Heavy Snow in Eielson Air Force Base and Salcha, Alaska

A heavy snow event impacted Eielson Air Force Base and Salcha, where a Winter Storm Warning was in effect from 1027AKST on February 21 through 1159AKST on February 24, 2026. A trained spotter reported eight and eight-tenths inches of snow accumulation between the evening of Sunday, February 22, and 2130AKST on Monday, February 23. During the event, the Eielson Air Force Base Airport (PAEI) reported visibilities as low as one-half mile in heavy snow and freezing fog. The first verifying observation for the heavy snow occurred at 2130AKST on February 23. 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.