Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2025

Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Fairbanks, AK

July 6, 2025Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this red flag warning at Jul 6, 2025, 9:08 AM AKDT for Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. It took effect at Jul 7, 2025, 12:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 10 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
Jul 6, 2025, 9:08 AM AKDT (17:08 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 7, 2025, 12:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Jul 7, 2025, 10:00 PM AKDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

County Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

The nearest sounding before it

Fairbanks, (PFAI), launched 12:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 249 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, Fairbanks, at 12:00Z on 2025-07-06Temperature 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, Fairbanks, at 12:00Z on 2025-07-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 26 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
2123 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

645 
WWAK63 PAFG 061708
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
908 AM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

AKZ912-931-932-070800-
/O.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0013.250707T2000Z-250708T0800Z/
South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range-Upper Koyukuk Valley-
Dalton Highway Summits-
908 AM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT AKDT
MONDAY NIGHT FOR LIGHTNING...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Red Flag
Warning for lightning, which is in effect from noon Monday to
midnight AKDT Monday night.

* AFFECTED AREA...South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range, 
  Upper Koyukuk Valley and Dalton Highway Summits.

* TIMING...From noon Monday to midnight AKDT Monday night.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE INDEX...4, Scattered to Numerous.

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Stronger
  gusts are possible in thunderstorms. 

* HUMIDITY...As low as 40 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the upper 30s.

* IMPACTS...Numerous wet thunderstorms across the interior will
  bring frequent lightning strikes and gusty winds. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that conditions are occurring or will
occur which could lead to the development of large and dangerous
fires. It is directed toward fire agencies, and through them, to
the public.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
697 
WWAK63 PAFG 070746
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1146 PM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

AKZ912-931-932-080000-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0013.250707T2000Z-250708T0800Z/
South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range-Upper Koyukuk Valley-
Dalton Highway Summits-
1146 PM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO
MIDNIGHT AKDT MONDAY NIGHT FOR LIGHTNING...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Red Flag
Warning for lightning, which is in effect from noon Monday to
midnight AKDT Monday night.

* AFFECTED AREA...South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range, 
  Upper Koyukuk Valley and Dalton Highway Summits.

* TIMING...From noon Monday to midnight AKDT Monday night.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE INDEX...4, Scattered to Numerous.

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Stronger 
  gusts are possible in thunderstorms.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the mid 80s. 

* IMPACTS...Numerous wet thunderstorms across the interior will 
  bring frequent lightning strikes and gusty winds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that conditions are occurring or will
occur which could lead to the development of large and dangerous
fires. It is directed toward fire agencies, and through them, to
the public.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$
342 
WWAK63 PAFG 071656
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
856 AM AKDT Mon Jul 7 2025

AKZ911-933-080600-
/O.EXB.PAFG.FW.W.0013.250707T2000Z-250708T0600Z/
South Slopes Of The Eastern Brooks Range-Yukon Flats-
856 AM AKDT Mon Jul 7 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING FOR LIGHTNING...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Red Flag
Warning for lightning, which is in effect from noon today to
10 PM AKDT this evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...South Slopes Of The Eastern Brooks Range and 
  Yukon Flats west of Fort Yukon to Arctic Village.

* TIMING...From noon today to 10 PM AKDT this evening.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE INDEX...4, scattered.

* WINDS...Southwest 5 to 10 mph. Stronger 
  gusts up to 35 mph are possible near thunderstorms.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 29 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the mid 80s.

* IMPACTS...Numerous wet thunderstorms across the interior will 
  bring frequent lightning strikes and gusty winds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that conditions are occurring or will
occur which could lead to the development of large and dangerous
fires. It is directed toward fire agencies, and through them, to
the public.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$

AKZ912-931-932-080600-
/O.EXT.PAFG.FW.W.0013.250707T2000Z-250708T0600Z/
South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range-Upper Koyukuk Valley-
Dalton Highway Summits-
856 AM AKDT Mon Jul 7 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM AKDT
THIS EVENING FOR LIGHTNING...

* AFFECTED AREA...South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range, 
  Upper Koyukuk Valley and Dalton Highway Summits.

* TIMING...From noon today to 10 PM AKDT this evening.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE INDEX...4, scattered.

* WINDS...West 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Stronger 
  gusts are possible near thunderstorms.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 37 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the low 80s.

* IMPACTS...Numerous wet thunderstorms across the interior will 
  bring frequent lightning strikes and gusty winds. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that conditions are occurring or will
occur which could lead to the development of large and dangerous
fires. It is directed toward fire agencies, and through them, to
the public.

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$
712 
WWAK63 PAFG 080556
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
956 PM AKDT Mon Jul 7 2025

AKZ911-912-931>933-080700-
/O.EXP.PAFG.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250708T0600Z/
South Slopes Of The Eastern Brooks Range-
South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range-Upper Koyukuk Valley-
Dalton Highway Summits-Yukon Flats-
956 PM AKDT Mon Jul 7 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR LIGHTNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM AKDT THIS EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has ended the Red Flag Warning. 
Lightning activity has fallen below Red Flag criteria. Isolated thunderstorms
with heavy rain will continue into Tuesday morning throughout the central and 
eastern Interior.  

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this red flag 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 red flag warning went out at Jul 5, 2:27 PM AKDT, 18 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 2:27 PM AKDT, 18 hours 41 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 5 2025

.SYNOPSIS...Hot, dry, and windy conditions continue across the
area today (Saturday) as a ridge of high pressure peaks in
strength today. Critical fire weather conditions persist through
this evening across the Central and Eastern Interior, and Heat
Advisories have been extended through Sunday mainly north of the
Yukon River. The ridge begins to break down Sunday, which will
cause gradual cooling and an increase in thunderstorm activity
Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday, conditions are much cooler across
the entire area with widespread showers. 0.5"-1.0" of rain is
expected across the southern Interior and eastern Brooks Range
through Tuesday evening with more showers through the week.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Hot, dry and windy in the hills north of Fairbanks, White
  Mountains, Chena Hills and Northern Interior through late this
  evening.

- Heat Advisories extended through Sunday north of the Yukon River

- Cooling temperatures expected Sunday south of the Yukon River
  with highs in the upper 70s, then low 70s Monday, and upper 60s
  Tuesday. 0.5"-1.0" of rain through Tuesday evening east of
  Tanana.

- Increasing thunderstorm activity on Sunday with widely
  scattered thunderstorms from the White Mountains to the Yukon
  River.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- Hot, and dry conditions continue through Saturday, and through
  Monday in the NW Interior. Slight moderation on Sunday.

- Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms across the Western
  Interior, with the most coverage over the Nulato Hills and Kobuk
  Valley on Sunday.

- Cooler and slightly wetter pattern heading into next week.
  Precip will be limited though.

- Increasing north winds along the coast.

North Slope and Brooks Range..
- Hot and dry, especially inland from the coast and in the Brooks
  Range where temperatures can be as high as 85 degrees.

- Temperatures cool down on Sunday and into next week.

- Snow possible over Atigun Pass Monday night and Tuesday.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...A high that has been
strengthening over the central Arctic Coast will peak in strength
today before a low near the Aleutians moves far enough northeast
to begin to weaken it. As the low moves into the Gulf of Alaska,
moisture will begin to wrap around into the Interior from the
east. This will increase chances for thunderstorms beginning
Sunday afternoon across the Interior, mainly south of the Yukon
River. By Monday morning, an Arctic trough will begin to drop
south, bringing 850 mb temperatures as cold as -8 C to the North
Slope. The cold front will sweep across the central and eastern
Interior Monday night and Tuesday, enhancing precipitation from
Gulf moisture. Models continue to trend these precip amounts
upwards with 0.5"-1.0" of rainfall expected across the southern
Interior and also the eastern Brooks Range by Tuesday night. A
brief period of southwest flow following the cold front will bring
additional precip through the rest of the week with temperatures
dipping and snow levels even falling to road level in the Brooks
Range by Tuesday afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Critical and near critical fire weather conditions
over the central and eastern Interior this afternoon as NE winds
aloft have pushed smoke to the west, allowing fires across the
Interior east of the Parks Highway to vent and burn very actively.
Additional smoke from the Rick's Creek and Ninetyeight fires should
provide much needed shading to the Nenana Ridge Complex by late
Saturday afternoon, though the Ninetyeight and Rick's Creek fires
will remain mostly clear overhead. Pyrocumulus development is
likely this evening for fires east of Tanana as mid level moisture
increases ahead of a synoptic pattern change. This afternoon will
be the hottest and driest of this stretch of fire weather before
a pattern change occurs Sunday through Tuesday.

Thunderstorm coverage will begin to increase starting Saturday
afternoon with widely scattered storms expected across the Middle
Yukon Valley and Nulato Hills along with isolated storms along the
Alaska Range. Convective potential increases significantly Sunday
with model soundings showing PWATs near 1", ample CAPE and even
DCAPE near 600 J/Kg. Storms will be widely scattered near the
Yukon River and from the Nulato Hills north to the Kobuk Valley. The
biggest threat with these storms will be strong outflow winds.
Thunderstorms that do form will produce rainfall, and will not be
stationary. On Monday, the thunderstorm threat moves northeast as
the thermal trough moves to the Yukon Flats and along the south
slopes of the Brooks Range.

By Monday morning, an Arctic trough will begin to drop south,
bringing 850 mb temperatures as cold as -8 C to the North Slope.
The cold front will sweep across the central and eastern Interior
Monday night and Tuesday, enhancing precipitation from Gulf
moisture and causing temperatures to take a nose dive. Models
continue to trend these precip amounts upwards with 0.5"-1.0" of
rainfall expected across the southern Interior and also the
eastern Brooks Range by Tuesday night. A brief period of southwest
flow following the cold front will bring additional precip
through the rest of the week, though high amounts of uncertainty
remain on amounts. Areas northwest of Tanana are likely to see
very little precip this coming week.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...No concerns at this time.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...A brief period of southwest flow
Wednesday and Thursday will bring widespread showers to the
Interior before drier northwest flow kicks in on Friday.
Temperatures remain well below normal through the extended period.
Areas northwest of Tanana look to see little precip next week
while areas south and east can expect 1 to 2 inches total through
next week.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Heat Advisory for AKZ806>809-813-814-816-818-819-822-823-828-829-
     831>833-846.
     Red Flag Warning for AKZ928-931>934-938-942.
     Red Flag Warning for AKZ937-947.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ805.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ806-853-854.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ807.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ856.
&&

Chriest

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 4:58 AM AKDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
458 AM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

AKZ852-061330-
Upper Kuskokwim Valley-
458 AM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN YUKON-KOYUKUK
THROUGH 530 AM AKDT...

At 458 AM AKDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms 29 miles northeast of McGrath, moving southwest at 25
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Small hail is also possible with these
         storms.

Locations impacted include...
McGrath.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 6333 15479 6317 15460 6283 15538 6316 15596
TIME...MOT...LOC 1258Z 061DEG 20KT 6322 15485

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

amp
Special weather statement, Jul 6, 6:17 AM AKDT, 2 hours 51 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
617 AM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

AKZ830-852-061515-
Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys-Upper Kuskokwim Valley-
617 AM AKDT Sun Jul 6 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN YUKON-KOYUKUK
THROUGH 715 AM AKDT...

At 617 AM AKDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 24
miles northwest of McGrath, moving southwest at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Small hail is also possible.

Locations impacted include...
Takotna.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 6337 15591 6316 15556 6275 15625 6317 15717
TIME...MOT...LOC 1417Z 061DEG 25KT 6326 15598

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

amp

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 6, 3:46 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG4 days
Jul 6, 4:58 AM AKDTSpecial Weather StatementAFG32 min
Jul 6, 6:17 AM AKDTSpecial Weather StatementAFG58 min
Jul 6, 9:10 AM AKDTRed Flag WarningAFGNorthwest Arctic, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area37 hr
Jul 6, 3:48 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG3 days

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Alaska, 2025Every red flag 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.