A couple of frontal boundaries will move east and south from the Plains to the Gulf and Atlantic coastlines. These boundaries will focus showers and thunderstorms through the weekend, with scattered severe thunderstorms from the Southern Plains and across the Gulf Coast states. Locally heavy rainfall may also occur, which may be welcome news across drought areas. Meanwhile, heat spreads westward. Read More >
| Situational Awareness | Climbing Forecast | Observations |
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544 SXAK49 PAFG 081200 RECAFG Mount McKinley Recreational Forecast National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 400 AM AKDT Fri May 8 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... A low pressure west of the mountain this morning continues shifting southwest through early next week. Strong winds are expected at the summit through Saturday morning. Southwest winds today shift southerly tonight then diminish on Saturday with the strongest winds of 60 to 70 mph expected this afternoon and evening. A break in snow is expected today before returning tonight and continuing off and on through Sunday night. && .FORECAST FOR 7000 FOOT BASE CAMP... Winds less than 15 mph are not included. .TODAY...Mostly cloudy. Chances of snow showers early. Highs 10 to 20 above. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Cloudy. Snow likely. Lows 10 to 20 above. .SATURDAY...Cloudy. Snow likely early then chance of snow showers. Highs 20 to 30 above. South winds 15 to 25 mph. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Lows 20 to 30 above. && .FORECAST FOR 14000 FEET... Winds less than 15 mph are not included. .FRIDAY...Mostly cloudy. Highs 10 to 20 below. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows 5 to 15 below. South winds 35 to 45 mph. .SATURDAY...Cloudy. Chance of snow early. Highs 0 to 10 below. South winds 35 to 45 mph. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Lows 0 to 10 below. South winds 30 to 40 mph decreasing to 20 to 30 mph after midnight. && .FORECAST FOR 17000 FEET TO SUMMIT... Winds less than 15 mph are not included. ...STRONG WINDS TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...HIGH WIND WARNING ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT... .FRIDAY...Clear. Highs 20 to 30 below. Southwest winds increasing to 55 to 65 mph by the afternoon. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Increasing clouds after midnight. Chance of snow late. Lows 20 to 30 below. South winds 55 to 65 mph before midnight, weakening to 40 to 50 mph after midnight. .SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Lows 20 to 30 below. Southeast winds 35 to 45 mph. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows 20 to 30 below. Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph. && .OUTLOOK SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Unsettled weather continues through next Tuesday as persistent storminess in the vicinity of Bristol Bay continues. South winds of 35 to 45 mph on Sunday shift southwesterly and increase up to 65 mph Sunday night mainly above 14000ft. Another period of strong higher elevation winds are possible on Tuesday. A frontal system brings potential for moderate to heavy snowfall on Sunday with drier conditions increasingly likely for Monday and Tuesday. && $$ May 26 |
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