Heavy Snow in Lower Koyukuk Valley, Alaska

A heavy snow event impacted the Lower Koyukuk Valley, where a Winter Storm Warning was in effect from 1121AKST on February 21 through 2112AKST on February 23, 2026. A report from the Hozatka Lake SNOTEL confirmed eight inches of snow accumulation between 0000AKST on February 23 and 0300AKST on February 24. The first verifying observation for the heavy snow occurred at 0300AKST on February 24. 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.