Blizzard — Copper River Basin, Alaska

2025-01-28 to 2025-01-30 · Copper River Basin, Alaska

Event narrative

The Alaska Department of Transportation 511 site reported Very Difficult driving conditions near Paxson and along Isabel Pass due to reduced visibility, strong winds, blowing snow, and drifting snow at 3:00 AM AKST January 29th. Isabel Pass was closed by the Department of Transportation on January 29th.

Wider weather episode

An Arctic low passed through Southcentral from the north from January 28th to January 30th. Snow chances and wind speeds increased as a result, particularly in the Copper River Basin from Paxson to Isabel Pass and Prince William Sound including Thompson Pass. Broad Pass had lower chances for snowfall, but a previous snow event meant that easily transportable snowfall was present in the pass. All three passes ended up in blizzard conditions between the 29th and 30th of January, creating very difficult driving conditions from blowing snow and drifting snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1234664. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.