Winter Storm Warning Issued for Northwest Alaska and Bering Strait Coast Through Saturday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Winter Storm Warning for several regions in Northwest Alaska. The alert is currently in effect and remains active until 6:00 PM AKST this evening, February 14, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area including:

• Baldwin Peninsula
• Bering Strait Coast
• Kivalina and Red Dog Dock
• Lower Kobuk Valley
• Noatak Valley
• Northern Seward Peninsula
• Shishmaref
• Upper Kobuk Valleys

What You Should Do

Weather officials advise that travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit with you. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle to remain safe and visible to emergency responders.

Expected Conditions

Total snow accumulations are expected to range between 2 and 5 inches. The region will experience significant wind activity, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph generally, and up to 50 mph specifically near Kotzebue. The combination of snowfall and gusty winds is expected to cause visibilities to drop to 1/4 mile or less.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is effective until 6:00 PM AKST today. While conditions may briefly improve this morning as winds shift southwesterly, weather conditions are expected to deteriorate once again by midday.