Bristol Bay storm history

The Cape Newenham ASOS station (PAEH) observed 0 to quarter mile visibilities with winds gusting to over 55 mph from 9:00 AM AKST January 30th to 1:00 AM AKST January 31st. Webcams in Goodnews Bay revealed near whiteout conditions at 10:30 AM on January 30th.

Local observations noted 3 hours of 1/4SM +SN or less with winds gusting 32 kt or greater beginning 030228Z, peaking at 44kts. Winds dropped out at PAPM during the worst conditions, with higher gusts having been likely. Winds diminished gradually as snow tapered off leading to im…

The Port Heiden AWOS reported just over three hours of blizzard conditions on the afternoon of March 30. Visibility remained at or below one quarter mile while winds gusted as high as 39 knots (45 mph). Blizzard-like conditions were observed along the Bering Sea coast of the Alas…

The Koliganek AWOS recorded 1/2 mile or lower visibility with 25 to 30 mph winds in snow and blowing snow between 9:30 AM and 1:20 PM AKST 2/21. Temperatures warmed to or above 32 degrees Fahrenheit later in the afternoon, allowing blowing snow to end.

An NWS Meteorological Technician in King Salmon reported 6 inches of new snowfall over a 12 hour period between 9 PM February 19th and 9 AM February 20th. The King Salmon AWOS also recorded 0.93 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation during this timeframe, adding further suppo…

NWS Anchorage called out to several communities across Bristol Bay after and during the heavy snowfall event. The Togiak city office estimated up to 2 feet of snow fell in a little over a day between 12 PM 2/14 and 1 PM 2/15, resulting in a hour long delay in starting school the …

The Koliganek AWOS recorded visibility down to 1/4 to 1/2 mile with 30 to 37 mph sustained winds in snow and blowing snow between 5:30 AM and 8:30 AM AKST 2/5.

Blizzard conditions occurred between Manokotak and Cape Newenham beginning around 1 PM AKST 2/3 and continuing through 6:30 PM. 1/4 mile visibility and winds gusting to around 30 mph were observed during this time for Manokotak, with even stronger winds gusting up to 60 mph obser…

The Iliamna ASOS recorded several wind gusts in excess of 65 knots (75 mph) between 2 and 4 am on January 12. The highest wind gust measuring 69 knots (79 mph) was occurred at 3:31 am. Several nearby RAWS and USARRY weather stations also recorded wind gusts at elevation (above 1,…

Convective snow showers induced by cold air passing over the relatively warm sea surface temperatures of the Bering Sea led to a five hour period of blizzard conditions recorded at the Port Heiden AWOS on December 13, during which winds gusted as high as 37 knots (43 mph). This w…

FAA webcams and ASOS' recorded blizzard conditions as winds gusted as high as 40-45 kts (49 mph) through several hours at Clarks Point and Dillingham with visibilities dropping to 1/4 mile for several hours at each location.

Dillingham police reported a surge well above normal high tide occurred on 11/15. They specifically mentioned that High winds brought flood waters at the Boat Harbor. Water pushed up into the coast, with some water pushing up and onto roads near the coast. No serious damage repor…

Periods of lowered visibilities from 1/4 to 1/2SM combined with periods of moderate to heavy snowfall at Igiugig, Koliganek, New Stuyahok, Cape Newenham, Dillingham, Manokotak and Pilot Point Airports over the course of the event. Peak winds of 37 mph were recorded at Togiak Airp…

Kipnuk AWOS reported visibility as low as 1/4 mile and 25 to 30 mph sustained onshore winds intermittently from 9 am to 3 pm 3/1. Similarly poor, near blizzard conditions were observed for several hours at the Port Heiden AWOS farther south along the Alaska Peninsula during about…

The Platinum AWOS recorded blizzard conditions from the evening of February 27 through the early morning hours of February 28. Winds were in excess of 30 knots (35 mph), with consistent gusts to 45 knots (52 mph). While wind observations dropped out after only 2 hours of observed…

The Clark's Point AWOS observed reduced visibility to 1/2 mile in snow and blowing snow and sustained northeast winds of 25 to 30 mph for 6 straight hours between 2 AM and 8 AM AKST 2/10. Manokotak observed moderate to heavy snow and 1/2 mile or less visibility from 2:10 AM to 7:…

The New Stuyahok and King Salmon AWOS stations both reported visibility around 1/2 mile or less from about 12 PM to 3 PM AKST 2/5 with snow, blowing snow and northeast winds gusting to near 30 mph.

The first report of significant ice accretion came in from a meteorological technician at the King Salmon Weather Service Office at 3 PM 1/27. The technician reported it was like a skating rink, with 1/4 inch layered crust built up on the snow pack before temperatures warmed abov…

A band of snow developed across the Alaska Peninsula and the Bristol Bay region on the morning of December 24. Several surface observing stations recorded sustained winds of 20 to 30 knots (23 to 35 mph) and visibility at or below 1/2 mile with blowing snow for several hours from…

Illiamna SNOTEL measured a snow depth difference of about 8 inches.

The Cape Newenham observation showed visibilities of 1/2 mile or less from 2336z-0316z; the Platinum observation showed visibilities of 1/2 mile or less several times between 0045z-0242z.

Several AWOS sensors across Bristol Bay reported periods of light freezing rain near midday on November 30th, including Dillingham and King Salmon.

A public report was received at about 12 PM November 27th estimating 9 inches of new snowfall.

South-southeast winds came up ahead of a strong, storm force front higher than expected in Port Heiden. Stronger winds (65-75 mph gusts) began right around Midnight AKST on the evening of 11/6 at the Port Heiden AWOS, then picked up into High Wind Warning levels by about 2:30 AM …

Periods of blowing snow and snow were reported at a number of AWOS sites across mainly the western half of Bristol Bay, with the worst conditions progressing from west to east between the afternoon of November 1st into the evening and overnight hours. Dillingham Police reported t…

A tug operator moving a fuel barge reported that westerly winds produced a storm surge of 2 to 3 ft along western Kuskokwim Bay near Quinhagak overnight between 11/1 and 11/2. The combination of surge and moving ice was made it difficult to navigate that part of the bay.

Report came in from a resident in Twin Hills. They drove 3 miles along the beach to give us an update. She noted that wave debris along gravel never made it past where the green begins. There were areas of the beach where the sand/gravel had been washed out, making it impassable …

Red Flag Warning was originally in effect for lightning beginning 09/22Z (2pm AKDT), then hot dry windy was added at 09/23:23Z (3:23pm AKDT) because there were observations that were meeting the criteria. Based on 15-min GLD data, lightning began at 10/00:15Z (4:15pm AKDT). The m…

Koliganek AWOS reported one half mile visibility with moderate snow and freezing fog with sustained winds of 35 mph and gusts to 40 mph on the 27th for much of the afternoon. Manokotak recorded similar conditions as well.

Several sites (PAJZ, PAMB) hit 1/2 mile of less with winds 22 to 30+ mph for at least two hours; would call it verified as it likely verified in other areas where sensors are not located. Dillingham reported one half mile visibility or less from 8:58 am to 9:56 am with winds 20 m…

King Salmon reported unknown precipitation from 4:45PM on the 31st to 5:55 PM on the 31st when the precipitation changed to light freezing rain. Light freezing rain continued until 6:54pm when King Salmon ASOS started to report light rain and a temperature of 34 degrees). Dilling…

Manokotak reported one half mile visibility or lower with moderate snow and freezing fog for 3 hours from January 20th 12:21 PM until January 20th 15:25 PM as well as winds northeasterly near 22 knots sustained with gusts to 28 knots. Manokotak, Togiak, and Platinum all reported …

King Salmon reported freezing rain for about an hour on the 24th of December which began around 6 PM local time. Dillingham and Koliganek stations reported unknown precipitation several times. Iliamna also reported freezing rain around 9 PM on the evening of the 24th of December.…

King Salmon ASOS reported freezing rain between approximately 7:34 am to 8:20 am with an accumulation of 0.04 inches during this time before changing over to all rain.

Snow amounts of 5-6 reported by worker at Radio Station KDLG in Dillingham.

Water over an Access Road near the harbor in Dillingham on Thu evening. (12/9) Called Mitch (Port officer in Naknek) -- he said there were no known impacts, however in his 18 years of working there, he has never seen the water that high at the dock in Naknek...at high tide during…

Koliganek recorded winds of 39G52 mph and heavy snow with 1/4 sm visibility. Platinum and Cape Newenham airports reported frequent low visibilities of 1/2SM or less with winds to 35-53 mph in combination with moderate to heavy snow for a span of 12 hours. Similar conditions were …

The central inland area of the Bristol Bay region experienced blizzard conditions for much of the day on April 11th. Koliganek (PAJZ) was in continuous blizzard conditions from around 5 AM AKDT through 3 PM AKDT, but likely past this time since the ASOS stopped reporting at 3 PM.…

Cape Newenham (PACZ) reported full conditions for three hours. At the peak of the event the visibility was 1/4SM in snow and blowing snow with a Northeast wind of 52 mph sustained gusting to 78 mph. Conditions were close to Blizzard for a number of hours before and after this tim…

Platinum (PAPM) reported 1/4 miles visibility in snow with winds gusting to 47 mph.

Blizzard conditions at Pilot Point began on December 31st and continued into January.

Blizzard conditions began in Port Heiden on December 31st and continued into January.

Pilot Point ASOS reported over 24 hours of blizzard conditions. Blizzard conditions continued into January.

Pilot Point ASOS reported over 24 hours of blizzard conditions. Blizzard conditions continued into January.

Cape Newenham ASOS reported an hour of visibility reduced below 1/4 mile in snow, and 12 hours of winds greater than 35 mph. Peak winds observed were gusts to 71 mph.

Radar indicated the possibility of severe hail and strong downdrafts within this storm.

Port Heiden airport observed a gust to 84 mph.

The airport at Cape Newenham observed wind gusts to 85 mph.

PAIL (Iliamna Airport) reported 8 inches of snowfall.

Cape Newenham reported winds to 72 mph and 8 hours of blizzard conditions.