mckinley forecast


Situational Awareness	Climbing Forecast	Observations

974
SXAK49 PAFG 020009
RECAFG

Mount McKinley Recreational Forecast
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
409 PM AKDT Fri May 1 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...
Heavy snow diminishes over the weekend with less intense snow
showers continuing. Very strong south winds near the summit will
shift southwesterly tonight while diminishing to 40 mph or less by
Saturday morning. Winds increase again Saturday night into Sunday
for the summit as the next storm system approaches.

&&

.FORECAST FOR 7000 FOOT BASE CAMP...
Winds less than 15 mph are not included.

.TONIGHT...Snow. Lows near 5 to 15 above. Southwest winds 20 to
30 mph. Snow accumulation 6 to 12 inches.
.SATURDAY...Snow. Highs near 15 to 25 above. Southwest winds 20
to 30 mph. Snow accumulation 6 to 12 inches.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Snow showers likely. Lows near 5 to 15 above.
Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph.

&&

.FORECAST FOR 14000 FEET...
Winds less than 15 mph are not included.

.TONIGHT...Snow. Lows near 5 to 15 below. Southwest winds 30 to
40 mph. Snow accumulation 6 to 12 inches.
.SATURDAY...Snow showers likely. Highs near 5 to 15 below.
Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Snow showers likely. Lows near 10 to 20 below.
Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph.

&&

.FORECAST FOR 17000 FEET TO SUMMIT...
Winds less than 15 mph are not included.

.TONIGHT...Snow likely. Lows near 20 to 30 below. Southwest winds
35 to 45 mph.
.SATURDAY...Snow showers likely. Highs near 15 to 25 below.
Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Snow showers possible. Lows near 20 to 30
below. Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph.

&&

.OUTLOOK SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...
Stormy conditions continue with strong southwest winds returning
above 14k on Sunday through Monday night. Snow returns late Sunday
night and continues through Tuesday.

&&

$$
JL May 26