The Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) implemented updates to its Surface and Significant Weather (SIGWX) charts on February 22, 2026. These revisions were intended to modernize and enhance the readability of the existing charts, as well as enable the AAWU to move their production off of a beyond end of life system, and reduce duplication of NWS services.
This website provides additional information and examples for the Service Change Notice.
Here is a video explaining these changes.
Feedback on this change can be submitted to david.kochevar@noaa.gov
David Kochevar
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service Alaska Aviation Weather Unit
Surface Chart changes
Below are examples of the current and new charts, and the replacement for frontal analysis information:
Live demonstration of new Surface Charts
a Higher resolution version will be available from Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA)
Surface charts would continue to be updated four times daily, valid at 00z, 06z, 12z and 18z. The file type of the charts would also change from .gif to .png with this change.
Significant Weather Chart changes
For the Significant Weather Chart changes, here are examples of the current and new charts, and the proposed replacement for frontal analysis information:
Significant weather charts would continue to be produced twice daily in this format, with forecasts at 24, 36, 48 and 60 hours. The file type of the charts would also change from .gif to .png with this change.
Proposed SIGWX frontal analysis replacement link (live)
The proposed frontal analysis replacement would continue to be updated twice daily, with forecasts at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours.
