The National Weather Service issued a snowstorm warning for Alaska’s Central Brooks Range and sections of the Dalton Highway as 2 to 6 inches of snow fell in late July. The Winter Weather Advisory stayed in effect through early Monday, July 27.
Central Brooks Range
The National Weather Service office in Fairbanks warned of 5 to 15 centimeters of snow, with the heaviest snowfall expected at higher elevations. Forecasters also warned of reduced visibility from blowing snow and a light layer of ice on roads.
That combination left drivers on the Dalton Highway facing limited visibility, slippery surfaces and rapidly changing conditions. The route connects interior Alaska with the North Slope oil fields, making the advisory relevant to anyone moving along that corridor during the storm window.
Dalton Highway in Alaska
Snow in late July is attention-grabbing, but the Brooks Range extends above the Arctic Circle and can still produce frozen weather outside the usual season. High elevation helps drive those conditions, and the advisory showed how summer travel there can still turn wintry fast.
For anyone on the highway, the practical takeaway was simple: expect short stretches of difficult driving where blowing snow and ice may appear before the advisory expires. The storm covered a remote route, so conditions could change by the mile rather than by the day.
Late July Snow
The open question is how much snowfall actually accumulated along the Dalton Highway by the end of the advisory. The warning set the baseline at 2 to 6 inches, and the road and higher ground were where forecasters expected the most snow.
