Winter Storm Warning Issued for Central Arctic Plains and Beaufort Sea Coast Through Tuesday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks, AK, has issued a Winter Storm Warning for several regions in Northern Alaska. The alert (VTEC code /O.NEW.PAFG.WS.W.0011.260222T0000Z-260224T1200Z/) indicates that heavy snow and periods of blizzard conditions are likely to impact the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Central Beaufort Sea Coast
• Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast
• Central Arctic Plains
• Central Brooks Range
• Romanzof Mountains

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warning area are advised to take the following precautions:

• If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
• Monitor the latest road conditions by visiting 511.alaska.gov or calling 5-1-1.
• Prepare for difficult travel conditions and significantly reduced visibility.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations between 4 and 8 inches are possible.
• Wind Speeds: Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.
• Visibility: Blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less at times.
• Wind Patterns: Snow is expected to begin Saturday afternoon accompanied by southerly winds. Winds are forecast to shift southwesterly and strengthen Sunday morning, then shift westerly and further strengthen Sunday night into Monday.
• Blizzard Conditions: Periods of blizzard conditions become more likely Monday along the coast east of Prudhoe Bay.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 3:00 PM AKST on Saturday, February 21, until 3:00 AM AKST on Tuesday, February 24.