Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2026
Blizzard Warning 10, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this blizzard warning at Feb 15, 2026, 11:12 AM AKST for Bethel Census Area, Alaska. It took effect at Feb 16, 2026, 3:00 AM AKST. 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
- Feb 15, 2026, 11:12 AM AKST (20:12 UTC)
- In effect from
- Feb 16, 2026, 3:00 AM AKST
- Expired
- Feb 17, 2026, 12:00 AM AKST
- In force
- 21 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
County Bethel Census Area, AK
The nearest sounding before it
Bethel, (PBET), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 71 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
- 416 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 65 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 341 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 417 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
919 WWAK42 PAFC 152012 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 1112 AM AKST Sun Feb 15 2026 AKZ755>757-170900- /O.UPG.PAFC.WS.A.0009.260216T1200Z-260217T0900Z/ /O.NEW.PAFC.BZ.W.0010.260216T1200Z-260217T0900Z/ Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island-Interior Kuskokwim Delta- Western Capes- Including the cities of Goodnews Bay, Quinhagak, Kwethluk, Mekoryuk, Akiachak, Bethel, Kipnuk, Kasigluk, Platinum, and Toksook Bay 1112 AM AKST Sun Feb 15 2026 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT AKST MONDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 7 inches. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...Kuskokwim Delta Coast, north of the Kuskokwim River, and Western Capes. * WHEN...From 3 AM Monday to midnight AKST Monday Night. * IMPACTS...Visibilities reduced to one quarter mile or less due to blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel very difficult. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong storm will move into the Kuskokwim Region tonight, bringing moderate to heavy snowfall, paired with gusty SE winds for periods of whiteout conditions; this storm will begin to weaken by Monday night. 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 very hazardous. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded. && $$ AKZ764-170900- /O.UPG.PAFC.WS.A.0009.260216T1200Z-260217T0900Z/ /O.NEW.PAFC.WW.Y.0026.260216T1200Z-260217T0900Z/ Northern Bristol Bay Coast- Including the cities of Dillingham, Manokotak, and Togiak 1112 AM AKST Sun Feb 15 2026 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT AKST MONDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches. Winds gusting 25 to 40 mph. * WHERE...Northern Bristol Bay Coast, primarily along the Togiak Bay Coastline. * WHEN...From 3 AM Monday to midnight AKST Monday Night. * IMPACTS...Visibilities reduced to one half mile or less due to blowing snow with short periods of whiteout conditions. Travel could be very difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong storm will move into the Northern Bristol Bay Region tonight, bringing moderate snowfall, paired with gusty winds for short periods of whiteout conditions; this storm will begin to weaken by Monday night. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. Persons are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat. && $$ AB
3 follow-up statements
828 WWAK42 PAFC 161336 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 436 AM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 AKZ755>757-170900- /O.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260217T0900Z/ Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island-Interior Kuskokwim Delta- Western Capes- Including the cities of Platinum, Kipnuk, Quinhagak, Bethel, Mekoryuk, Akiachak, Goodnews Bay, Kwethluk, Kasigluk, and Toksook Bay 436 AM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 7 inches. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...Kuskokwim Delta Coast, north of the Kuskokwim River, and Western Capes. * WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight. * IMPACTS...Visibilities reduced to one quarter mile or less due to blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel very difficult. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong storm moves into the Kuskokwim Region this morning, bringing moderate to heavy snowfall, paired with gusty SE winds for periods of whiteout conditions; this storm will begin to weaken by tonight. 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 very hazardous. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded. && $$ AKZ764-170900- /O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0026.000000T0000Z-260217T0900Z/ Northern Bristol Bay Coast- Including the cities of Manokotak, Togiak, and Dillingham 436 AM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches. Winds gusting 25 to 40 mph. * WHERE...Northern Bristol Bay Coast, primarily along the Togiak Bay Coastline. * WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight. * IMPACTS...Visibilities reduced to one half mile or less due to blowing snow with short periods of whiteout conditions. Travel could be very difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong storm will move into the Northern Bristol Bay Region this morning, bringing moderate snowfall, paired with gusty winds for short periods of whiteout conditions; this storm will begin to weaken by tonight. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. Persons are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat. && $$
506 WWAK42 PAFC 170020 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 320 PM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 AKZ755>757-170900- /O.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260217T0900Z/ Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island-Interior Kuskokwim Delta- Western Capes- Including the cities of Kwethluk, Quinhagak, Mekoryuk, Akiachak, Kipnuk, Toksook Bay, Goodnews Bay, Platinum, Kasigluk, and Bethel 320 PM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 7 inches. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...Kuskokwim Delta Coast, north of the Kuskokwim River, and Western Capes. * WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight. * IMPACTS...Visibilities reduced to one quarter mile or less due to blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel very difficult. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Blizzard conditions are ongoing along the Kuskokwim Coast down into the Western Capes. Unsettled weather will continue to spread further inland through this evening with the forward progression of a strong front. The worst conditions for interior portions of the Kuskokwim Delta will be to the north and west of Bethel, including the communities of Nunapitchuk and Kasigluk. 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 very hazardous. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded. && $$ AKZ764-170900- /O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0026.000000T0000Z-260217T0900Z/ Northern Bristol Bay Coast- Including the cities of Togiak, Manokotak, and Dillingham 320 PM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT... * WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches. Winds gusting 25 to 40 mph. * WHERE...Northern Bristol Bay Coast, primarily along the Togiak Bay Coastline. * WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight. * IMPACTS...Visibilities reduced to one half mile or less due to blowing snow with short periods of whiteout conditions. Travel could be very difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong storm, slightly delayed, will move into the Northern Bristol Bay Region this evening, bringing moderate snowfall, paired with gusty winds for short periods of whiteout conditions; this storm will begin to weaken later tonight. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. Persons are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat. && $$ BL
919 WWAK42 PAFC 170851 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 1151 PM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 AKZ755>757-171000- /O.EXP.PAFC.BZ.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260217T0900Z/ Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island-Interior Kuskokwim Delta- Western Capes- Including the cities of Toksook Bay, Kwethluk, Bethel, Akiachak, Mekoryuk, Goodnews Bay, Kasigluk, Quinhagak, Kipnuk, and Platinum 1151 PM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 ...BLIZZARD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT... Wind speeds have decreased and visibility has improved. However, snowfall may continue on for a few more hours and could drop visibility to 1 mile or less at times. $$ AKZ764-171000- /O.EXP.PAFC.WW.Y.0026.000000T0000Z-260217T0900Z/ Northern Bristol Bay Coast- Including the cities of Togiak, Manokotak, and Dillingham 1151 PM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT... Wind speeds have decreased and visibility has improved. However, snowfall may continue on for a few more hours and could drop visibility to 2 miles or less at times. $$
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 Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this blizzard warning went out at Feb 15, 5:20 AM AKST, 5 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 15, 5:20 AM AKST, 5 hours 52 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 520 AM AKST Sun Feb 15 2026 .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... Discussion: Areas of fog developed overnight along the northwest Kenai Peninsula and central Cook Inlet and along the Knik Arm and Palmer Hay Flats. Initially, these areas of fog were fairly transient with visibilities varying as these areas of fog drifted around. One blob moved north along the Parks Highway towards Talkeetna where visibilities dropped to under a half mile. By early this morning, fog and low stratus was starting to fill in across the northern Cook Inlet, the Anchorage Bowl, and the Wasilla/Palmer area. And while conditions are starting to improve as mid and higher level cloud cover works in from the west, pockets of dense fog may linger for several more hours this morning. Quasi-zonal flow will turn more longitudinal today as an upper ridge starts to amplify over the Northern Pacific and Bering Sea. This amplification will continue into Monday as a strong low drops southwards across the Panhandle and eastern Gulf, and another strong low lifts up towards the Gulf of Anadyr in the western Bering Sea. For today, a shortwave trough translating eastwards just south of Norton Sound will bring increased cloud cover and a chance for light snow showers along the western slopes of the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains, and the some lower end snow chances for the Mat Valley by early to mid afternoon then moving into the Copper Basin with increased snow chances for the western slopes of the Wrangells and the eastern Alaska Range. Any snowfall amounts look light as this system will move through quickly and have limited moisture to work with. The bigger story for the next few days will be colder temperatures and strong gap winds along the coast. A series of low amplitude short-waves embedded in the fast westerly flow will cross Southcentral today, reinforcing the Arctic air and maintaining gap winds.The aforementioned ridge will further amplify tonight and Monday as it shifts eastward toward western Alaska. As a result, a cold trough up over northwest AK, will be forced southward and across Southcentral tonight and Monday, bringing even colder air with it. This will once again cause gap winds along the coast to strengthen. The track of the short-wave (and area of strongest cold air advection) will be across the Copper River Basin. This will bring the strongest winds to Valdez/Thompson Pass and the Copper River Delta on Monday. The lack of a deep surface low in the Gulf is the one piece missing to make this a high end wind event. Still, expect strong and gusty winds. The bottom line for coastal areas: winds will remain elevated through at least Monday, with some fluctuations in strength as various short-waves and surges of cold air move through. Meanwhile, much colder temperatures will settle over the region, with each day colder than the previous. - PP/SEB && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)... Key Points: *A Blizzard Watch remains in effect for the southwest coastline as a strong front, associated with a strong Bering Low, pushes inland Sunday night through late Monday. Impacts include moderate to heavy snowfall, wind gusts up to 50 mph and reduced visibilities down to a quarter mile. Currently, there is a front moving through the Lower Kuskokwim Valley, causing snowfall and gusty winds. Visibility is being reduced due to blowing snow in this area. Elsewhere, a ridge is allowing for calmer and clearer conditions across most of the Southwest Mainland and the Aleutians. These conditions will not last long as a large moisture plume pushes up from the North Pacific into the Bering. This moisture plume is riding along a front from a low pushing toward the Gulf of Anadyr. This front will quickly push across the Aleutians, arriving at the Southwest Mainland by Monday morning. The Aleutians will see moderate to heavy precipitation and gusty southerly winds as the front passes. A rain/snow mix or rain is the expected precipitation type due to warm air advection. Once the front pushes onshore, gusty southeast winds and snowfall will impact the Southwest coastline. Blowing snow which could reduce visibility below a quarter of a mile is possible. Due to this threat, the Blizzard Watch remains in effect. Snowfall is expected in the interior as the front moves inland, but wind speeds will not be great enough for blizzard conditions. The front will dissipate by Tuesday, leading to calmer and clearer conditions for a short time. Behind the front is another plume of moisture. This thin plume will stretch from the Western Aleutians, through the Pribilof Islands, to the Kuskokwim Delta by Tuesday. Another round of snowfall is expected along with elevated wind speeds. It is possible that blowing snow could impact the Kuskokwim Delta with this event, but there is some uncertainty in exact wind speeds. -JAR/AB && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7 - Wednesday through Saturday)... Models are in fair agreement with the pattern through the end of next week. A weak front moves through Southcentral Wednesday. This will bring a chance for light snow across the region. After Wednesday, a ridge builds in the Western Aleutians and Bering. A shortwave moves into the Western Aleutians Thursday, which will increase the chance for rain. This shortwave is broken up by the building ridge though, which moves to the Central Aleutians by Saturday. As the ridge builds to the west, an Arctic trough digs southward across mainland Alaska. This trough moves through Southwest Alaska Wednesday and Thursday, which will increase the chance for light snow across the Kuskokwim Valley. Southcentral looks to be dry as the trough moves through. Constant northerly winds will cool temperatures across the mainland through the end of the week. By Friday, a vertically stacked low moves into the northern Gulf. The primary concern with this will be gap winds through the Barren Islands starting Thursday. Conditions for gusty gap winds on Friday look favorable from Kodiak Island through the AKPen as well. Gap wind chances persist into Saturday as the low continues to move southeast. PA && .AVIATION... PANC...Low end MVFR to IFR visibility and IFR to LIFR ceilings will most likely prevail through most of the morning hours of the TAF period. Areas of fog can be seen this morning on satellite along the Knik Arm, across Anchorage, and farther south down the Cook Inlet. Expect fog to begin to scatter out around 18z to 20z. Winds will generally be light and southerly this morning, though will turn more southeasterly after 00z with occasional gusts over 10 knots possible. &&
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 3:15 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Feb 14, 3:19 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Feb 14, 3:19 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Feb 14, 3:46 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Feb 14, 3:46 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Feb 15, 12:59 AM AKST | Dense Fog Advisory | AFC | Anchorage Municipality, Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna | 8 hr |
| Feb 15, 3:29 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Feb 15, 3:29 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Feb 15, 3:29 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Feb 15, 3:30 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Feb 15, 3:58 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 47 hr | |
| Feb 15, 3:58 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 35 hr | |
| Feb 15, 10:54 AM AKST | Wind Advisory | AFC | Chugach Census Area | 28 hr |
| Feb 15, 11:12 AM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFC | Dillingham Census Area | 37 hr |
Nearby
Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2026Every blizzard warning in 2026
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.