BREAKING: Critical Blizzard Strikes Western Arctic Coast

TheWkly Analysis

A critical blizzard warning has been issued for the Western Arctic Coast of Alaska, effective from February 10, 2026, at 10:14 AM AKST until February 12, 2026, at 9:00 PM AKST, as reported by the National Weather Service (NWS) Fairbanks AK and NOAA. This severe storm is expected to bring extreme wind gusts up to 70 mph, heavy snowfall accumulations of 2-4 feet, and dangerously low temperatures dropping to -40°F (-40°C), posing immediate threats of life-threatening cold exposure, whiteout conditions, and infrastructure failures. Residents and travelers in the affected areas, including communities along the Bering Strait and northern Seward Peninsula, face heightened risks of isolation, power outages, and emergency service delays due to the storm's intensity and the region's remote location. What It Means For You: • Immediate safety actions: Stay indoors and avoid all travel; if outside, wear multiple layers of insulated clothing, cover exposed skin, and limit exposure to no more than 10-15 minutes to prevent frostbite or hypothermia—seek shelter in a heated building immediately if symptoms appear. • Impact on daily activities: Expect widespread closures of roads, schools, and workplaces; major routes like the Dalton Highway and airports in Nome and Kotzebue may be shut down, disrupting commutes, supply chains, and essential services—plan for potential delays in medical care or deliveries lasting several days. • What to prepare or stock: Assemble an emergency kit with at least three days' worth of non-perishable food, water (one gallon per person per day), medications, backup batteries, a weather radio, and extra fuel for generators; also, secure important documents in waterproof containers and charge all electronic devices in advance. • Expected conditions and timing: The peak danger, including heaviest snow and strongest winds, is forecasted for February 11, 2026, from late afternoon through midnight AKST, with conditions worsening rapidly after initial sno