In September 2023 WFO Fairbanks made significant changes to its public and fire weather zones. During these changes, it was discovered that some additional, minor adjustments were needed to shapefiles for two fire weather zones in interior Alaska as they conflicted with the numbering of our public zones. To eliminate this issue WFO Fairbanks will be changing the numbering of its fire weather zones to start with a 9 digit in March 2024. Changes will also be made to shapefiles behind the scenes (not visible to the public or partners) to alleviate the issue. The only noticeable change will be to the first digit of the fire weather zones, all other information including zone boundaries will remain unchanged.
Here is the official Service Change Notice from the NWS.
Zoomed in map showing the new Fire Weather Zone numbers in the Fairbanks area
| New Fire Weather Zone Numbers (Names are unchanged) | ||
|---|---|---|
| AKZ901: Western Arctic Coast | AKZ919: Upper Kobuk Valleys | AKZ937: Delta Junction |
| AKZ902: Northwest Arctic Coast | AKZ920: Shishmaref | AKZ938: Upper Chena River Valley |
| AKZ903: Northern Arctic Coast | AKZ921: Bering Strait Coast | AKZ939: Tanana Flats |
| AKZ904: Central Beaufort Sea Coast | AKZ922: Southern Seward Peninsula Coast | AKZ940: Eielson Air Force Base and Salcha |
| AKZ905: Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast | AKZ923: Interior Seward Peninsula | AKZ941: Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills |
| AKZ906: Western Arctic Plains | AKZ924: Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills | AKZ942: Chatanika River Valley |
| AKZ907: Howard Pass and the Delong Mountains | AKZ925: Yukon Delta Coast | AKZ943: Two Rivers |
| AKZ908: Central Arctic Plains | AKZ926: Lower Yukon River | AKZ944: Fairbanks Metro Area |
| AKZ909: Central Brooks Range | AKZ927: St. Lawrence Island | AKZ945: Nenana |
| AKZ910: Romanzof Mountains | AKZ928: Lower Koyukuk Valley | AKZ946: Central Interior |
| AKZ911: South Slopes of the Eastern Brooks Range | AKZ929: Middle Yukon Valley | AKZ947: Northern Denali Borough |
| AKZ912: South Slopes of the Central Brooks Range | AKZ930: Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys | AKZ948: Southern Denali Borough |
| AKZ913: South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range | AKZ931: Upper Koyukuk Valley | AKZ949: Eastern Alaska Range North of Trims Camp |
| AKZ914: Noatak Valley | AKZ932: Dalton Highway Summits | AKZ950: Eastern Alaska Range South of Trims Camp |
| AKZ915: Kivalina and Red Dog Dock | AKZ933: Yukon Flats | AKZ951: North Slopes of the Western Alaska Range |
| AKZ916: Lower Kobuk Valley | AKZ934: White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River | AKZ952: Upper Kuskokwim Valley |
| AKZ917: Baldwin Peninsula | AKZ935: Fortymile Country | |
| AKZ918: Northern Seward Peninsula | AKZ936: Upper Tanana Valley | |
For questions or feedback regarding the WFO Fairbanks Fire Zone Changes, please contact:
Ryan Metzger
WFO Fairbanks, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
ryan.metzger@noaa.gov
(907) 458-3712
Ben Bartos
National Weather Service, Alaska Region Headquarters
benjamin.bartos@noaa.gov
