Fairbanks, Alaska – Heavy snow will begin shutting down travel corridors across Western and Interior Alaska by Friday afternoon, with up to 10 inches expected before conditions ease Sunday morning in some regions.
According to the National Weather Service in Fairbanks, a Winter Storm Watch covers the Seward Peninsula, Norton Sound, Yukon and Koyukuk valleys, and the Upper Kuskokwim Valley from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. Snow totals between 5 and 10 inches are possible, with visibility dropping to one-half mile at times in blowing snow.
Communities including Nome, Unalakleet, Galena, McGrath, and Ruby could see snow stack up quickly Saturday, limiting travel on rural roads and airstrips. Gusty winds may create drifting snow along exposed stretches near Shaktoolik and the southern Seward Peninsula coast.
Farther east, the Fairbanks Metro Area and Central Interior fall under a separate Winter Storm Watch beginning late Friday night and lasting through Sunday evening. Forecasters expect 4 to 8 inches Saturday, followed by another 2 to 4 inches Sunday. Wind gusts could reach 50 mph in higher terrain near Fairbanks and 25 mph in town, creating blowing and drifting along the Steese, Elliott, and Parks highways.
Drivers should avoid non-essential travel during peak snowfall Saturday, pack emergency kits, and monitor road updates from the Alaska Department of Transportation. Additional advisories or warnings may be issued as snowfall rates become clearer heading into Saturday morning.
