Alert archive / Alaska / Red Flag Warnings in 2026

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Anchorage, AK

May 31, 2026Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

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

County Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Anchorage Iap/Pt. Campbe, at 12:00Z on 2026-05-31Temperature 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, Anchorage Iap/Pt. Campbe, at 12:00Z on 2026-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -43 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 2:07 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC50 hr
May 31, 2:19 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC13 hr
May 31, 2:19 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC13 hr
May 31, 2:21 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC13 hr
May 31, 2:21 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC13 hr
May 31, 11:49 AM AKDTFlood WatchAFCKodiak Island53 hr
May 31, 12:07 PM AKDTWind AdvisoryAFCKodiak Island35 hr
May 31, 3:48 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC48 hr
May 31, 3:48 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC72 hr
May 31, 3:48 PM AKDTStorm WarningAFC12 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.