 30s and 40s below by
Thursday and potentially near 50 below on Friday as skies clear.
West Coast and Western Interior...
- Conditions improve over the West Coast today with northerly wind
in the Bering Strait Weakening. Light snow from the Seward
Peninsula northward continues into this afternoon then
diminishes in coverage. 1 to 2 inches of snow is expected.
- Temperatures plummet into the teens below zero tonight along the
coast and 30s below zero in the inland valleys. Temperatures in
the 40s and near 50 below are likely Thursday into Friday.
Warmer weather is expected to return once again this weekend.
- A front with snow and blowing snow will approach St. Lawrence
Island and the Yukon Delta Thursday afternoon. Winter Storm
Watches have been issued for potential blizzard conditions
Thursday afternoon into Friday morning.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
- Temperatures will be dropping into the 20s below along the
coast, with 30s below in the Arctic Plain by Wednesday. A
continued cold trend prevails on Thursday before a significant
warm up to above 0F temperatures once again this weekend.
- Easterly winds for Point Thomson and Barter Island increase
Wednesday afternoon with gusts upwards of 45 mph on Thursday. A
blizzard warning is in effect for visibility to 1/4 mile or less
through Friday morning.
Forecast Analysis and Confidence...
Mostly high confidence in the ongoing forecast. A trough of low
pressure is providing light snow over the West Coast and ushering
in much colder air from the Arctic. A subtle ripple in the
700/500mb flow will bring light snow from Fairbanks east to the
AlCan Border through Thursday with light accumulations expected.
The arctic low over the West Coast will then dive southeast
tomorrow resulting in very cold temperatures to end the week.
Typical cold spots in the Interior Valleys approach 50 below
Thursday and Friday. Fairbanks will likely approach or be colder
than 40 below on Friday. Any areas of clouds, especially stratus
will may keep some spots "warmer" than others (in the teens and
20s below zero) but pinpointing the exact locations of these
clouds is difficult and that would be the only low confidence
portion of the forecast that we have.
Looking past this weekend, a strong atmospheric ridge stays in
place over mainland Alaska through next week. A trough moves into
the western Bering Sunday. Shortwave features moving through the
trough and into the ridge will attempt to break down the ridge
through next week. These features will bring increased snowfall
chances to the west coast, particularly the southern Seward
Peninsula and the Western Brooks Range. There is much model
disagreement in timing and strength of these shortwaves making
snowfall and ridge breakdown uncertain. This will weaken surface
pressures and push the main body of the ridge further east
allowing for some warming in the Interior and North Slope to near
normal and for the West Coast to approach 32F.
Extended Forecast For Days 4 Through 7...
- Cold temperatures for the Interior and North Slope continue
through the weekend. These will trend toward normal for this
time of year early next week.
- Snowfall chances increase for areas of the West Coast and
Western Interior. The most affected areas will be the south side
of the Seward Peninsula and the southern slopes of the Western
Brooks Range with higher elevation areas receiving more snow.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Blizzard Warning for AKZ848-850.
Winter Storm Watch for AKZ825-827.
Blizzard Warning for AKZ805.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802-803-805-806-854-856.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ807.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ808-809-855.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810-811-857.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ814-860.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ815.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ851-861.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ852-853.
&&
Bianco/StokesThe office that day
Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 28, 3:08 AM AKST | Blizzard Warning | AFG | Denali, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 51 hr |
| Jan 28, 3:10 AM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 25 hr | |
| Jan 28, 3:12 AM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 25 hr | |
| Jan 28, 1:45 PM AKST | Winter Storm Watch | AFG | Kusilvak Census Area, Nome Census Area | 14 hr |
| Jan 28, 2:48 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 13 hr | |
| Jan 28, 2:51 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 13 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.