Blizzard in Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

The Mekoryuk ASOS (PAMY) reported heavy snowfall, winds gusting to over 40 mph, and visibility below one quarter of a mile from 8:55 PM AKST March 8th to 1:45 AM AKST March 9th. Webcams overlooking the village comfirmed this heavy snowfall and low visiblity.

On late March 8th, an occuded front from a Kamchatka low in the Bering reached Nunivak Island and the Kuskokwim Delta Coast. The front, combined with a cold air mass was able to bring strong gale force winds to the region. Surface Winds were easterly and therefore, offshore. Winds gusted to over 40 mph at times. The front occluded before it reached the Pribilof Islands, limiting warm air advection. This, combined with mostly ice-covered waters around Nunivak Island, allowed temperatures to stay colder than otherwise. As a result, Nunivak Island received blizzard conditions for many hours, extending into the early morning hours of March 9th.