Blizzard in Bering Strait Coast, Alaska

The Wales AWOS site (PAIW) reported blizzard like conditions beginning at 10:50 AKDT on 4/22 and continued through 21:25 AKDT on 4/22. Blizzard criteria was met at 13:50 AKDT with light snow, ice fog, 1/4 miles visibility, and 35 mph winds. A peak observation was reported at 18:50 AKDT on 4/22 with 38 mph winds gusting to 46 mph, heavy snow, ice fog, and less than 1/4 miles visibility. The Brevig Mission AWOS site (PFKT) also reported brief blizzard like conditions from 18:05 AKDT to 20:10 AKDT, but winds did not meet blizzard criteria.

A strong low pressure system made its way into the Bering Sea early Wednesday morning (4/22), bringing widespread snow, mixed precipitation, and strong winds to Western Alaska and portions of the Western/Central Interior. As the low moved inland, a front moving northeast off the low brought predominantly snow to the Seward Peninsula and YK Delta with 2 to 8 of total accumulations. This system was able to support gusty winds up to 60 mph and easily created widespread blowing snow conditions to much of the West Coast. By the time the front made its way into the Interior, a rain/snow mix of around 2 to 6 fell in addition to strong southerly gap winds through both Isabel and Windy Pass. Winds gusted anywhere between 65 to 75 mph through the passes, creating difficult travel conditions along the Parks and Richardson Highway. Effects from this system subsequently diminished by the weekend (4/25 through 4/26), resulting in a steady warming trend as upper level southerly flow set up over the area.