Blizzard in Kivalina and Red Dog Dock, Alaska

Blizzard conditions impacted Kivalina, where a Blizzard Warning was in effect from 0431AKST February 20 until 0843AKST February 22, 2026. The Kivalina Airport AWOS (PAVL) initially reported blizzard conditions at 2300AKST February 20, with blizzard conditions continuing through 0415AKST February 22. At 0046AKST February 21, PAVL reported one-quarter of a mile visibility in freezing fog with sustained winds of thirty-five miles per hour and a peak gust of fifty-six miles per hour. The Blizzard Warning verified at 0200AKST February 21, when PAVL reported a third hour of blizzard conditions with visibility less than one-quarter of a mile in freezing fog with sustained winds of thirty-seven miles per hour gusting to forty-eight miles per hour. No fatalities, injuries, or property damage were reported.

A winter storm system tracked across the West Coast, North Slope, and Interior Alaska from February 20 through February 25, 2026. The episode began with widespread blizzard conditions impacting the West Coast and North Slope regions, where powerful winds and significant blowing snow reduced visibilities to near zero. As the system pushed inland, it transitioned into a heavy snow event for the Central and Eastern Interior. Notable snowfall reports included thirteen and one-half inches measured northwest of Ester and nearly nine inches reported by storm spotters in the Tanana Valley. Additionally, measurements from the Nenana Snotel indicated a seven-inch snow depth increase over a twenty-four-hour period during the height of the storm. These conditions created hazardous travel and significant impacts to infrastructure across the state. No fatalities or injuries were reported during this episode.