Blizzard — Bering Strait Coast, Alaska

2026-01-10 to 2026-01-11 · Bering Strait Coast, Alaska

Event narrative

The Brevig Mission AWOS (PFKT) first met blizzard criteria at 12:56L on 1/10/26 reporting 1/4 mile visibility and winds gusting to 47 mph. The AWOS site continued to report reduced visibilities between 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile, and 40+ mph winds for over 36 hours as of 12:19L on 1/11/26.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska pushed a strong frontal boundary northward into central Alaska bringing widespread snowfall and blizzard conditions. Winds strengthened ahead of the front, producing gusty winds through Alaska Range Passes and Dalton Highway Summits. Snowfall moved through the Interior from southeast to northwest, with the highest accumulations across the Alaska Range. Blizzard conditions developed in areas where falling snow and gusty winds were present. Effects from this storm were seen as far south as the Alaska Range, to as far north as the central/eastern Brooks Range.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1313712. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.