Heavy Snow in Noatak Valley, Alaska

The Kelly Station SNOTEL reported a snow depth increase from 21 inches on 2/17 at 12:00L to 31 inches on 2/18 at 12:00L. The storm total snow amount for this event was 10 inches within 24 hours. This values exceeds the snowfall criteria threshold of greater than 7 inches falling in 24 hours for this forecast zone.

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.