Blizzard — Bristol Bay, Alaska

2024-03-30 · Bristol Bay, Alaska

Event narrative

The Port Heiden AWOS reported just over three hours of blizzard conditions on the afternoon of March 30. Visibility remained at or below one quarter mile while winds gusted as high as 39 knots (45 mph). Blizzard-like conditions were observed along the Bering Sea coast of the Alaska Peninsula as far north as Naknek, though this occurred for a shorter time period. The Pilot Point AWOS stopped reporting shortly after the onset of blizzard-like conditions, so it is unknown for how long the conditions lasted there.

Wider weather episode

A North Pacific low tracked into the western Gulf of Alaska and across Kodiak Island on March 30. Its occluded front swept across the Alaska Peninsula through the day as the low pressure drew cold air over the Bering Sea across the peninsula into the Gulf of Alaska. This led to blizzard conditions along portions of the Alaska Peninsula through the afternoon and contributed to high winds through Shelikof Strait affecting the western side of Kodiak Island during the evening hours.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1164376. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.