Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2025

Red Flag Warning 9, NWS Fairbanks, AK

July 2, 2025Northwest Arctic Borough, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this red flag warning at Jul 2, 2025, 9:05 AM AKDT for Northwest Arctic Borough, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. It took effect at Jul 3, 2025, 12:32 AM AKDT. It was in force for 21 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 2, 2025, 9:05 AM AKDT (17:05 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 3, 2025, 12:32 AM AKDT
Expired
Jul 3, 2025, 9:28 PM AKDT
In force
21 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

Counties Northwest Arctic Borough, AK, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

The nearest sounding before it

Mcgrath, (PMCG), launched 12:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 371 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, Mcgrath, at 12:00Z on 2025-07-02Temperature 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, Mcgrath, at 12:00Z on 2025-07-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 44 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
1693 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
126 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

513 
WWAK62 PAFG 021705
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
905 AM AKDT Wed Jul 2 2025

AKZ919-928-030900-
/O.NEW.PAFG.FW.W.0009.250703T1800Z-250704T0600Z/
Upper Kobuk Valleys-Lower Koyukuk Valley-
905 AM AKDT Wed Jul 2 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM AKDT THURSDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 10 AM to 10 PM AKDT Thursday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Kobuk Valleys and Lower Koyukuk Valley.

* TIMING...From 10 AM to 10 PM AKDT Thursday.

* WINDS...East 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs around 90.

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

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
486 
WWAK62 PAFG 030832
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1232 AM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

AKZ919-928-032045-
/O.EXT.PAFG.FW.W.0009.250703T0832Z-250704T0600Z/
Upper Kobuk Valleys-Lower Koyukuk Valley-
1232 AM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Kobuk Valleys and Lower Koyukuk Valley.

* TIMING...Until 10 PM AKDT this evening.

* WINDS...East 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Lows around 60. Highs around 90.

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

&&

$$
584 
WWAK62 PAFG 030833
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1233 AM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

AKZ919-928-040000-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-250704T0600Z/
Upper Kobuk Valleys-Lower Koyukuk Valley-
1233 AM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Kobuk Valleys and Lower Koyukuk Valley.

* TIMING...Until 10 PM AKDT this evening.

* WINDS...East 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Lows around 60. Highs around 90.

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

&&

$$
998 
WWAK62 PAFG 031836
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1036 AM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

AKZ919-928-040600-
/O.CON.PAFG.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-250704T0600Z/
Upper Kobuk Valleys-Lower Koyukuk Valley-
1036 AM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Upper Kobuk Valleys and Lower Koyukuk Valley.

* TIMING...Until 10 PM AKDT this evening.

* WINDS...East 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 24 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Lows around 60. Highs around 90.

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

&&

$$
042 
WWAK62 PAFG 040528
RFWWCZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
928 PM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

AKZ919-928-040630-
/O.CAN.PAFG.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-250704T0600Z/
Upper Kobuk Valleys-Lower Koyukuk Valley-
928 PM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

Winds have fallen below criteria. Hot and dry conditions remain 
however.

$$

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 1, 2:11 PM AKDT, 18 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 1, 2:11 PM AKDT, 18 hours 54 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
211 PM AKDT Tue Jul 1 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
The northeast flow around the high pressure will increase on
Wednesday. Windy conditions will develop Wednesday over the
higher terrain of the central and eastern Interior increasing
the fire danger. A disturbance will spread some showers and
isolated thunderstorms over the eastern Interior and eastern
Alaska Range near the Canadian border early Wednesday. In
western Alaska rain along the coast from Bristol Bay to the
Seward Peninsula will diminish tonight.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- The Fortymile Country...Upper Tanana Valley and Eastern Alaska
  Range will have isolated showers and thunderstorms today and
  Wednesday.

- Temperatures in the upper 70s today in most Interior valleys
  warm into lower 80s on Wednesday.

- Hot...dry and windy conditions will develop Wednesday in the
  higher terrain of the Central and Eastern interior increasing
  wildfire concerns.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- Rain along the West Coast and far Western Interior from the
  Seward Peninsula south to Bristol Bay. These rains will
  gradually diminish on Wednesday.

- Southeasterly winds over western Alaska remain strong into
  tonight before diminishing Wednesday. Sustained values of 20 to
  30 mph expected for most areas in Bering Sea through the Bering
  Strait. Southeast winds 15 to 25 mph develop late tonight
  through the Norton and Kotzebue Sounds.

North Slope and Brooks Range..
- Warmer and drier conditions over the next several days.

- Strong east winds with low stratus and fog at night will
  continue along the Arctic Coast.

- Isolated showers today over the far western Brooks Range.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
High pressure centered over the central Arctic Coast will
continue to dominate the weather pattern for the Interior through
the weekend. Warmer and drier conditions will continue into the
weekend. Northeast winds will increase enough on Wednesday to
warrant the Red Flag Warning for mainly the higher terrain of the
central and eastern Interior. Coordination took place with AICC
and our IMETs. Those winds decrease on Thursday but the low level
instability will still support convective plume development over
the fires. In western Alaska rain along the coast from Bristol
Bay to the Seward Peninsula will diminish by tonight and Wednesday
as the Bering Sea low weakens and moves south. We definitely have
low level haze from wildfire smoke south of Fairbanks toward the
Alaska Range. The WRF pushes the smoke west as the northeast flow
increases Wednesday. That might help keep the wildfire smoke from
deteriorating conditions until this weekend. In the extended the
High Pressure ridge remains centered over the Arctic Coast.
Shortwaves will undercut the ridge in the easterly flow and should
increase thunderstorm coverage. Timing of those shortwaves is
uncertain right now. Best take attm is isolated showers and storms
over the Alaska Range westward to the Nulato Hills Friday and
Saturday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Critical fire weather continues to develop over the next 24 hours
as much drier air as pushed into the region from the
Arctic/Yukon. Winds still look gusty out of the east-northeast;
by-and-large most of the interior should see 15 to 20 mph gusts by
Wednesday afternoon. For folks on fires in more complex terrain,
keep a watchful eye on channels/gaps/valleys exposed to the
northeast and also along ridgetops, where locally higher winds of
30mph is possible. Confidence is high for temperatures to reach
into the low to mid 80s over the next few days, with minimum RH
hitting the low 20s to upper teens. Given the dry air, recovery of
RH in the morning is generally expected to worsen, perhaps
reaching as high as 60%.

Thunderstorms will impact the eastern Tanana Valley late this
afternoon and Wednesday, with the potential for these storms to
penetrate further into the interior. Keep a watchful eye on any
developing thunderstorms as steering winds will push them to the
west. Erratic and gusty outflow winds could reach 30 to 40 mph.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
No concerns along the rivers. No impacts are expected from the rain
in the west or along the eastern Alaska Range the next couple days.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Red Flag Warning for AKZ931>935-938>947-949.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ804.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ805.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ807-856.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ808-809-855.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ813-859.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ852.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ858.
&&

Maier/Park

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 2, 7:04 AM AKDTHeat AdvisoryAFGNome Census Area, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area5 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.