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It’s the end of another sweltering July, and the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued “dangerous and extreme heat” warnings throughout parts of the U.S. However, while some folks crank up their AC and do their best to stay hydrated, residents of a different U.S. region were forced to prepare for a snow day after being hit with an unexpected Winter Weather Advisory.

Over the weekend, a Winter Weather Advisory was issued for the Central Brooks Range. The NWS shared the advisory in a post on X.

“A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Central Brooks Range, including the Dalton Highway,” the post says. “Expect snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches, with the potential for reduced visibility due to blowing snow and a light glaze of ice on the roads. Stay safe, Alaska.”

While snowstorms in July are not common, they do occasionally happen in Alaska, especially in high-elevation mountain ranges like Central Brooks. Here’s a closer look at the snowfall and how it impacted highway drivers.

Summer Snow Cover On Dalton Highway Poses Driving Risk

The Dalton Highway, also known as the Haul Road, was originally designed to help service oil fields on Alaska’s North Slope. Today, the road is owned by the state and is open for public use year-round.

As the northernmost road in North America, Dalton Highway is no stranger to a little July snow now and again. But summer snowfall is not always the Christmas-in-July vibe you might expect. In some cases, the off-season weather can be quite dangerous.

The danger comes in the form of black ice, which forms when the initial snowfall hits the warm highway and melts. Then, overnight sub-freezing temperatures turn the melted snow into transparent ice, which can catch drivers off guard.

Luckily, no major accidents were reported on the Dalton Highway during the recent Winter Weather Advisory, which lasted from Sunday at 10 a.m. to Monday at 4 p.m.

Naturally, residents in warmer areas of the country were a bit jealous of Alaska’s snowy summer weather.

U.S. Residents Plead For Alaska Snowstorm To Break Their Heatwaves

As temperatures in the U.S. have reached highs of 120 degrees Fahrenheit or more, it’s not entirely surprising that some were feeling jealous of Alaska’s recent snowfall. Here’s what some are saying about it on social media:

Other commenters noted that strange weather fluctuations like this are not so strange for Alaska.

“If you don’t like the Alaska weather, wait 15 minutes,” one commenter said.

Another added, “Wow! You are getting a true Alaskan experience. Stay safe and warm.”

For residents in the area, this snowy interlude won’t last long, as NWS is already reporting a return to summer for the upcoming weekend.

Brooks Range To See Temperatures Of 75 Degrees Fahrenheit Or Higher Following Winter Weather Advisory

In a post on X, the Fairbanks NWS stated that warm summer weather is not quite over, despite the recent snowfall.

“While parts of the Brooks Range and North Slope saw snow over the weekend, it’s becoming increasingly more likely that summer will return towards next weekend,” the post reads.

The post went on to show that the probability of the area reaching temperatures of 75F or greater by Sunday was quite high.

In a separate post, the NWS showed the forecast for temperatures in the Interior. Here’s how the seven days following the snowstorm are shaping up in Fairbanks:

Although this recent Winter Weather Advisory was short and sweet, it’s a good reminder for travelers that dangerous Alaskan driving conditions can happen any time of year.