Blizzard in Kivalina and Red Dog Dock, Alaska

The Kivalina AWOS (PAVL) first reported blizzard conditions at 21:40L on 2/16 and continued through 00:05L on 2/18. Blizzard conditions were met at 00:55L on 2/17. Winds were consistently above 35 mph with visibilities at or below 1/4 miles for well over 24 hours. A peak observation was recorded at 07:53L on 2/17 with sustained winds at 39 mph gusting to 62 mph, ice fog, and visibility at 1/4 miles.

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.