6 days ago
Alaska Severe Winter Storm to Hit with up to 13 Inches of Snow
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Alaska's central Brooks Range, warning of heavy snow later this week that could significantly disrupt travel through Atigun and Anaktuvuk Passes.
The advisory, released Monday by NWS Fairbanks, covers the area south of Toolik Lake and remains in effect from Thursday evening through late Friday night. Forecasts call for snow totals ranging from 7 to 13 inches. Interactive maps from showed the areas expected to be hit by the extreme weather.
June marks the thaw and breakup season for most of Alaska.
Though unusual, June snowfall is not unprecedented in the Brooks Range, which features elevations exceeding 4,000 feet. Snowstorms this time of year can occur when lingering Arctic air masses meet unusual atmospheric patterns, funneling colder air south into interior Alaska.
The impacted region includes Atigun Pass, a critical segment of the Dalton Highway-a major supply and transportation route for Alaska's Arctic.
According to NWS, it will start to snow later on Wednesday. The heaviest accumulation is expected between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon.
The forecast notes the storm could result in "difficult travel conditions," especially through high-altitude mountain passes.
Earlier this year, Alaska experienced a lack of snow during winter months.
The 2025 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race faced significant challenges due to unseasonably warm temperatures and a lack of snow across Alaska. Organizers were compelled to relocate the official start from Anchorage to Fairbanks, marking the fourth such move in the race's history. This decision was driven by unsafe trail conditions, particularly near Nikolai, where no snowfall had occurred since late January. The absence of snow and permafrost posed serious risks to the sled dogs, including potential injuries from mud and exposed terrain.
The NWS bulletin emphasized the storm's potential to create hazardous travel: "Plan on difficult travel conditions," the agency advised. Local emergency planners and transportation agencies are monitoring the forecast closely.
The Winter Storm Watch could be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning as confidence in the snowfall totals and impacts increases. Residents, truck drivers, and other travelers along the Dalton Highway are advised to monitor forecasts and plan accordingly for potentially treacherous conditions.
Though Alaska's summer daylight is nearly at its peak, the return of heavy snow to mountain routes underscores the climate extremes that persist in the state's northern interior.
The projected 7 to 13 inches of accumulation marks one of the higher June snowfall forecasts in recent years for this region-notable, but not outside the range of historical norms.
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