Blizzard in Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast, Alaska

The Port Thompson AWOS (PAAD) reported the onset of blizzard conditions with winds gusting to 35 mph and visibilities in blowing snow of one quarter mile or less during the morning hours of the 16th. These condition lasted for over 48 hours as the east winds remain constant between 35 and 40 mph.

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.