Winter Weather — Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

2024-01-10 · Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

The Mekoryuk AWOS recorded several hours of blowing snow with visibility of one half mile or less from 6:55 am through 11:45 am on the morning of January 10. During that period, winds gusted as high as 39 knots (45 mph). Blizzard-like conditions were observed at times. Low visibility conditions were also seen in webcam imagery from Toksook Bay, though the AWOS was not operating. Further inland, winds were lighter and visibility was better, though freezing rain was observed briefly around 5 pm at the Bethel Airport as precipitation transitioned from snow to rain.

Wider weather episode

A low tracking across the central Aleutians into the Bering Sea in the early morning hours of January 10 brought blizzard-like conditions and light freezing rain to portions of the Kuskokwim Delta through the evening. Though the low's front continued to bring light snow and rain to Southwest Alaska into January 11, visibility had improved and winds diminished as the low and front weakened.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1158228. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.