Winter Storm Warning: what it means
“Winter Storm Warnings are issued for a significant winter weather event including snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow or a combination of these hazards. Travel will become difficult or impossible in some situations. Delay your travel plans until conditions improve.”
weather.gov →Winter Storm Warnings in effect right now
2 Winter Storm Warnings in effect, 2 Winter Storm Watchs, 6 Winter Weather Advisorys.
States: Alaska, Montana, California
- Winter Storm Warning until Oct 25, 2026, 8:00 PM ETUpper Kobuk Valleys
- Winter Storm Warning until Oct 25, 2026, 8:00 PM ETSouth Slopes of the Western Brooks Range; Noatak Valley
- Winter Storm Watch until Oct 25, 2026, 8:00 PM ETSouth Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range; Upper Koyukuk Valley
- Winter Storm Watch until Oct 25, 2026, 8:00 PM ETWestern Arctic Coast
- Winter Weather Advisory until Oct 22, 2026, 8:00 PM ETMono
- Winter Weather Advisory until Oct 24, 2026, 2:00 AM ETLittle Belt and Highwood Mountains
- Winter Weather Advisory until Oct 24, 2026, 2:00 AM ETElkhorn and Boulder Mountains; Northwest Beaverhead County; Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains
- Winter Weather Advisory until Oct 24, 2026, 5:00 AM ETBears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine; Snowy and Judith Mountains
- Winter Weather Advisory until Oct 22, 2026, 2:00 PM ETYosemite NP outside of the valley; Upper San Joaquin River; Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge; Kings Canyon NP; Sequoia NP; South End of the Upper Sierra
- Winter Weather Advisory until Oct 24, 2026, 2:00 PM ETLower Kobuk Valley; Baldwin Peninsula
National Weather Service data, updated Oct 22, 2026, 7:45 AM ET. Not an official warning: follow your local NWS office. All US alerts →
Watch, warning or advisory?
Each in the National Weather Service's own words.
Winter Storm Warning
“Winter Storm Warnings are issued for a significant winter weather event including snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow or a combination of these hazards. Travel will become difficult or impossible in some situations. Delay your travel plans until conditions improve.”
Winter Storm Watch
“Winter Storm Watches are issued when conditions are favorable for a significant winter storm event (heavy sleet, heavy snow, ice storm, heavy snow and blowing snow or a combination of events.)”
Winter Weather Advisory
“Winter Weather Advisories are issued when snow, blowing snow, ice, sleet, or a combination of these wintry elements is expected but conditions should not be hazardous enough to meet warning criteria. Be prepared for winter driving conditions and possible travel difficulties. Use caution when driving.”
Get ready before the next one
Also: How to stay warm without power in winter, safely · Winter car emergency kit
Gear: Emergency blankets and sleeping bags · Portable power stations · Hand warmers
Other winter alerts
A calm checklist before the season's storms
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