Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2026
Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this red flag warning at May 31, 2026, 1:29 PM AKDT for Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It took effect at Jun 1, 2026, 1:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 7 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
- May 31, 2026, 1:29 PM AKDT (21:29 UTC)
- In effect from
- Jun 1, 2026, 1:00 PM AKDT
- Expired
- Jun 1, 2026, 8:00 PM AKDT
- In force
- 7 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The radar
The Kenai radar (PAHG), 210 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:28 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
Anchorage Iap/Pt. Campbe, (PANC), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 148 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
- 907 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 8 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -43 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 3 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
603 WWAK61 PAFC 312129 RFWAER URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 129 PM AKDT Sun May 31 2026 AKZ711-020600- /O.NEW.PAFC.FW.W.0001.260601T2100Z-260602T0600Z/ 129 PM AKDT Sun May 31 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM AKDT MONDAY FOR HOT DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS FOR PALMER AND BUTTE AREAS... The National Weather Service in Anchorage has issued a Red Flag Warning FOR HOT DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS, which is in effect from 1 PM to 10 PM AKDT Monday. * Winds...Southeast winds up to 15 mph, gusting as high as 20 to 30 mph. * Timing...Monday, from 1 PM to 10 PM. * Relative Humidity...As low as 20 to 30 percent. * Temperatures...As high as 65 degrees Fahrenheit. * Location...Lower Matanuska Valley, specifically around Palmer and Butte. * Impacts...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring now, or will shortly. It is directed toward fire agencies, and through them to the public. && $$
3 follow-up statements
643 WWAK61 PAFC 011243 RFWAER URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 443 AM AKDT Mon Jun 1 2026 AKZ711-020600- /O.CON.PAFC.FW.W.0001.260601T2100Z-260602T0600Z/ 443 AM AKDT Mon Jun 1 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 PM AKDT THIS EVENING FOR HOT DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS FOR PALMER AND BUTTE AREAS... * Winds...Southeast winds up to 15 mph, gusting as high as 20 to 30 mph. * Timing...Today, from 1 PM to 10 PM. * Relative Humidity...As low as 20 to 30 percent. * Temperatures...As high as 65 degrees Fahrenheit. * Location...Lower Matanuska Valley, specifically around Palmer and Butte. * Impacts...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring now, or will shortly. It is directed toward fire agencies, and through them to the public. && $$
936 WWAK61 PAFC 011655 RFWAER URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 855 AM AKDT Mon Jun 1 2026 AKZ711-020400- /O.EXT.PAFC.FW.W.0001.260601T2100Z-260602T0400Z/ 855 AM AKDT Mon Jun 1 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM AKDT THIS EVENING FOR HOT DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS FOR PALMER, BUTTE, AND KNIK RIVER VALLEY... * Winds...Southeast winds up to 15 mph, gusting as high as 20 to 30 mph. * Timing...Today, from 1 PM to 8 PM. * Relative Humidity...As low as 20 to 30 percent. * Temperatures...As high as 65 degrees Fahrenheit. * Location...Lower Matanuska Valley, specifically around Palmer, Butte, and Knik River Valley. * Impacts...Rapid ignition, growth and spread of fires will be possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring now, or will shortly. It is directed toward fire agencies, and through them to the public. && $$
144 WWAK61 PAFC 020355 RFWAER URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 755 PM AKDT Mon Jun 1 2026 AKZ711-020500- /O.EXP.PAFC.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260602T0400Z/ 755 PM AKDT Mon Jun 1 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM AKDT THIS EVENING FOR HOT DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS FOR PALMER, BUTTE, AND KNIK RIVER VALLEY... Temperatures have cooled below 60 degrees and will continue to cool overnight. Relative humidity values are recovering into the 40s and will continue to increase into the overnight hours. Thus, red flag conditions are not expected to continue. $$
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 Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at May 31, 5:26 AM AKDT, 8 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 5:26 AM AKDT, 8 hours 3 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 526 AM AKDT Sun May 31 2026 .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... Isolated showers remain in the forecast over the northern Susitna Valley, along the Alaska Range, Copper River Basin, and south to Valdez through the rest of this morning then become confined toward the Alaska Range this afternoon. Otherwise, many locations away from the Gulf coast can expect some peeks of sunshine this afternoon and evening. The larger weather story shifts to the Gulf as a strong low pressure system lifts into the southwestern Gulf later tonight into Monday. At the same time, strong high pressure building along the northern Gulf Coast will tighten the pressure gradient across coastal Southcentral. Easterly to southeasterly winds will increase Sunday and persist into Monday, especially favored terrain gaps. Gap winds through Turnagain Arm, the Knik River Valley, and Copper River will pick back up both Sunday and Monday afternoons, while Kodiak Island can expect increasing winds and periods of moderate rain as the Gulf system approaches. The strongest winds are expected across marine areas, including portions of Shelikof Strait and the Barren Islands vicinity, where gale-force winds appear likely tonight through Tuesday morning. Looking towards mid week, a building ridge over mainland Alaska continues to support a warming and drying trend for much of Southcentral. After what has felt like endless days of clouds, showers and cooler temperatures, the forecast will finally see increasing sunshine and temperatures gradually climbing. -LM/AS/Rux && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA, BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)... As of this morning, the synoptic setup at the surface shows strong vertically stacked high pressure encompassing the central Bering, which has in effect stalled a Kamchatka front across the Western Aleutians. The other big feature to note is a front lifting northward from the North Pacific. Aloft, as the upper level ridge begins to slowly nudge eastward through this afternoon, an arctic trough digs southward towards Southwest Alaska, which will add upper level support to diurnally driven showers and isolated thunderstorms with a few lightning strikes. The focus for today will likely be along a corridor from Aniak and southwestward along the Kuskokwim and Kilbuck Mountains. With a west to southwest storm motion in place, an isolated storm cannot be ruled out as far southwest as just east of Quinhagak. With the loss of daytime heating this evening, generally expect convective activity to decrease. As a front from a North Pacific low lifts northward Sunday evening, rainfall and northeasterly small craft winds will be on the increase south of the Alaska Peninsula. By Monday morning through the afternoon, sustained winds increase to gales with wind gusts nearing storm force as rainfall moves northward across the Alaska Peninsula. The front likely reaches peak intensity Monday morning with sustained winds approaching storm force for our coastal marine zones south of the Alaska Peninsula with wind gusts topping out in the 50 to 55 kt range. From here, the front begins a weakening trend as the parent area of low pressure remains quasi-stationary and fills across the North Pacific and southwest Gulf. Total rainfall amounts have trended up with this system, and totals generally around a half inch to three-quarters of an inch now seeming likely through Tuesday afternoon. The one exception here will be Chignik, where upslope enhancement could lead to up to 2 inches of rainfall. A warming trend is on the way for Southwest Alaska for the first part of the week with high temperatures climbing to near 70 degrees from Bethel to Lime Village. One area to watch for possible fire weather concerns will be the Crooked Creek and Sleetmute area on Tuesday as a stout northerly flow advects in warmer and drier air from the Interior. Daytime highs on Tuesday for these two locations could very well warm into the low to mid 70s. -AM && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Tuesday through Friday)... Monday's Gulf low should be drifting southwestward back into the North Pacific by Tuesday. A remnant front from the low is forecast to slide westward across the Alaska Peninsula while steadily deteriorating. High pressure then builds over the Bering and interior Alaska for Wednesday and Thursday, with warmer temperatures and daily shower and thunderstorm chances from strong daytime heating. A new North Pacific frontal system tracks into the Aleutians by early Friday with renewed showers and the potential for gusty southeasterly winds from Adak into Cold Bay as the front progresses quickly eastward into Friday night. -BL && .AVIATION... PANC...VFR conditions persist. Southeasterly winds are expected to increase by late morning. Gusts up to 30 is likely with brief gusts to 35 mph possible late this afternoon after 00Z through 08Z/midnight. By Monday morning, winds become light as they shift northerly. &&
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2:07 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 50 hr | |
| May 31, 2:19 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| May 31, 2:19 AM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 13 hr | |
| May 31, 2:21 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| May 31, 2:21 AM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 13 hr | |
| May 31, 11:49 AM AKDT | Flood Watch | AFC | Kodiak Island | 53 hr |
| May 31, 12:07 PM AKDT | Wind Advisory | AFC | Kodiak Island | 35 hr |
| May 31, 3:48 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| May 31, 3:48 PM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 72 hr | |
| May 31, 3:48 PM AKDT | Storm Warning | AFC | 12 hr |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Alaska, 2026Every red flag 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.