Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2025

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Fairbanks, AK

June 17, 2025Fairbanks North Star Borough, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this red flag warning at Jun 17, 2025, 8:55 AM AKDT for Fairbanks North Star Borough, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. It took effect at Jun 18, 2025, 4:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 4 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 17, 2025, 8:55 AM AKDT (16:55 UTC)
In effect from
Jun 18, 2025, 4:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Jun 18, 2025, 8:17 PM AKDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

Counties Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

The radar

The Fairbanks Faa radar (PAPD), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:58 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Fairbanks, (PFAI), launched 12:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 17 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 2025-06-17Temperature 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 2025-06-17The 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
2098 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

704 
WWAK63 PAFG 171655
RFWAFG

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

AKZ938>946-190000-
/O.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0004.250619T0000Z-250619T0800Z/
Upper Chena River Valley-Tanana Flats-Eielson AFB and Salcha-
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Chatanika River Valley-
Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana-Central Interior-
855 AM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT
AKDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR LIGHTNING...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Red Flag
Warning for lightning, which is in effect from 4 PM Wednesday to
midnight AKDT Wednesday night.

* AFFECTED AREA...Tanana, Nenana and Fairbanks North 
  Star Borough.

* TIMING...From 4 PM Wednesday to midnight AKDT Wednesday night.

* LIGHTNING ACTIVITY LEVEL...4.

* WINDS...Northwest 5 mph or less.

* HUMIDITY...25 to 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Lows in mid to upper 50s. Highs in the mid 80s.

* IMPACTS...

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.

&&

$$

AKZ931>934-180700-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0003.250617T1900Z-250618T0700Z/
Upper Koyukuk Valley-Dalton Highway Summits-Yukon Flats-
White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River-
855 AM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Koyukuk Valley, Dalton Highway Summits, 
  Yukon Flats and White Mountains and High Terrain South of the 
  Yukon River.

* TIMING...Until 11 PM AKDT this evening.

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

* HUMIDITY...As low as 21 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the lower 90s. Lows in the mid 50s.

* IMPACTS...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be 
  possible.

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.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
177 
WWAK63 PAFG 172230
RFWAFG

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

AKZ938>946-180700-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0004.250619T0000Z-250619T0800Z/
Upper Chena River Valley-Tanana Flats-Eielson AFB and Salcha-
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Chatanika River Valley-
Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana-Central Interior-
230 PM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM WEDNESDAY TO
MIDNIGHT AKDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR LIGHTNING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Lower and Middle Tanana Valley including 
Fairbanks North Star Borough.

* TIMING...From 4 PM Wednesday to midnight AKDT Wednesday night.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE INDEX...Scattered Thunderstorms.

* WINDS...West 5 to 10 mph.

* HUMIDITY...25 to 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Lows in mid to upper 50s. Highs in the mid 80s.

* 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.

&&

$$

AKZ931>934-180700-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250618T0700Z/
Upper Koyukuk Valley-Dalton Highway Summits-Yukon Flats-
White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River-
230 PM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Koyukuk Valley, Dalton Highway Summits, 
  Yukon Flats and White Mountains and High Terrain South of the 
  Yukon River.

* TIMING...Until 11 PM AKDT this evening.

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

* HUMIDITY...As low as 21 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the lower 90s. Lows in the mid 50s.

* IMPACTS...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be 
  possible.

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.

&&

$$
186 
WWAK63 PAFG 180651
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1051 PM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

AKZ931>934-180800-
/O.CAN.PAFG.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250618T0700Z/
Upper Koyukuk Valley-Dalton Highway Summits-Yukon Flats-
White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River-
1051 PM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

$$

AKZ938>946-190300-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0004.250619T0000Z-250619T0800Z/
Upper Chena River Valley-Tanana Flats-Eielson AFB and Salcha-
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Chatanika River Valley-
Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana-Central Interior-
1051 PM AKDT Tue Jun 17 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM WEDNESDAY TO
MIDNIGHT AKDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR LIGHTNING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Chena River Valley, Tanana Flats, 
  Eielson AFB and Salcha, Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills, 
  Chatanika River Valley, Two Rivers, Fairbanks Metro Area, 
  Nenana and Central Interior.

* TIMING...From 4 PM Wednesday to midnight AKDT Wednesday night.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE INDEX...4.

* WINDS...West 5 to 10 mph.

* HUMIDITY...25 to 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Lows in mid to upper 50s. Highs in the mid 80s.

* 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.

&&

$$
471 
WWAK63 PAFG 190044
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
444 PM AKDT Wed Jun 18 2025

AKZ938>946-190800-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-250619T0800Z/
Upper Chena River Valley-Tanana Flats-Eielson AFB and Salcha-
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Chatanika River Valley-
Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana-Central Interior-
444 PM AKDT Wed Jun 18 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKDT TONIGHT
FOR LIGHTNING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Chena River Valley, Tanana Flats, 
  Eielson AFB and Salcha, Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills, 
  Chatanika River Valley, Two Rivers, Fairbanks Metro Area, 
  Nenana and Central Interior.

* TIMING...Until midnight AKDT tonight.

* THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE INDEX...4.

* WINDS...West 5 to 10 mph.

* HUMIDITY...25 to 30 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Lows in mid to upper 50s. Highs in the mid 80s.

* 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.

&&

$$
234 
WWAK63 PAFG 190417
RFWAFG

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
817 PM AKDT Wed Jun 18 2025

AKZ938>946-190530-
/O.CAN.PAFG.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-250619T0800Z/
Upper Chena River Valley-Tanana Flats-Eielson AFB and Salcha-
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Chatanika River Valley-
Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana-Central Interior-
817 PM AKDT Wed Jun 18 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR LIGHTNING...

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 16, 3:13 PM AKDT, 17 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 16, 3:13 PM AKDT, 17 hours 42 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
313 PM AKDT Mon Jun 16 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Warmer than normal conditions continue across much of the region
along with hazy skies courtesy of Canadian wildfires burning to
our east. Coverage of afternoon and evening thunderstorms will
continue to increase the next couple of days, with most of the
activity along the Alaska Range and over the western interior.
Later this week coverage of storms will shrink a bit as activity
shifts back over the central and eastern interior.

&&

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

- Isolated thunderstorms expected later Monday afternoon and
  evening with greater potential west of Fairbanks. Thunderstorm
  potential increases for Wednesday and Thursday in the Tanana
  Valley and Fortymile Country.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- Showers and widely scattered thunderstorms continue over Western
  Interior Monday and Tuesday afternoons.
	- The greatest thunderstorm potential is in the Western Interior
   south of Huslia both days.

- 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 50s and 60s along the coast persist through most of the
  week.

- Rapid snowmelt continues to result in rapid rises on rivers.

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

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
The current weather setup across the region will continue to
dominate the forecast for several more days. An omega block
continues with an impressive and expansive 570 dam 500 mb ridge
over northern Alaska which is sandwiched between upper lows over
the Bering and eastern Gulf of Alaska. Given these positions, the
ridge continues to suppress storm activity across most of
northern Alaska and eastern portions of the interior with
shortwave energy from the Gulf of Alaska low tracking into the
western interior where scattered to numerous thunderstorms will be
realized Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon and evening. By
midweek the ridge will weaken ever so slightly as it shifts slowly
southward. However enough moisture will remain trapped under the
ridge to generate at least some scattered thunderstorms throughout
the interior and near the Alaska range on a daily basis.

Temperatures currently are running as much as 15 to in some cases,
20 degrees above normal. As such, the heat advisory will continue
for at least one more day. Even if the heat advisory is allowed
to expire, temps will remain well above normal for the rest of the
week and into the weekend as the ridge remains in place.
Meanwhile the haze from Canadian wildfires will remain in place
through Tuesday, but higher resolution models show smoke plume
concentrations lessening a bit as the week wears on with the main
plume shifting a bit further south in response to the shifting of
the upper ridge later in the week.

Hydro concerns will continue through the week as rapid snowmelt
across the Brooks range drains onto the North Slope with
associated river rises and localized ice jam flooding as break-up
continues across the north.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
With thunderstorm coverage increasing the next few days, the
threat of lightning caused fires will be on the increase,
especially across portions of the western interior where storm
coverage will be the greatest the next couple of days. As such the
decision was made to upgrade the Fire Weather Watch to Red Flag
Warning for Tuesday across west central fire zones. Min RH values
will only drop to around 30 percent Tuesday in this area, but
very warm temperatures and plentiful surface fuels will keep the
fire threat elevated. Meanwhile warm and very dry conditions will
continue across the rest of the interior. A Red Flag Warning is
also remains in place for the Yukon flats and nearby elevated
terrain due to an expected increase across the region.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Rivers continue to breakup across the North Slope. River levels
are continuing to rise and are now to likely crest middle to late
week. On the Sag, there has been an emergency closure of 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.
Additional 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. Strengthening low
pressure moving into the Bering Sea late this week may lead to
to somewhat cooler temperatures across parts of Western Alaska,
but there is low confidence on the track of this low. Meanwhile, as
the ridge shifts to the southeast, the extent of the warmest
(especially >80F) temperatures may also retreat eastward a bit.

&&

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Flood Watch for AKZ804>806-808>810.
     Red Flag Warning for AKZ929-930-952.
     Red Flag Warning for AKZ931>934.
     Heat Advisory for AKZ833>835-838>846.
PK...None.

&&

Laney

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 16, 11:05 PM AKDTRed Flag WarningAFGYukon-Koyukuk Census Area24 hr
Jun 17, 3:45 AM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG4 days
Jun 17, 3:45 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Jun 17, 3:46 AM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG12 hr
Jun 17, 3:46 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Jun 17, 1:46 PM AKDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAFGNorth Slope3 days
Jun 17, 1:57 PM AKDTAreal Flood WarningAFGNorth Slope45 hr
Jun 17, 2:28 PM AKDTSpecial Weather StatementAFGFairbanks North Star32 min
Jun 17, 2:56 PM AKDTSpecial Weather StatementAFGFairbanks North Star19 min
Jun 17, 3:23 PM AKDTSpecial Weather StatementAFGDenali37 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.