Bethel, AK – A long-duration winter storm system is expected to bring hazardous mixed precipitation to large portions of Western Alaska beginning late Saturday night and continuing through Tuesday afternoon, prompting Winter Storm Watches from both Anchorage and Fairbanks forecast offices.
According to the National Weather Service in Anchorage, communities across the Kuskokwim Valley West and East, as well as the Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island, may experience up to two inches of snow and potentially a quarter inch of ice. Locations including Bethel, Aniak, Crooked Creek, Kwethluk, Toksook Bay, and Quinhagak could see dangerous travel conditions as ice accumulates on roads, walkways, and power infrastructure.
Further north, the National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a matching watch for the Lower Yukon River, Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys, Upper Kuskokwim Valley, Yukon Delta Coast, and the North Slopes of the Western Alaska Range. Here, snowfall totals up to 3 inches are possible, with ice accumulations approaching 0.10 inches. Communities such as Emmonak, St. Mary’s, Hooper Bay, McGrath, Nikolai, Mountain Village, and Pilot Station could also face slick surfaces and power-line strain from accumulating ice.
Forecasters warn that there is growing confidence in a significant wintry mix Sunday through Monday, followed by a second round of mixed precipitation late Monday through Tuesday. The duration of the system—spanning nearly three days—could make travel very difficult across remote villages and regional hubs.
Residents are urged to monitor updates, prepare for potential outages, and use extreme caution on untreated surfaces.
