Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2025

Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK

June 16, 2025Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this red flag warning at Jun 16, 2025, 1:41 PM AKDT for Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. It took effect at Jun 17, 2025, 1:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 11 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
Jun 16, 2025, 1:41 PM AKDT (21:41 UTC)
In effect from
Jun 17, 2025, 1:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Jun 18, 2025, 12:05 AM AKDT
In force
11 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

County Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

The nearest sounding before it

Fairbanks, (PFAI), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 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 2025-06-16Temperature 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 2025-06-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 36 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2109 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

063 
WWAK62 PAFG 162141
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
141 PM AKDT Mon Jun 16 2025

AKZ929-930-952-180900-
/O.UPG.PAFG.FW.A.0001.250617T2100Z-250618T0900Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0002.250617T2100Z-250618T0900Z/
Middle Yukon Valley-Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys-
Upper Kuskokwim Valley-
141 PM AKDT Mon Jun 16 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 1 AM AKDT
WEDNESDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 1 PM Tuesday to 1 AM AKDT
Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Middle Yukon Valley, Lower Yukon and Innoko 
  Valleys and Upper Kuskokwim Valley.

* TIMING...From 1 PM Tuesday to 1 AM AKDT Wednesday.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE...Numerous thunderstorms.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the upper 80s. Lows in the upper 40s.

* IMPACTS...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be 
  possible. Frequent lightning can promote new fire starts. Hot 
  and dry conditions may lead to rapid spread of fires.

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
283 
WWAK62 PAFG 171656
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
856 AM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

AKZ929-930-952-180900-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0002.250617T2100Z-250618T0900Z/
Middle Yukon Valley-Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys-
Upper Kuskokwim Valley-
856 AM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
1 AM AKDT WEDNESDAY...

* AFFECTED AREA...Middle Yukon Valley, Lower Yukon and Innoko 
  Valleys and Upper Kuskokwim Valley.

* TIMING...From 1 PM this afternoon to 1 AM AKDT Wednesday.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE...Numerous thunderstorms.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the upper 80s. Lows in the upper 40s.

* IMPACTS...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be 
  possible. Frequent lightning can promote new fire starts. Hot 
  and dry conditions may lead to rapid spread of fires.

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.

&&

$$
635 
WWAK62 PAFG 172231
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
231 PM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

AKZ929-930-952-180900-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250618T0900Z/
Middle Yukon Valley-Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys-
Upper Kuskokwim Valley-
231 PM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKDT WEDNESDAY...

* AFFECTED AREA...Middle Yukon Valley, Lower Yukon and Innoko 
  Valleys and Upper Kuskokwim Valley.

* TIMING...Until 1 AM AKDT Wednesday.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE...Numerous thunderstorms.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the upper 80s. Lows in the upper 40s.

* IMPACTS...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be 
  possible. Frequent lightning can promote new fire starts. Hot 
  and dry conditions may lead to rapid spread of fires.

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.

&&

$$
578 
WWAK62 PAFG 180805
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1205 AM AKDT Wed Jun 18 2025

AKZ929-930-952-180915-
/O.CAN.PAFG.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250618T0900Z/
Middle Yukon Valley-Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys-
Upper Kuskokwim Valley-
1205 AM AKDT Wed Jun 18 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has cancelled the Red
Flag Warning.

$$

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 Jun 15, 3:05 PM AKDT, 22 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 15, 3:05 PM AKDT, 22 hours 36 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
305 PM AKDT Sun Jun 15 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Warm weather continues across Northern Alaska. Rapid snowmelt is
causing rivers along the North Slope to rise. High thunderstorm
potential is expected in the Western Interior Monday and Tuesday
with isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms expected for much
of the rest of the Interior Sunday through Wednesday afternoons.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Warm weather continues with highs in the mid 80s remaining
  through most of the week.
	- See heat advisory for additional details.

- Isolated thunderstorms expected Sunday afternoon with greater
  potential west of Fairbanks. Thunderstorm potential increases
  for Monday and Tuesday in the Tanana Valley and Fortymile
  Country.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- Showers and widely scattered thunderstorms return to the
  Western Interior Sunday afternoon. Showers with scattered
  thunderstorms expected Monday and Tuesday.
	- The greatest thunderstorm potential is in the Western Interior
   south of Huslia Monday and Tuesday afternoon.

- Temperatures in the 70s to low 80s for the Western Interior and
  the 60s for the coast expected to persist through most of the
  week.

North Slope and Brooks Range..
- Temperatures in the upper 60s to mid 70s on the Arctic Plain and
  in the 60s along the coast persist through most of the week.

- Rapid snowmelt is causing rapid rises in rivers.

- Isolated afternoon thunderstorms along the southern slopes of
  the Western Brooks Range possible Sunday through Tuesday.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
A 572 dam upper level high sits over the Eastern Brooks Range, a
539 dam upper level low remains in the Bering Sea southwest of St.
Lawrence Island, and a 544 dam upper level low remains in the
Eastern Gulf of Alaska. The high slowly moves north allowing
shortwaves and areas of enhanced vorticity to rotate around the 2
lows into the Southern and Western Interiors. This will greatly
enhance convection in the Western Interior where the 3 upper level
features are able to interact. Because of this showers and scattered
to numerous thunderstorms are expected in the Western Interior
south of Huslia Monday and Tuesday afternoon. The high begins to
move further south Wednesday which will limit some of the
convective development slightly, although showers and widely
scattered storms are still expected throughout much of the
Interior. High temperatures and dry conditions with light winds
continues so long as the high remains over Northern Alaska.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Warm and very dry conditions continue in the Interior. Winds
remain generally light through the week, but reach around 15 mph
Monday and Tuesday afternoons in the Yukon Flats and nearby
elevated terrain. This has necessitated a red flag warning for
that region on Monday and Tuesday. Thunderstorm activity
increases in the Southern Interior and Western Interior Sunday
with widely scattered thunderstorms in the Western Interior and
further increases Monday and Tuesday with scattered thunderstorms
over the Western Interior and widely scattered thunderstorms
expected in the Tanana Valley and Fortymile Country. With the
warm and dry conditions at the surface fuels will continue to dry
out with possible critical fire weather concerns Tuesday in the
Southwestern Interior due to increased thunderstorm activity and
drying fuels. A fire weather watch has been issued for this
concern.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Rivers are continuing to breakup across the North Slope. River
levels are continuing to rise and will likely crest early to
middle of this week. On the Sag, there has been an emergency
closure o f the Dalton Highway between MP 305 and MP 356 due to a
major washout at MP 315 caused by a failed culvert as well as
water over topping the road at several other spots. On the
Colville, flooding is occurring at Umiat with ice jams present
further downstream. Flooding could occur downstream over the next
couple of days as these ice jams release.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
Warm weather will continue across much of Northern Alaska as an
upper-level ridge over the northeastern mainland gradually shifts
to the southeast during the extended time frame. Thunderstorms
will also be possible across wide swaths of the Interior and some
parts of the West Coast during this time frame. A vertically-
stacked low moving into the Bering Sea late this week and may lead
to dropping temperatures across parts of Western Alaska, but
there is low confidence on the track, which. As the ridge shifts
to the southeast, the extent of the warmest (especially >80F)
temperatures may also retreat eastward.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Fire Weather Watch for AKZ929-930-952.
     Flood Watch for AKZ804>806-808>810.
     Red Flag Warning for AKZ931>934.
     Heat Advisory for AKZ833>835-838>846.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ851.
&&

Stokes

EXTENDED...DS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 15, 7:06 PM AKDTSpecial Weather StatementAFG24 min
Jun 16, 9:46 AM AKDTAreal Flood WarningAFGNorth Slope3 days
Jun 16, 3:51 PM AKDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAFGYukon-Koyukuk Census Area24 min

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.