Winter Storm in Lower Yukon River, Alaska

A winter storm impacted the Lower Yukon River, where a Winter Storm Warning was in effect from 1121AKST on February 21 through 2112AKST on February 23, 2026. The St. Mary's Airport AWOS (PASM) reported twelve hours of one-quarter mile visibility in unknown precipitation with wind gusts between twenty and twenty-five miles per hour. Additionally, the Russian Mission Airport AWOS (PARS) reported liquid equivalent precipitation in excess of one-tenth of an inch on February 23. The first verifying observation occurred at 1450AKST on February 23, with the final verifying observation at 1833AKST 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.