Widely scattered severe thunderstorms may produce damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding from the southern Plains into the lower Great Lakes. Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions will persist across portions of the Southwest and Southern High Plains due to gusty winds and dry conditions. An early-season heatwave will challenge temperature records across the eastern U.S.. Read More >
| Situational Awareness | Climbing Forecast | Observations |
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299 SXAK49 PAFG 191226 RECAFG Mount McKinley Recreational Forecast National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 426 AM AKDT Tue May 19 2026 The forecast for the lower elevations of Denali National Park can be found online at https://www.weather.gov/afg/mckinleyclimbing_forecast. Additional information, including flying weather, can be found online at https://www.weather.gov/afg/mckinleyclimbing. Altitude Forecast... Wind speeds 14 thousand feet and above are free air. Wind gusts are not included. Temperatures are in Fahrenheit. .SYNOPSIS... Southerly winds will continue across the mountain with daily snow showers below around 14000 feet through midweek. Steadier snow is expected today as a front lifts north over the mountain. A series of storms approaching the mountain from the south will continue to lead to gusty, southerly winds, particularly higher on the mountain. Winds will weaken Wednesday and especially Wednesday night. && .FORECAST FOR 7000 FOOT BASE CAMP... Winds less than 15 mph are not included. .TODAY...Cloudy. Snow showers. Highs 15 to 25 above. South winds 20 to 30 mph. Snow accumulation around 6 inches. .TONIGHT...Cloudy. Snow showers. Lows 5 to 15 above. South winds 15 to 25 mph. .WEDNESDAY...Cloudy. Scattered snow showers. Highs 15 to 25 above. South winds 10 to 15 mph. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Cloudy. Lows 10 to 20 above. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. && .FORECAST FOR 14000 FEET... Winds less than 15 mph are not included. ...STRONG WINDS TODAY AND TONIGHT... .TODAY...Cloudy. Snow showers. Highs 0 to 10 below. South winds around 30 to 40 mph. .TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Snow showers. Lows 10 to 20 below. Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph. .WEDNESDAY...Cloudy. Scattered snow showers. Highs 0 to 10 below. South winds 20 to 30 mph. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Cloudy. Lows 5 above to 15 below. South winds 10 to 15 mph. && .FORECAST FOR 17000 FEET TO SUMMIT... Winds less than 15 mph are not included. ...HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...STRONG WINDS WEDNESDAY... .TODAY...Mostly cloudy. Highs 15 to 25 below. South winds 50 to 70 mph. .TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 30 to 40 below. Southwest winds 40 to 60 mph. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Isolated snow showers. Highs 15 to 25 below. South winds 35 to 55 mph. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows 25 to 35 below. South winds 15 to 25 mph. && .OUTLOOK THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...After a brief respite from active weather in the vicinity of the mountain Wednesday night into early Thursday, another storm system will move in from the southwest towards the mountain for Thursday and Friday with impacts continuing through the weekend. This will cause southerly winds to increase across the area again Thursday afternoon into Friday. Expect daily snow chances below around 14,000 feet and gusty winds especially at higher camps late this week. && $$ May 26 |
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