The National Weather Service (NWS) has reports of roofs blowing off in the US state's coastal city of Nome, and near-hurricane force winds.
Some areas have been evacuated and there are no reports of injuries.
The "superstorm" from the north-western Bering Sea is being compared to a November 1974 blizzard that was the strongest on record to hit the area.
'Armageddon'
Wednesday's extreme weather was described by the NWS as an "unusually severe and life-threatening storm".
Forecasters predicted up to 18in (46cm) of snow and sustained winds of 60mph (97km/h) with gusts as high as 80mph.
The storm could impact an area as large as Colorado and generate offshore waves of 40ft (12m).
Elmer Davis, a former police officer who lives in the western village of Shishmaref, told the Anchorage Daily News: "I don't get scared too easy and this sounds like Armageddon."
Meteorologists said storm surge could also cause serious flooding on Wednesday.
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