Blizzard in Western Arctic Coast, Alaska

The Point Lay AWOS site (PPIZ) reported blizzard like conditions at 05:35 AKDT on 4/23 and continued through 13:05 AKDT on 4/23. Blizzard criteria was met at 08:35 AKDT on 4/23. A peak observation was reported at 06:00 AKDT on 4/23 with snow, freezing fog, less than 1/4 miles visibility, and 33 mph winds gusting to 40 mph.

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.