Winter Storm Warning Issued for Seward Peninsula and Bering Strait Coast

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks, AK, has issued a Winter Storm Warning for several regions in Western Alaska. The alert is officially effective starting at 6:00 PM AKST this evening and remains in place until 9:00 PM AKST on Monday, February 23.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions and communities:

• Bering Strait Coast
• Interior Seward Peninsula
• Northern Seward Peninsula
• Shishmaref
• Southern Seward Peninsula Coast

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that travel could be very difficult to impossible 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

Heavy snow and periods of wintry mix are anticipated throughout the warning period.

• Snow Accumulation: Total accumulations are expected to be between 5 and 12 inches.
• Ice Accumulation: A light glaze of ice is expected.
• Wind: Gusts are forecast to reach as high as 35 mph.
• Visibility: Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility to 1/2 mile or less at times.
• Additional Hazards: Freezing rain and rain may mix in at times along the coast.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning begins at 6:00 PM AKST on Friday, February 20, and is scheduled to expire at 9:00 PM AKST on Monday, February 23.