Blizzard — Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

2025-04-17 to 2025-04-18 · Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

Event narrative

Winds picked up resulting in blowing snow and blizzard conditions during the early morning at Barrow ASOS (PABR). Blizzard conditions persisted for almost 18 hours before visibilities increased. The peak wind recorded during the event was 45 mph.

Wider weather episode

A strong low from the North Pacific moved into Bristol Bay sending a warm front north through the Interior where strong Chinook winds developed through the Alaska Range gaps and up into the central interior of Alaska. Meanwhile strong high pressure over the Beaufort Sea helped produce strong east winds along the Arctic coastline of the North Slope resulting in blizzard conditions across much of the arctic coastline of Alaska.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1257591. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.