Heavy Snow — Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

2009-11-11 · Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A strong 967 mb low pressure system developed over the Bering Strait on the night of the 10th, and moved near the Seward Peninsula and intensified to 956 mb on the morning of the 11th. The storm brought strong west winds, heavy snow and blizzard conditions to zones 209, 211, 212 and 217. The low then moved inland and weakened during the evening of the 11th.

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were observed at times at Point Hope. At the Point Hope AWOS the visibility was frequently reduced to one half mile and occasionally to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 48kt/55 mph.

209: Periods of heavy snow and strong west winds reduced the visibility to one quarter of a mile at Kotzebue on the morning and afternoon of the 11th. 8.2 inches of snow was also observed at the WSO in Kotzebue. The wind gusted to 52kt/60 mph at the Kotzebue ASOS during the morning of the 11th.

Zone 211: Blizzard conditions and heavy snow were observed at Nome during the afternoon and evening hours of the 11th. A total of 7.5 inches of snow was observed at the Nome National Weather Service Office. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. The wind gusted to 45 kt/52 mph at the Nome ASOS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Golovin AWOS on the afternoon of the 11th. The wind gusted as high as 41kt/47 mph.

Zone 212: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Unalakleet ASOS during the afternoon hours of the 11th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less, and occasionally to zero in snow and blowing snow. The wind gusted as high as 51kt/59 mph.

Zone 217: Heavy snow was observed at Ambler on the 11th, and approximately 10 inches of snow fell from the late morning through late in the evening.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 198432. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.