Blizzard — Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

2025-01-24 to 2025-01-27 · Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

The Mekoryuk ASOS Station (PAMY) reported heavy snow, gusty winds over 40 mph and visibility below one quarter of a mile from 10:44 AM AKST to past 2:30 PM AKST on January 26th. Webcams in the village confirmed this low visibility. Nunapitchuk Airport (PPIT) similarly reported blizzard conditions with winds gusting to 45 to 50 mph and quarter mile visibility from 9:20 PM AKST January 26 to 12:00 AM AKST January 27.

Wider weather episode

From January 23rd to January 26th, a cluster of low pressure systems with multiple separate centers moved into the Bering Sea. Parts of this cluster included a low with two centers that moved in from the west and a north Pacific Low that rose from the Southwest. As they approached the Southwestern Alaskan mainland, a frontal system set up and pressure gradients oriented in such a way that winds became gusty in the Alaska Peninsula during the afternoon hours of January 23rd. The lows combined and took a northerly turn on the 24th. The frontal system remained in place for the next two days and another north Pacific low rose from the south on January 25th. The low stalled out over the Alaska Peninsula and took advantage of an atmospheric river to drive heavy snowfall into Southwest and Southcentral Alaska through January 26th. A period of gusty winds were also felt in the Anchorage region on January 25th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1241914. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.