Heavy Snow — Copper River Basin, Alaska

2022-03-08 to 2022-03-11 · Copper River Basin, Alaska

Event narrative

Alaska 511 at the Richardson highway mile post 148 to mile post 184 reported very difficult road conditions, blowing and drifting snow, ice glaze, icy patches, packed snow, rough icy patches, snow on roadway, visibility reduced, resuspended snow as well. This was on the March 10th 6 AM Report. Very difficult road conditions reported on 511 website for the March 10th 6 AM update along the Richardson Highway north of Gakona. 6 to 12 inches of new snowfall overnight reported in conditions update. DOT Calls on the 10th at 1 PM to report the following: Tok Cutoff - 6 inches, light snow still falling, Richardson Highway mile post 115-147 - 8 inches, light snow still falling, Richardson Highway mile post 148 thru Paxson - 10 inches, light snow still falling. Roads hazardous.

Wider weather episode

A storm system moving northward through the Gulf of Alaska sent precipitation into the Arctic air already in place across the Copper River Basin. As a result, a heavy snowfall occurred.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1019257. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.