Northeast Prince William Sound storm history

An employee of the Alaska Department of Transportation called the National Weather Service, reporting sustained quarter mile visibility and blizzard conditions in Thompson Pass. Additionally, the 511 site of the Department of Transportation reported Very Difficult driving conditi…

An Emergency Management reported that Valdez received 20 inches of snow in a 24 hour period from January 25th to January 26th. The EM reported that a couple of hours of sleet fell in the morning hours of January 26th and that snowfall was continuing to fall at 1:15 PM AKST the sa…

The Alaska Department of Transportation closed Thompson Pass due to high snow accumulations, high winds, and avalanche concerns. Nick's Valley SNOTEL just north of Thompson Pass recorded 28 inches of new snowfall in a 24 hour period ending at 4:00 AM AKST on January 13th. The Dep…

A Department of Transportation employee reported rain with some snow mixed in a the top of Thompson Pass. Another employee of the Department of Transportation reported icy roads along the Richardson Highway. He also reported vehicles in ditches along the highway. A Spotter from V…

The Department of Transportation estimated winds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts of 60 to 80 mph peaking between 11/18 and 11/19/24. The Valdez AWOS also reported a peak wind gust to 71 mph 10:34 AM AKST 11/19/24.

DOT closed the Richardson Highway, including Thompson Pass, around 10:40 am Jan 28, from MP 12-42 due to heavy snow and the potential for avalanche mitigation. Meanwhile, the Valdez Avalanche Center issued an Avalanche Warning for mountains surrounding Valdez and Thompson Pass du…

A Department of Transportation (RWIS) observation site along the Richardson Highway in Thompson Pass recorded a gust to 83 mph at 9:30 PM AKST 1/17. Gusts as high as 70 mph were also recorded at multiple sites in the port of Valdez from the evening of 1/17 to very early morning o…

Heavy snow would impact the Richardson Highway, closing the highway due to heavy snow and poor visibilities. Highway department reported 6-17 of snowfall with avalanches at MP 39 and 50.5. COOP observer in Valdez measured 11 inches of new snow.

A COOP observer reported 13 inches of new snowfall in Valdez from heavy snow moving through between the late evening of 12/7 and the morning of 12/8.

The Thompson Pass mesonet station recorded gusts continuously over 35 mph between the afternoon of 12/5 and the evening of 12/7. This was coincident with temperatures well below freezing and steady, falling snow. This event followed a more minor period of blowing and drifting sno…

Alaska Department of Transportation reported very strong winds gusting to 80 mph through Thompson Pass at 8:30 AM AKST 11/20 with blowing snow so severe they could not see the front of their plows. These winds were also verified by a mesonet station in Thompson Pass that recorded…

The Alaska Department of Transportation reported that winds overnight (early AM 11/18) gusted between 30 and 45 mph with blizzard conditions at times due to blowing snow near the top of Thompson Pass.

The Richardson Highway was closed around 2 PM from Thompson Pass north due to 'hazardous' road conditions and very heavy snowfall of up to 72 inches of new snowfall near the top of the pass.