Winter Weather — Western Prince William Sound, Alaska

2024-01-07 to 2024-01-08 · Western Prince William Sound, Alaska

Event narrative

Spotters from the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (CNFAIC) reported 20 inches of snow fell at road level through Turnagain Pass on Jan 7. The snow line was between 600 and 800 ft, meaning precipitation that fell through the pass was likely all snow. No wind information was available.

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 1158224. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.