Blizzard in Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills, Alaska

The Shaktoolik AWOS (PFSH) reported a period of blizzard conditions during the afternoon and evening hours of January 15th. Winds were consistently blowing at 35 mph or higher which resulted in considerable blowing snow and visibilities at or below 1/4 mile. Peak wind gusts were reported at 50 mph or greater several times during the event.

Following a period of dry, Arctic conditions across Central Alaska, a potent weather shift occurred on Thursday, January 15. A strong low-pressure system entering the North Pacific coupled with high pressure over Western Canada to funnel a stream of warm, moist air into the region. As the associated warm front tracked north over the Alaska Range, it produced heavy snowfall and high winds, resulting in widespread blizzard conditions. Simultaneously, strong winds to the west triggered blizzards along the West Coast. In the wake of the front, colder air returned alongside a series of upper-level disturbances. By Friday and Saturday (January 16'17), these systems produced additional heavy snowfall across the Interior.