Blizzard — Lower Kobuk & Noatak Valleys, Alaska

2010-12-19 · Lower Kobuk & Noatak Valleys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A frontal boundary associated with a 984 mb low near Wrangel Island produced heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions along portions of the west coast of Alaska on December 18-19, 2010.

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Kivalina ASOS from 1753AKST on the 18th through 0330AKST on the 19th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter of a mile in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 42 kt (48 mph) was observed during this event. At Point Hope near-blizzard conditions were observed at times, but the visibility was one half mile or better during much of this event. The wind at the Point Hope AWOS did gust as high as 44 kt (51 mph).

Zone 208: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Red Dog Mine from 0806AKST through 1331AKST on the 19th. The visibility was frequently one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 35 kt (40 mph) was observed at the Red Dog Mine.

Zone 209: Blizzard conditions were observed at Kotzebue from 1353AKST on the 18th through 1553AKST on the 19th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 47 kt (54 mph) was observed at the Kotzebue ASOS. Near-blizzard conditions were also observed at Selawik from 0453AKST through 1516AKST on the 19th. A peak wind gust of 32 kt (37 mph) was observed at the Selawik AWOS. Although the visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter of a mile the wind was not as strong inland as it was along the coast.

Zone 211: Heavy snow was observed at Nome from late on the morning of the 18th through the late morning on the 19th. A storm total of 10 inches was observed at the Nome National Weather Service office.

Zone 213: Peak wind gusts of 53 kt (61 mph) was observed at Both the Teller and Wales AWSS's during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 18th. The high winds were accompanied by falling snow and the visibility was briefly reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow at Wales, but the blizzard conditions were short lived and the visibility was one half mile or better during much of this event. It is likely that blizzard conditions occurred in spots along the Bering Strait Coast, but there were no reports.

Zone 214: Blizzard conditions were observed at Scammon Bay from 1325AKST through 1625AKST on the 18th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. The wind gusted as high as 46 kt (53 mph) at the Scammon Bay AWSS.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 265199. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.