Blizzard in Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast, Alaska

Winds increased during the morning hours of November 5th, with gusts reaching 60 mph. Falling snow in conjunction with the strong winds resulted in blizzard conditions at Point Thompson (PAAD), where visibility dropped below a quarter of a mile.

The combination of a strong arctic high to the north and a deep Pacific low tracking into the Gulf of Alaska created a strong gradient across the state. This led to blizzard conditions developing as strong east winds combined with freshly fallen snow to create near whiteout conditions.