Heavy Snow in Central Interior, Alaska

The COOP observer for Minchumina (LMHA2) reported a 24 snow total of 7.4 on the morning of the 15th. There was additional snowfall that fell outside this 24 hour window resulting in a storm total snowfall of 9.5. This data was supported by observations from the Minchumina AWOS (PAMH) which showed near constant light to moderate snowfall for almost 36 hours extending from the morning of the 14th through the afternoon of the 15th.

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.