Blizzard in Northern Copper Valley, Alaska

The Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT) reported on February 24 that winds were gusting up to 60 mph with zero visibility from Paxson Camp to Trims Camp. There was significant drifting of snow that completely obscured the road with the plow operator having to stop at times and make sure that he was still on the road. AKDOT closed Isabel Pass due to ground blizzard conditions.

An Arctic trough pushed through Southcentral Alaska on February 24. A 980 mb surface low formed over the northeastern Gulf of Alaska coast. A strong pressure gradient formed between the coastal low and high pressure over the Bering, which, combined with a strong temperature gradient over and through the mountains, triggered northerly gap winds across the region, including Thompson Pass and Kodiak Island. Thompson Pass saw strong winds, which combined with transportable snow, led to blizzard conditions that lasted through February 26. Kodiak Island saw a period of gusty winds on February 25.