Gale Warning 49, NWS Fairbanks, AK

791 
FZAK51 PAFG 210048
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

Arctic Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one-
third of the combined wind-wave and swell height.

PKZ811-211500-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort out to 15 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 45 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT...S winds 50 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 45 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. 
.MON...N winds 25 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. 
.TUE...NW winds 25 kt. 
.WED...N winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ812-211500-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin out to 15 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT...S winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON...NW winds 20 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...NW winds 15 kt. 
.WED...N winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ813-211500-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 20 kt. 
.SAT...SE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON...NW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. 
.TUE...NW winds 15 kt. 
.WED...N winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ814-211500-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island out to 15 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

.TONIGHT...S winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...SE winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON...W winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 35 kt. 
.TUE...W winds 20 kt. 
.WED...N winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ815-211500-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point out to 15 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

.TONIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...SE winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.MON...W winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 45 kt. 
.TUE...W winds 30 kt. 
.WED...W winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ857-211500-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort from 15 to 85 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt increasing to 45 kt. Blowing snow. Snow.
Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT...S winds 50 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.MON...NW winds 20 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...NW winds 20 kt. 
.WED...N winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ858-211500-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin from 15 to 85 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 20 kt increasing to 35 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby
1 NM or less. 
.SAT...S winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON...NW winds 20 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...NW winds 20 kt. 
.WED...N winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ859-211500-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 15 to 75 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 25 kt. 
.SAT...SE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON...NW winds 20 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...N winds 15 kt. 
.WED...N winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ860-211500-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 15 to 80 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...SE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SAT NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.SUN...SW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. 
.TUE...W winds 15 kt. 
.WED...N winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ861-211500-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 15 to 75 NM-
348 PM AKST Fri Feb 20 2026

.TONIGHT...S winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...SE winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...SW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or
less. 
.MON...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. Vsby 1 NM or less. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Snow.
.TUE...W winds 20 kt. 
.WED...NW winds 20 kt.  

$$

Feb 26

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
230 PM AKST Thu Feb 19 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
Snow showers persist today for the Central and Eastern Interior,
dropping several inches of new snow in many locations. Expect snow
showers to gradually weaken through the evening, with areas along
the Alaska range and in the eastern Interior holding onto snow
showers into tonight. A much colder and drier airmass behind this
week's winter storm has already settled into Western Alaska and
should overspread the rest of the state by tomorrow resulting in sub
zero highs once again and lows in the -20 to -40 degree range.

Focus shifts to the next multi-day winter storm expected to impact
the majority of the state Saturday through mid next week. Winter
Storm Watches for blizzard conditions have already been issued from
the Seward Peninsula to the North Slope and for all of the Brooks
Range, including the Dalton Highway. Dangerous travel conditions
likely for several days both on and off the road system for a
majority of Northern Alaska. Heavy precipitation and strong winds
begin as early as Friday evening in the Bering Strait, overspreading
the West Coast and NW Arctic Coast on Saturday then expanding
eastward Sunday. Watching the potential for mixed precipitation and
temperatures near or above freezing in Coastal areas of Western
Alaska south of Point Hope. While the finer details are still being
worked out for this next event, confidence is increasing in
widespread heavy snow and blizzard conditions for Northern and
Western Alaska. There are growing concerns for anomalously high
snowfall accumulations for the Arctic Coast based on latest forecast
guidance. Continue checking back for the latest updates on this next
impactful winter storm. Additional winter weather headlines may be
needed for the Interior in the coming days as this entire systems
pushes southward early next week.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...

Central and Eastern Interior...

- Scattered snow showers continue this evening and tonight for the
Eastern Interior. Additional accumulations of 1 to 3 inches possible.

- Wind Advisory is in effect for the Upper Tanana Valley tonight
through late Friday morning for wind gusts up to 45 mph.

- Much colder temperatures Friday through the weekend with lows
  potentially below -30F Saturday and Sunday mornings.

West Coast and Western Interior...

- Much colder air tonight and Friday with double digit sub zero low
temperatures.

- A series of Winter Storm Watches have been issued for the Seward
Peninsula, Baldwin Peninsula, and Noatak Valley for potential
blizzard conditions beginning late Friday night.

- A chance for a wintry mix is possible across the portions of the
YK-Delta coast, Seward Peninsula, and  St. Lawrence Island. Chances
for the mixed precipitation will  start late Friday, early Saturday
morning.

- Significant snowfall accumulations expected this weekend north of
the Seward Peninsula, including Kotzebue and surrounding areas.

North Slope and Brooks Range...

- Another significant multi-day winter storm to impact the Arctic
Coast and North Slope from Saturday through at least Monday with
widespread blizzard conditions and heavy snow. Wind gusts may reach
55-70 mph along the NW Arctic Coast and through the Brooks Range.

- Anomalously heavy snow accumulations expected for the North Slope
and Arctic Coast

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
Winter storm warnings remain in effect across the Interior as
convective snow showers persist through the Central and Eastern
Interior through this evening. Upper troughing continues to deepen
over Northern Alaska with the its axis and associated upper level
boundary directly over Fairbanks and the Central Interior. The
surface front will continue eastward into the Eastern Interior
tonight, ushering a much colder airmass for the next several days.
Today's set up is prime for convective snow showers capable of
producing snowfall rates up to 1" per hour with very high snow to
liquid ratios. Fairbanks 12z RAOB soundings indicated very steep
lapse rates of 8.0C/km above an inversion 2400 ft agl. Lift along
both the surface and upper level boundaries combined with a
saturated dendritic growth zone and 25-35 kts of shear have resulted
in heavy convective snow showers today. Cold air advection along and
just behind the front may steepen lapse rates even more, adding
additional instability for heavy snow showers. As of 1 PM, Fairbanks
has picked up an additional 5 inches of snow since midnight with
surrounding areas and those at higher elevations observing even
more. PVA ahead of an upper level shortwave dropping south from the
north slope should promote additional lift for continued snow shower
activity into tonight with satellite and radar imagery confirming
this threat. Will note that as cold air advection continues this
evening, the entire column becomes colder than the dendritic growth
zone, leading to snow grains rather than larger snow flakes. Snow
showers later this evening and tonight will likely have much lower
snow to liquid ratios due to the small snowflakes, slowing down the
rate of accumulations, but still expect windy conditions and low
visibility under any snow shower.

Looking over the West Coast, a ridge continues to build up over the
Bering Sea setting up northerly flow aloft and further advecting the
aforementioned arctic airmass into the state. Double digit sub zero
low temperatures expected tonight for the west and those areas that
clear out. The core of the arctic air shifts east into the weekend,
becoming centered over the Eastern Interior. With 850mb temps as low
as -25 to -30C, would not be surprised for typical cold valleys to
reach -40F on Saturday morning and possibly Sunday morning.

Focus now shifts to a significant multi day winter storm expected to
impact the majority of Western and Northern Alaska Friday evening
through at least early next week. Mid and long range guidance has
been consistent in showing a deep fetch of tropical moisture in the
vicinity of Hawaii being advected northward around a North Pacific
high and into the Arctic. With strong high pressure in place for
several days, the atmospheric river of moisture will be aimed at
the West and Northwest Coast Friday evening through Monday. ECMWF
EFI has highlights a significant portion of the NW Arctic Coast and
nearly all of the North Slope for the possibility of significant
snowfall amounts well outside of climatology for this time of year.
With how long this atmospheric river will be aimed a the state,
would not be surprised to see record breaking daily snowfall amounts
from Kotzebue northward and across much of the North Slope.  In
addition, with the building ridge, strong southwest flow advects a
warmer airmass northward with highs near or above freezing in
Coastal areas on the Seward Peninsula and points southward. These
areas have a better chance at seeing a transition to freezing rain
or rain at times Saturday and Sunday before colder air advects back
in on the backside of this entire system.

Widespread blizzard conditions and high winds expected with this
next system within the Bering Straight, Around Kotzebue and the NW
Arctic Coast, through the majority of the Brooks Range and along the
North Slope.  Southerly winds along the coast may gust over 60-70
mph at times while southerly gap winds through the Brooks Range and
along the Dalton Highway could exceed 50+ mph  later this weekend
and into early next week.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...

The multi day significant winter storm persists into the long term
as the threat for widespread significant snowfall accumulations push
into the interior. The strong ridge over the North Pacific,
directing an intense atmospheric river into Alaska, slowly flattens
out end of the weekend and into Monday as lower pressure traverses
the Arctic Coast. As the ridge flattens and the entire axis shifts
into Northwest Canada, strong moisture advection becomes aimed at
the West Coast and Interior, shifting the impacts further south. This
pattern supports widespread heavy snowfall accumulations throughout
the interior as tropical moisture advects in from the
west/southwest. Mid range guidance does show strong wind shear
through the column, which may again lead to fracturing dendrites and
lower snow to liquid ratios. With that said, even with SLRs closer
to 10:1 or 12:1, the anomalously high amounts of QPF expected may
still result in broken daily snowfall records.

Mid week and beyond, confidence is increasing in another extended
stretch of arctic air for the majority of Northern Alaska. Longer
range guidance has been consistent showing an arctic trough settling
over the state by midweek, with 850mb temps in the -25 to -35C range
through next weekend. Double digit sub zero temperatures likely each
morning for the majority of the Interior and Northern Alaska in the
extended range.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Storm Watch for AKZ801-814>818-820>823.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ834-838>847.
     Wind Advisory for AKZ836.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ807.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ808-809-812-855.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810-811-856>858.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ817-854.
&&