Heavy Snow in Interior Seward Peninsula, Alaska

The Paragon Creek Snotel reported 6 inches of snow from 2/16 to 2/17. Despite this SNOTEL being on the leeward side of the mountains, given the mesoscale and synoptic set up of the event, higher snowfall totals were likely on the windward side of the mountains. Additionally, the Elim AWOS (PFEL) to the south reported consistent heavy snow and reduced visibilities between 21:45L on 2/16 through 18:30L on 2/17. This further justifies the likelihood of heavy snowfall occuring in the mountains of the central Seward Peninsula.

A strong Bering Sea low moves into the Gulf of Anadyr, allowing for a strong front to move into Western Alaska. As the front approached the West Coast, strong east/southeast winds brought blizzard and whiteout conditions to much of the Seward Peninsula south. A secondary push of moisture brought by a shortwave system pushed off the Bering Sea low allowed for widespread heavy snow across St. Lawrence Island, the southern Seward Peninsula, and parts of the Western Interior. As the front pushed eastward across the state, snow squalls developed over portions of the Central Interior, leading to periods of heavy snowfall and gusty winds.