Blizzard and Winter Storm in Alaska, February 16 to 20, 2026

Name: Blizzard and Winter Storm in Alaska, February 16 to 20, 2026
Start: 2026-02-16T11:20
End: 2026-02-20T09:57
Location: Alaska

February 16 to 20, 2026 · NWS AFG · 22 events in 22 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 22 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 22

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AFG wrote it up.

A strong Bering Sea low moves into the Gulf of Anadyr, allowing for a strong front to move into Western Alaska. As the front approached the West Coast, strong east/southeast winds brought blizzard and whiteout conditions to much of the Seward Peninsula south. A secondary push of moisture brought by a shortwave system pushed off the Bering Sea low allowed for widespread heavy snow across St. Lawrence Island, the southern Seward Peninsula, and parts of the Western Interior. As the front pushed eastward across the state, snow squalls developed over portions of the Central Interior, leading to periods of heavy snowfall and gusty winds.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 16, 4:55 AM AKST, 6 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 16, 4:55 AM AKST, 6 hours 25 minutes before

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
455 AM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
More unsettling weather is expected to move over the West Coast
later today as a strong low moves into the Anadyr Gulf and swings
a front across the Bering Sea. This will bring widespread blizzard
potentials today along coastal areas south of the Seward
Peninsula, with wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph. These will
eventually move north of the Seward Peninsula, allowing for more
blizzard chances along northern and eastern portions of the
Kotzebue Sound beginning Tuesday. Another system will quickly
follow behind, bringing widespread, heavy snowfall with totals
between 6" and 12" across western Alaska. Remnants from this
second system will work their way across the Interior, bringing
another round of snow showers by Tuesday night.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Snow showers will continue to linger through the morning as
  remnants from the previous system move east.

- Today, for most spots, will be a drying day and clear skies
  briefly return late tonight leading to cold temps dropping into
  the 20s and 30s below zero.

- Tuesday will warm back up as clouds move in. There's a slight
  chance for light snow in the morning, though any snow won't
  accumulate too much (1 inch or less) and ends by the afternoon.

- Wednesday comes with steadier and heavier snow which may
  continue into Thursday. Several inches of snow are possible.
	- In and east of Fairbanks, snowfall between 1" and 3" is
   possible.
	- Northwest of Fairbanks, snowfall between 4" and 7" is
   possible.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- A strong front brings heavy snow and strong wind gusts (60+ mph
  possible along the coast) this morning, lasting through Tuesday
  morning.
	- Blizzard conditions are likely for much of the coastline.
	- Additional snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are possible
   along the coast. The highest accumulations looks to be on the
   Southern Seward Peninsula and St. Lawrence Island.

- Periods of snow and gusty winds continue through Wednesday in
  most spots. Strong winds and moderate to heavy snow is likely
  from Kotzebue Sound to Point Hope Tuesday afternoon into
  Wednesday.

- Significant blowing and drifting snow as well as whiteout
  conditions are possible as the front progresses northward
  through Wednesday.

- Drier and colder weather begins to settle into the region
  towards the end of the week.

North Slope and Brooks Range..
- Mostly quiet weather continues through this afternoon. More
  active weather arriving tonight into Tuesday.

- Light snow is expected to move onto the Western Brooks Range and
  Chukchi Sea Coast Tuesday morning bringing a fresh 1 to 3
  inches of blowable snow.

- Strong east/southeast winds expected for most of the day Tuesday
  with blizzard conditions possible once again in Point Lay, Point
  Hope and Wainwright.
	- Point Hope could see wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph Tuesday and
   begin to weaken Wednesday morning.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
A shortwave trough continues to dig to the S/SE, which will
continue to provide light snow showers for the Upper Tanana and
the Alaska Range through the early morning. A good portion of the
West Coast and Western Interior are seeing temperatures between
20 and 30 below zero, as a ridge continues to build in over the
Bering Sea, stretching up to the Chukchi. As the day goes on, the
ridge will continue to amplify and shift east. This will bring
minus 25 to minus 35 degree temperatures across the Central and
Eastern Interior by Tuesday morning.

The main area of concern for the short-term is the strong Bering
Sea low moving into the Anadyr Gulf by this afternoon. Associated
with this system is a pronounced series of fronts that will move
across the state over the next couple of days. The first front
will move over St. Lawrence Island this morning, bringing strong
easterly winds in excess of 60 mph. The front will continue to
progress to the NE, reaching the Seward Peninsula by this
afternoon/evening. In addition to the strong winds, heavy snow
will accompany this front. With these, widespread blizzard
conditions are expected today through Tuesday morning from the
Seward Peninsula south. Areas to the north of the Seward Peninsula
will begin seeing impacts from this front by late tonight and
persist through Wednesday morning. Blizzard conditions are
possible along the Baldwin Peninsula and the NW Arctic Coast
during these times with winds gusting between 50 and 60 mph. As
this front continues to move easy and taper off, another shortwave
will bring another system across the Bering. This system will
have a much better source of moisture which will allow for
additional widespread snowfall. Most spots will see around 6
inches with localized areas seeing up to 12 inches along the
coast.

The low in the Anadyr Gulf will shift east Wednesday morning as
the second system moves across the West Coast/Western Interior.
This will allow for the remnants of this system to progress across
the Interior. With this, areas NW of Fairbanks can expect
snowfall between 4" and 7", while the rest of the Central and
Eastern Interior will see between 1" and 3". This will also put an
end to a very short cold snap across eastern Alaska, allowing for
high temperatures in the teens and lows around zero through
Thursday.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
Another cooling trend is expected to follow by the end of the
week as models are in agreement in a ridge building up over the
Bering and a trough digging south into the Gulf of Alaska. Models
continue to show the possibility for a system to ride up the ridge
and move over western Alaska by Friday night. While this system
will be much weaker compared to the previous ones, models
continue to show the possibility for an abundance of moisture to
accompany this system. While widespread snow is likely to move
across the state once again, models are showing the YK-Delta and
St. Lawrence Island to see the greatest snowfall potential with
this system. There is still quite a bit of disagreement amongst
models as they are handling the warmer air mass differently,
likely affecting their snow ratios. Some are also showing the
slightest of chances for a rain/snow mix for the YK-Delta over the
weekend. This will continue to be monitored closely over the next
several model runs.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Blizzard Warning for AKZ801-815-817.
     Winter Storm Watch for AKZ828>830-851-852.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ813-814-816-819-823-824.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ818-826.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ820>822-825-827.
PK...Gale Warning for PKZ801-850.
     Gale Warning for PKZ802.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ803.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ804.
     Gale Warning for PKZ805.
     Gale Warning for PKZ806.
     Gale Warning for PKZ807>810-855-856.
     Gale Warning for PKZ811.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812-858.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ813-859.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ815.
     Storm Warning for PKZ816.
     Gale Warning for PKZ817.
     Storm Warning for PKZ851.
     Gale Warning for PKZ852.
     Gale Warning for PKZ853.
     Gale Warning for PKZ854.
     Gale Warning for PKZ857.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ861.
&&

Twombly

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 16, 9:52 AM AKST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
952 AM AKST Mon Feb 16 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0951 AM     Snow             5 N College             64.94N 147.81W
02/16/2026  M12.8 Inch       Fairbanks North StaAK   Trained Spotter

            Storm total snow: 6am Saturday 2/14/26 to
            3pm Sunday 2/15/26.

&&

BB

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 blizzard, 8 winter storm, 6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Shishmaref

When: February 16, 11:20 AM AKST to February 17, 12:15 AM AKST
Where: Shishmaref forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 64.833, -163.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Shishmaref AWOS (PASH) first reported blizzard conditions at 11:20L on 2/16 and continued through 00:15L on 2/17. Blizzard conditions were met at 14:44L on 2/16. Sustained winds were at or above 35 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles for well over 3 hours. A peak observation was recorded at 22:44L on 2/16 with heavy snow, sustained winds at 44 mph gusting to 51 mph, and 1/4 mile visibility.

Blizzard, St. Lawrence Island

When: February 16, 12:29 PM AKST to 8:35 PM AKST
Where: St. Lawrence Island forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 64.833, -163.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Gambell AWOS (PAGM) first reported blizzard conditions at 12:29L on 2/16 and continued through 20:35L on 2/16. Blizzard conditions were met at 15:30L on 2/16. The site reported consistent winds greater than 35 mph and visibilities at or below 1/4 miles for well over 3 hours. A peak observation was recorded at 17:56L on 2/16 with 55 mph sustained winds gusting to 68 mph, heavy snow, ice fog, and visibility less than 1/4 miles.

Blizzard, Yukon Delta Coast

When: February 16, 12:41 PM AKST to 7:43 PM AKST
Where: Yukon Delta Coast forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 61.991, -164.553 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Hooper Bay AWOS (PAHP) first reported blizzard conditions at 12:41L on 2/16 and continued through 19:43L on 2/16. Blizzard conditions were met at 15:45L on 2/16. A nearby AWOS site at Chevak (PAVA) also reported consistent winds above 35 mph and visibilities less than or equal to 1/4 miles for over 3 hours as well. A peak observation was recorded at the Hooper Bay AWOS (PAHP) at 16:05L on 2/16 with 44 mph sustained winds gusting to 50 mph, heavy snow, ice fog, and visibility at 1/8 miles.

Blizzard, Southern Seward Peninsula Coast

When: February 16, 3:13 PM AKST to 11:56 PM AKST
Where: Southern Seward Peninsula Coast forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 64.833, -163.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Golovin AWOS site (PAGL) first reported blizzard conditions at 15:13L on 2/16 and continued to report blizzard conditions through 23:56L on 2/16. Blizzard conditions were met at 18:25L on 2/16. Winds were consistently greater than 35 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles for well over 3 hours. A peak observation was recorded at 21:13L on 2/16 with sustained winds at 40 mph gusting to 55 mph, heavy snow, freezing fog, and visibility at 1/4 miles.

Blizzard, Bering Strait Coast

When: February 16, 8:10 PM AKST to February 17, 5:39 PM AKST
Where: Bering Strait Coast forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 64.833, -163.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Wales AWOS site (PAIW) first reported blizzard conditions at 20:10L on 2/16 and continued through 17:39L on 2/17. Blizzard conditions were met at 23:10L on 2/16. Winds were consistently greater than 35 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles for well over 3 hours. A peak observation was recorded at 21:30L on 2/16 with 56 mph sustained winds gusting to 66 mph, heavy snow, ice fog, and visibility less than 1/4 miles. Wind observations went down from 21:35L on 2/16 to 02:35L on 2/17, but winds were gusting well over 50 to 60 mph on each end of the outage. Additionally, blizzard conditions stopped briefly between the hours of 04:30L to 0800L on 2/17, but quickly started again shortly afterwards.

Blizzard, Baldwin Peninsula

When: February 16, 9:27 PM AKST to February 18, 2:15 AM AKST
Where: Baldwin Peninsula forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 66.833, -161.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kotzebue AWOS (PAOT) first reported blizzard conditions at 21:27L on 2/16 and continued through 02:15L on 2/18. Blizzard conditions were met at 00:30L on 2/17. Winds were consistently between 45 to 60 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles for well over 24 hours. A peak observation was recorded at 00:53L on 2/17 with sustained winds at 45 mph gusting to 70 mph, blowing snow, and visibility at 1/4 miles.

Blizzard, Kivalina and Red Dog Dock

When: February 16, 9:40 PM AKST to February 18, 12:05 AM AKST
Where: Kivalina and Red Dog Dock forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 66.833, -161.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kivalina AWOS (PAVL) first reported blizzard conditions at 21:40L on 2/16 and continued through 00:05L on 2/18. Blizzard conditions were met at 00:55L on 2/17. Winds were consistently above 35 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles for well over 24 hours. A peak observation was recorded at 07:53L on 2/17 with sustained winds at 39 mph gusting to 62 mph, ice fog, and visibility at 1/4 miles.

Heavy Snow, Interior Seward Peninsula

When: February 16, 9:45 PM AKST to February 17, 6:30 PM AKST
Where: Interior Seward Peninsula forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 64.833, -163.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Paragon Creek Snotel reported 6 inches of snow from 2/16 to 2/17. Despite this SNOTEL being on the leeward side of the mountains, given the mesoscale and synoptic set up of the event, higher snowfall totals were likely on the windward side of the mountains. Additionally, the Elim AWOS (PFEL) to the south reported consistent heavy snow and reduced visibilities between 21:45L on 2/16 through 18:30L on 2/17. This further justifies the likelihood of heavy snowfall occuring in the mountains of the central Seward Peninsula.

Winter Storm, Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills

When: February 16, 9:45 PM AKST to February 17, 6:30 PM AKST
Where: Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 64.833, -163.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Elim AWOS (PFEL) reported moderate to heavy snowfall, freezing fog, and reduced visibilities down to 1/4 miles at times between 21:45L on 2/16 through 18:30L on 2/17. Numerous observations from Elim to Unalakleet reported reduced visibilities due to heavy snow the afternoon of 2/16 to 2/17. A peak observation of 1/4 miles visibility, heavy snow, and freezing fog was reported at the Elim AWOS (PFEL) at 22:36L on 2/16.

Winter Storm, Lower Kobuk Valley

When: February 17, 2:41 AM AKST to 9:53 PM AKST
Where: Lower Kobuk Valley forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 66.833, -161.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Selawik AWOS (PASK) first reported winter storm conditions at 02:41L on 2/17 and continued through 21:53L on 2/17. This equates to 19 consecutive hours of heavy snow, ice fog, winds gusting at or above 30 to 35 mph, and visibilities at or below 1/2 miles. A peak observation was recorded at 16:51L on 2/17 with sustained winds at 32 mph gusting to 38 mph, heavy snow, ice fog, and visibility less than 1/4 miles.

Heavy Snow, Noatak Valley

When: February 17, 12:00 PM AKST to February 18, 12:00 PM AKST
Where: Noatak Valley forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 66.833, -161.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kelly Station SNOTEL reported a snow depth increase from 21 inches on 2/17 at 12:00L to 31 inches on 2/18 at 12:00L. The storm total snow amount for this event was 10 inches within 24 hours. This values exceeds the snowfall criteria threshold of greater than 7 inches falling in 24 hours for this forecast zone.

Heavy Snow, Nenana

When: February 17, 4:00 PM AKST to February 19, 5:00 PM AKST
Where: Nenana forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 65.700, -152.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Nenana SNOTEL (NESA2) reported a snow depth increase of 9 inches in less than 24 hours from 2/17 at 16:00L to 2/18 at 11:00L. Additionally, an Alaska 511 report at 05:15L on 2/18 reported snowfall totals between 4 to 10 inches along the Parks Highway from MP 276 to MP 316. A peak observation was recorded at the Nenana ASOS site (PANN) at 09:21L on 2/18 with snow, ice fog, 1/4 mile visibility, and sustained winds at 14 mph gusting to 21 mph.

Heavy Snow, Northern Denali Borough

When: February 18, 5:00 AM AKST to February 19, 5:00 PM AKST
Where: Northern Denali Borough forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 63.789, -150.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter located in Healy, Alaska reported a storm total snow amount of 11 inches between the hours of 5:00L on 2/18 through 17:51L on 2/18. Additionally, a social media comment on a Facebook post reported an estimated storm total snow amount of 16.5 inches in Anderson at 19:47L on 2/18. Frequent snow squalls were observed on radar between 14:00L and 17:00L on 2/19 throughout the Middle Tanana Valley, further supporting heavy snowfall amounts across the Northern Denali Borough.

Winter Storm, White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River

When: February 18, 8:21 AM AKST to February 20, 9:57 AM AKST
Where: White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 65.700, -152.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Alaska 511 first started reporting difficult road conditions along Eagle Summit MP101 to MP114 at 08:21L on 2/18. The reports detailed blowing/drifting snow conditions with icy patches, low visibilities, and winds around 30 mph. The road was closed from 14:25L on 2/19 to 09:57L on 2/20 due to blowing/drifting snow, icy patches, low visibilities, and winds around 35 mph. Conditions were at their lowest between 14:00L on 2/19 to 17:00L on 2/19 due to snow squalls in the area.

Blizzard, Western Arctic Coast

When: February 18, 10:56 AM AKST to February 19, 3:28 PM AKST
Where: Western Arctic Coast forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 69.251, -152.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Point Lay AWOS (PPIZ) first reported blizzard conditions around 10:56L on 2/18 and continued through 15:28L on 2/19. Blizzard conditions were met at 13:56L on 2/18. Winds were consistently above 35 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles throughout the event. A peak observation was recorded at 20:12L on 2/18 with sustained winds at 37 mph gusting to 43 mph, heavy snow, freezing fog, and visibility at 1/4 miles.

Heavy Snow, Upper Chena River Valley

When: February 18, 4:00 PM AKST to February 19, 5:00 PM AKST
Where: Upper Chena River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 64.833, -146.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Munson Ridge SNOTEL reported a snow depth increase from 40 inches at 16:00L on 2/18 to 50 inches at 16:00L on 2/19. The storm total snow amount for this event was 10 inches within 24 hours. This values exceeds the snowfall criteria threshold of greater than 8 inches falling in 24 hours for this forecast zone. Additionally, radar data showed frequent snow squalls over the area between the hours of 14:00L and 17:00L on 2/19. These snow squalls created winter storm conditions of blowing snow, wind gusts greater than 35 mph, visibilities at or below 1/4 miles, and whiteout conditions for multiple hours in the afternoon.

Heavy Snow, Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills

When: February 18, 9:00 PM AKST to February 19, 6:15 PM AKST
Where: Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 64.833, -146.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A verified storm spotter on Old Murphy Dome Road reported a snow depth change of 17.7 inches between 2/17 and 2/19. This report was in direct correlation of radar observed snow squalls that occurred across the Middle Tanana Valley between the hours of 12:20L on 2/19 through 18:15L on 2/19. A peak observation was recorded at the Fairbanks ASOS site (PAFA) at 14:53L on 2/19 with sustained winds of 22 mph gusting to 36 mph, light snow, blowing snow, mist, and visibility at 1 mile.

Winter Storm, Eielson Air Force Base and Salcha

When: February 19, 11:40 AM AKST to 5:00 PM AKST
Where: Eielson Air Force Base and Salcha forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 64.833, -146.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An Alaskan electricity company (GVEA) reported power outages during the afternoon of 2/19 due to blowing snow conditions caused by winds gusting greater than 30 mph and visibilities at or below 1/2 miles. More than 370 people were left without power for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Additionally, the Eielson AFB observation site reported a peak observation at 14:34L on 2/19 with sustained winds at 26 mph gusting to 40 mph, blowing snow, and visibility at 2.25 miles. Snow squalls occurred between the hours of 12:20L and 18:15L across the Middle Tanana Valley, further creating winter storm like conditions throughout the day on 2/19.

Winter Storm, Tanana Flats

When: February 19, 12:20 PM AKST to 6:15 PM AKST
Where: Tanana Flats forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 64.833, -146.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The nearby Fairbanks ASOS (PAFA) site first reported winter storm conditions at 12:20L on 2/19 and continued through 18:15L on 2/19. Radar data showed frequent snow squalls with wind gusts at or above 35 mph, visibility at or below 1/4 miles, and whiteout conditions between the hours of 14:00L on 2/19 through 17:00L on 2/19. A peak observation was recorded at 14:53L on 2/19 with light snow, blowing snow, mist, 1 miles visibility, and sustained winds at 22 mph gusting to 36 mph.

Winter Storm, Chatanika River Valley

When: February 19, 12:20 PM AKST to 6:15 PM AKST
Where: Chatanika River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 64.833, -146.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Two Rivers

When: February 19, 12:20 PM AKST to 6:15 PM AKST
Where: Two Rivers forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 64.833, -146.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An Alaskan electricity company (GVEA) reported power outages during the afternoon of 2/19 due to numerous snow squalls caused by winds gusting greater than 35 mph. More than 700 people were left without power for a couple of hours in the afternoon. This occurred as a direct result of radar verified frequent snow squalls occurring across the Middle Tanana Valley between the hours of 12:20L on 2/19 through 18:15L on 2/19. The nearby Fairbanks ASOS site (PAFA) reported a peak observation at 14:53L on 2/19 with sustained winds at 22 mph gusting to 36 mph, light snow, blowing snow, and visibility at 1 mile.

Winter Storm, Fairbanks Metro Area

When: February 19, 12:20 PM AKST to 6:15 PM AKST
Where: Fairbanks Metro Area forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 64.833, -146.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

WFO Fairbanks employees observed from the office frequent winds gusts greater than 30 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles throughout the afternoon on 2/19. These observations were further confirmed via a social media post from Alaska State Troopers reporting multiple collisions along the southbound lanes of the Richardson Highway between the 12 Mile Bridge and the second Badger Road exit due to blowing snow and low visibilities. These road closures and collisions were visible from the WFO Fairbanks office as well. Additionally, 11.5 inches of snow was recorded at the office over a two day span. A peak observation was recorded at the Fairbanks ASOS site (PAFA) at 14:53L on 2/19 with light snow, blowing snow, mist, 1 mile visibility, and sustained winds at 22 mph gusting to 36 mph.

What these are

Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alaska in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, February 2026

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1318497, 1318699, 1318693, 1318490, 1318498, 1318736, 1318722, 1318495, 1319051, 1319056, 1319053, 1319953, 1319962, 1319057, 1318808, 1319058, 1319944, 1319060, 1319059, 1319946, 1319948, 1319952.