Winter Storm — Anchorage Muni To Bird Creek, Alaska

2021-12-28 · Anchorage Muni To Bird Creek, Alaska

Event narrative

Ted Stevens International Airport ASOS station recorded light freezing rain beginning at 2:11 PM on the 28th of December and continued through 2:53 PM on the 28th. A trace of ice was recorded.

Another ASOS station in Birchwood reported light snow beginning at 2:38 PM which then changed to sleet or unknown precipitation at 2:56 PM and continued through 8:05 PM on the 28th. Precipitation then switched to rain and then unknown precipitation for a few minutes through 8:35PM on the 28th.

Spotter called the office and mentioned freezing rain in downtown around the same time observed at the office (could hear it on the roof). Another spotter called the office to report that Big Lake had 0.10 inches of ice accumulation and no snow.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system moving northward from the North Pacific met up with Arctic cold entrenched over southern Alaska. As a result, moisture from the Gulf spread inland and met up with the Arctic air in place leading to a myriad of winter weather precipitation types. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain and blowing snow would all be observed.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1007080. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.