Blizzard Warning 31, NWS Fairbanks, AK

366 
WWAK41 PAFG 232030
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1230 PM AKDT Thu Apr 23 2026

AKZ801-240000-
/O.EXT.PAFG.BZ.W.0031.000000T0000Z-260424T0000Z/
Western Arctic Coast-
Including the cities of Point Lay, Cape Lisburne, and Point Hope
1230 PM AKDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM AKDT THIS AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations up to 
  one inch. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE...Point Lay.

* WHEN...Until 4 PM AKDT this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Travel may be impacted. Areas of blowing snow could 
  reduce visibility.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Wind speeds will begin to subside by the 
  early afternoon. Snow showers may continue to linger into the 
  evening hours which may keep visibility slightly reduced.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, 
have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with 
your vehicle.

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are 
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds 
are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel 
extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel, have a 
winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay in your 
vehicle.

&&

$$

ST

597 
WWAK41 PAFG 232234
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
234 PM AKDT Thu Apr 23 2026

AKZ801-240600-
/O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0031.000000T0000Z-260424T0000Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.WW.Y.0062.260423T2234Z-260424T0600Z/
Western Arctic Coast-
Including the cities of Point Lay, Cape Lisburne, and Point Hope
234 PM AKDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Additional snow 
  accumulations up to one inch.

* WHERE...Point Lay.

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

* IMPACTS...Travel may be impacted. Areas of blowing snow could 
  reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

&&

$$

ST

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
625 AM AKDT Thu Apr 23 2026

.SYNOPSIS...

A low pressure system in the Bering Sea will support elevated
gusts over the Bering Strait through Thursday evening and early
Friday morning. Periods of scattered rain and snow showers are
likely across Northern Alaska as the last remnants of this low
exit the area. Southerly flow into the Interior and warm air
advection is expected to increase high temperatures. These
temperatures will be more representative of spring and are likely
to last into the weekend and through next week. Sunday morning,
another low pressure system will arrive in the Southern Bering
Sea, bringing rain to the West Coast and portions of the North
Slope.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...

- Predominant strong, southerly flow over the Alaska Range will
  support a Chinook, leading to much warmer conditions. Most
  locations will see highs climb well into the 40s and 50s or more
  near normal levels for this time of year. These high
  temperatures are very likely to persist through the week next
  week.

- Strong southerly winds through the Alaska Range are expected
  through Friday. A High Wind Warning is in effect for Isabel Pass
  for gusts reaching 75 mph. A Wind Advisory is in effect for
  Windy Pass through Friday for southerly wind gusts up to 65 mph.
  Travel could be difficult at times.

West Coast and Western Interior...

- A series of strong low pressure systems moving north through the
  Bering Sea will send multiple fronts into Western Alaska this
  week into early next week with a mix of rain/snow showers, and
  gusty winds.

- Predominant southerly flow will support much warmer conditions
  building in, as most locations see highs climb well into the 30s
  and 40s or more near normal levels for this time of year to
  finish out the week. These high temperatures are very likely to
  persist through the week next week.

- Blizzard Warnings remain in effect through Thursday for St.
  Lawrence Island and the Bering Strait for strong winds and
  moderate to heavy bands of snow. A Winter Weather Advisory
  remains in effect through Thursday for most of the Seward
  Peninsula for gusty winds and snow.

North Slope and Brooks Range..

- Lingering snow showers are expected through early next week and
  are likely to remain light and mainly focused in the Brooks
  Range.

- Once we see warmer temperatures move into place Thursday through
  Saturday, they are expected to hold steady into next week with
  highs in the 20s/30s across the Arctic Coast and Plains to
  30s/40s in the Brooks Range and overnight lows in the teens/20s.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
Thursday through Saturday.

A 1030 mb high pressure system aloft continues to extend an upper
level ridge over Northern Alaska, bringing temporarily dry
conditions to the Interior and North Slope. Near Southwest Alaska,
a 970 mb low has started making its way north into the Bering Sea.
An atmospheric river, a large flow of moisture transport in the
upper levels, is expected to fuel this system by tapping into
moisture at around 10 to 20 degrees north. While this system has
already brought a few inches of snow to the YK Delta, it will
continue to progress over the Seward Peninsula and Kotzebue
Sound. Additional snowfall of up to an inch is possible for the YK
Delta, while blizzard conditions remain likely for St. Lawrence
Island and the Bering Strait through Thursday afternoon as the
low moves north.

Winds will likely be elevated in the Central Brooks Range around
the Atigun Pass area through Thursday night. A tight pressure gradient
of around 4 to 5 mb is expected to form across the Alaska Range
through Friday afternoon. This pressure gradient combined with
multiple vorticity maximums and a mountain wave support southerly
winds that could reach 35 to 45 mph sustained with gusts up to 65
mph possible in Windy Pass and up to 75 mph in Isabel Pass.
Southerly flow into the Interior is expected to increase high
temperatures into the low to mid 50s starting Thursday into the
weekend and next week in the form of a Chinook. As this is
expected to be a relatively strong Chinook pattern, we are
primarily utilizing the ECMFW to communicate the highest possible
temperatures. This warm-up will be widespread across Northern
Alaska, with the West Coast reaching 30 to 40 above and the North
Slope reaching 10 to 20 above on the coastlines and 30 to 40 above
in the Brooks Range. There is uncertainty regarding low
temperatures, as they are hovering around the freezing range. It
is very possible that many locations could see overnight low
tempatures below freezing.

Towards the tail end of the short term forecast period, a 955 mb
low is expected to enter the Southern Bering Sea late Saturday
into early Sunday. Models show general agreement that most
precipitation from this system will be in the form of rain,
especially over portions of the West Coast and North Slope.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
Sunday through next Thursday.

The extended forecast calls for another Bering Sea low reaching
the YK Delta by late Saturday into early Sunday. Models are
showing general agreement for abundant moisture transport and
above freezing surface conditions, insinuating precipitation being
almost entirely rain. Areas that could expect rain include the YK
Delta, West Coast, Western Interior, and North Slope. High
temperatures in the low to mid 50s are expected to persist for the
Interior. These will be the warmest temperatures we have seen
since October of last year, and will likely be our start for
spring-like conditions this year.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ801.
     High Wind Warning for AKZ849.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ816>818-822-823.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ820-821.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ827.
     Wind Advisory for AKZ847.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801-802-850-853.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ803.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ805-806.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ807-855.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ808.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ809-810.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812-815-857-860.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ813-859.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ814.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816.
     Gale Warning for PKZ817.
     Gale Warning for PKZ851-854.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ852.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ856.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ858-861.
&&

Srinivasan