Anchorage, AK – Winter is settling in fast across Alaska, and forecasters say heavy snow could arrive well before Thanksgiving. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) expects below-normal temperatures and above-average precipitation across much of the state through mid-November, setting up a classic early-winter pattern.
According to NOAA’s October 24 outlook, systems moving in from the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska could bring several rounds of snow to Southcentral Alaska, including the Anchorage Bowl and Mat-Su Valley, between November 5–15. Farther north, Fairbanks and Interior Alaska are forecast to see repeated snow events and below-zero temperatures as Arctic air deepens.
Even coastal regions like Juneau and the Kenai Peninsula could see slushy accumulations, while the western coast faces blowing snow and icy winds from multiple low-pressure systems. Travelers and residents are urged to prepare for winter driving and flight delays ahead of the holiday rush.
For Alaska, it’s not a question of if snow will fall before Thanksgiving—it’s how much.
