Heavy Snow in Fairbanks Metro Area, Alaska

Heavy snow developed during the morning hours of the 14th and continued for more than 20 hours before diminishing across the Fairbanks metro area and surrounding locations throughout the Middle Tanana Valley. The official snow total measured by NWS Fairbanks at the College Observatory COOP location (FAOA2) was 8.1 inches during the 24 hour period ending at 9am on the 15th. There were also numerous public reports from around the area that indicated anywhere from 8 to 12 inches of snow from this Valentines day snow storm.

The second week of February saw the first of 3 back to back major winter storms move across Alaska's West Coast and Interior. The week began with abnormally cold readings across the all of Northern and Central Alaska. By Monday a very strong storm system entered the Bering Sea and proceeded to move northeastward across the West Coast and the Interior of Alaska over the next several days. Initially the storm brought heavy snow and strong winds from the Bering Strait coastline down to the Yukon Delta region which resulted in blizzard conditions. As the storm moved deeper into the Interior the storm produced heavy snowfall and occasional snow squalls.