Winter Storm Warning Issued for Fairbanks and Central Interior Alaska Through Sunday Night

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Winter Storm Warning, which remains in effect from midnight tonight until 9:00 PM AKST Sunday. This alert indicates that heavy snow and hazardous conditions are likely across the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad portion of the Alaska Interior, including:

• Fairbanks Metro Area
• Central Interior and Northern Denali Borough
• Eielson AFB and Salcha
• Goldstream Valley, Nenana Hills, and Nenana
• Chatanika River Valley, Two Rivers, and Upper Chena River Valley
• Tanana Flats
• White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that travel could be very difficult during this period. If you must travel, the NWS recommends keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. For the latest road conditions, visit 511.alaska.gov or call 5-1-1.

Expected Conditions

• Snowfall: Total snow accumulations are expected to range between 6 and 12 inches. The bulk of the snow will fall on Saturday (4 to 8 inches), followed by another round of light, fluffy snow on Sunday (2 to 4 inches).
• Wind: Winds are expected to gust as high as 40 mph over high terrain and 30 mph in valleys, with the strongest winds occurring Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible over Eagle Summit.
• Visibility/Impacts: Heavy snow showers embedded in the system may cause widely varying snow totals across short distances. Travel is expected to be very difficult.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning begins at 12:00 AM AKST on Saturday, February 14, and is scheduled to expire at 9:00 PM AKST on Sunday, February 15. Officials also note that an additional snow event is likely to occur Tuesday night and Wednesday across the Interior.