Early Winter on the Way: Alaska Poised for Heavy Snow Before Thanksgiving

Anchorage, Alaska — Winter is moving in quickly, and forecasters say Alaska could see significant snowfall well ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s October 24 outlook points to colder-than-normal temperatures paired with wetter-than-average conditions through mid-November, a textbook early-season setup for widespread snow.

Between November 5 and 15, weather systems tracking in from the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska are expected to deliver multiple rounds of snow to Southcentral Alaska. That includes the Anchorage Bowl and the Mat-Su Valley, where several events could stack up accumulations.

Farther north, Fairbanks and much of the Interior are in line for repeated snowfalls and a deeper push of Arctic air. Forecasts call for temperatures dropping below zero as cold air takes hold.

Coastal communities won’t be spared. Juneau and parts of the Kenai Peninsula could see slushy, wet snow, while the western coast faces periods of blowing snow and biting winds tied to passing low-pressure systems.

With early-season storms converging just ahead of the holiday rush, residents and travelers should plan for winter driving conditions and potential flight delays. At this point, snow arriving before Thanksgiving looks increasingly likely—the big question is how much and where it will pile up.