Winter Weather in Bristol Bay, Alaska

NWS Anchorage called out to several communities across Bristol Bay after and during the heavy snowfall event. The Togiak city office estimated up to 2 feet of snow fell in a little over a day between 12 PM 2/14 and 1 PM 2/15, resulting in a hour long delay in starting school the morning of 2/15. The Dillingham police department estimated a total of 4 to 8 inches had fallen ending at 3 PM AKST on 2/14, and the office was advising their employees to go home early due to the heavy snow ongoing at the time. The Port Heiden city office estimated about 6 to 7 inches of new snowfall since yesterday at 1 PM 2/15.

A strong ridge of high pressure in place over Northern Canada and extending into mainland Alaska worked in tandem with a deep upper trough over the Bering Sea to draw moisture north along an atmospheric river that remained in place across the Alaska Peninsula and into Southwest Alaska from February 14th through February 16th. A series of shortwave troughs driving northward led to several rounds of heavy precipitation for the area. There were two main shortwaves - the first brought snow to the south side of the Alaska Peninsula beginning early on Feb 14, pushing north into Bristol Bay and the Kuskokwim Delta, and westward along the Alaska Peninsula through the day. The second arrived during the afternoon/evening of Feb 15, bringing warmer air and reinforced heavier precipitation.