Fairbanks, AK – Wind gusts up to 45 mph are sweeping across northwest Alaska this morning, reducing visibility to one-half mile or less and creating near-whiteout travel conditions through 3 p.m. Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Fairbanks, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 3 p.m. AKST for the Baldwin Peninsula, Kivalina and Red Dog Dock, the Northern Seward Peninsula, Lower Kobuk Valley and the Bering Strait Coast. Communities including Kotzebue, Deering, Buckland, Wales, Teller, Brevig Mission and Shishmaref are all under the advisory.
Blowing snow driven by gusts between 40 and 45 mph is sweeping across open tundra and coastal stretches, sharply lowering visibility in exposed areas. The strongest gusts are expected along the Northern Seward Peninsula and near Kotzebue Sound, where travel may become briefly impossible in the most intense bursts.
Snow drifting across roadways and runways could complicate ground and air travel. Residents are urged to delay nonessential travel, secure loose outdoor items and use extreme caution in open areas where wind speeds peak.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve after mid-afternoon, but additional advisories could be issued if winds remain elevated into the evening.
