Historic NWS thunderstorm warnings issued as rare storms move over Arctic Alaska
Image credit: NWS Fairbanks
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Fairbanks issued multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings on June 27, 2024, as severe thunderstorms began to stretch over Northern Alaska and the Arctic Circle. These storms generated winds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph) and quarter-sized hail.
According to Alaska climatologist Brian Brettschneider, these warnings are notable for being the northernmost and westernmost Severe Thunderstorm Warnings ever issued in the United States and its territories.
The NWS issued a total of four warnings. The first covered the town of Noatak, with a population of roughly 600. The subsequent warnings covered populations of 10, 9, and 2, according to geographic databases.
The last warning reached 68.37 degrees North and 164.64 degrees West.
Attention North Slope and Brooks Range.
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) June 27, 2024
Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon/eve. See graphic below for arrival times and potential hazards. Temps will also be very warm with 60s/70s along the coast and 80-90F inland. #akwx #thunderstorm #northslope pic.twitter.com/yMivLAxVHH
The Severe Thunderstorm Warnings this morning in northwest Alaska were the westernmost AND the northernmost that that the NWS has ever issued. Note: the Google Earth perspective makes the SW Alaska ones appear farther west, but they are not. [polygons from Iowa State Mesonet] pic.twitter.com/YmhZnb8hh1
— Brian Brettschneider (@Climatologist49) June 27, 2024
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including North Slope Borough, Alaska, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska until 7:15 AM AKDT pic.twitter.com/TgBMLDm54t
— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) June 27, 2024
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Noatak AK until 6:00 AM AKDT pic.twitter.com/ukRzF6sJqM
— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) June 27, 2024
This is right now (~5:30AM) on the Noatak FAA webcam. A well defined thunderstorm is moving through Noatak, AK now. #akwx #thunderstorms pic.twitter.com/gd7SDQSBXf
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) June 27, 2024
According to local and state reports, the affected regions, such as Noatak and other sparsely populated areas, reported minimal impact. The primary concerns were related to potential forest fires due to lightning strikes, which is a common issue in Alaska during thunderstorms. However, there were no immediate reports of fires directly linked to this specific weather event.
Before the storms arrived, temperatures were forecast to reach 15 – 25 °C (60s and 70s °F) along the Arctic Coast and into the upper 30 °C (upper 80s °F) inland.
The rarity of these thunderstorms is attributed to the combination of an unusually unstable mass of air and warmer than typical temperatures in Northern Alaska. This combination created conditions conducive to severe weather, which are not common in these regions.
Typically, the Arctic and sub-Arctic areas experience relatively stable atmospheric conditions, limiting the formation of severe thunderstorms.
References:
1 Fairbanks forecast – NWS – June 28, 2024
2 Arctic Alaska pummeled by rare severe storms creating a first for NWS – FOX Weather – June 27, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
I lived in Fairbanks from 1982 – 2002. I had a small airplane during some of that time. Big thunderstorms are normal, and it was not uncommon to get more than 1 or 2 a day. As a pilot we kept track of the weather every day. We knew if it hit 90 degrees, we would also get a t-storm with hail. at the end of a storm the temp would drop to about 70, but if it got hot again the cycle repeated.