Blizzard in Kivalina and Red Dog Dock, Alaska

The Kivalina AWOS (PAVL) reported winds in excess of 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph throughout the day. Heavy snow from the previous few days began to blow and the visibility remained at or below 1/4 mile for more than 8 hours.

March began with a strong low pressure system moving into the southeastern Bearing Sea. This storm system stalled along Alaska's west coast for several days as a large high pressure system remained stationary across the Beaufort Sea. Steady snow fell along the west coast for several days while an increasing pressure gradient resulted in very strong east and northeast winds that brough blizzard conditions to may communities along the west coast.