Blizzard — Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

2024-01-06 · Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

Blizzard conditions were observed by the Mekoryuk AWOS beginning on the morning of Jan 6 as a storm force low tracking into the Bering Sea pushed its occluded front across Southwest Alaska. Winds gusted as high as 45 knots (52 mph) while visibility remained one quarter mile or less. FAA webcam images from Toksook Bay showed near whiteout conditions through around 2 pm, though the AWOS at that site was not reporting. However, this suggests that blizzard conditions occurred across much of northwestern portion of the Kuskokwim Delta and Nunivak Island. Further south and east, warmer temperatures and limited snowfall were observed. Visibility improved through the afternoon as the front lifted north and east, bringing precipitation to an end.

Wider weather episode

Another potent low pressure system moved up into the central Aleutians as it rapidly deepened and reached peak intensity upon entering the far southern Bering Sea. A core of very strong westerly winds with gusts peaking well into Hurricane force passed over the eastern Aleutians as the low progressed into the Bering, with the highest recorded gust of 102 mph noted at an Akutan marine exchange observation site at 4:45 PM ASKT 1/6/24. Other gusts in excess of 70 mph were recorded from the central Aleutians to the Alaska Peninsula.

The low's front continued to cause hazardous weather as it extended across southern mainland Alaska on 1/6 and 1/7. Blizzard conditions were observed in the Kuskokwim Delta and heavy snow fell in Turnagain Pass on the Kenai Peninsula.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1158148. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.