Blizzard — Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

2011-01-01 to 2011-01-02 · Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 960 mb low approximately 200 miles southwest of Saint Lawrence Island combined with a 1026 mb high across the northern Beaufort Sea to produce strong winds and snow along with heavy snowfall and areas of blizzard conditions along the west coast of Alaska.

Zone 210: Heavy snow was observed at Buckland during the afternoon of the 1st into the early morning hours on the 2nd. A total of 7 inches of snow was observed at Buckland with the heaviest of the snow falling from 1315AKST on the 1st through 0730AKST on the 2nd.

Zone 211: A short period of blizzard conditions were observed at Nome at the start of the event from 1130AKST through 1500AKST on the 1st. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 39 kt (45 mph) was observed at the Nome ASOS. After the short period of blizzard conditions, snow and blowing snow continued until around 3 am on the 2nd, but the visibilities were at least one half mile. A storm total of 6.5 inches of snow was observed at Nome during this event.

Zone 212: A total of 8 inches of snow was observed at the school at Unalakleet and local law enforcement observed 3 foot snow drifts. Eight inches of snow was also observed at Saint Michael. At Saint Michael, the snow fell very heavily during the evening hours with the majority of the snowfall occurring from 1730AKST until 2200 ASKT on the 1st. The snow at Unalakleet began around midnight and continued through the afternoon hours on the 1st. A peak wind gust of 48 kt (55 mph) was observed at the Unalakleet AWOS and the visibility was reduced to one half mile at times in snow and blowing snow.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions were observed at Gambell from 1256AKST on the 1st through 0336AKST on the 2nd. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. According to local law enforcement the visibility was near zero at times during the evening hours on the 1st. A peak wind gust of 50 kt (58 mph) was observed at the Gambell AWOS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at the Tin City AWOS along the Bering Strait coast from approximately 1400AKST through 1900AKST on the 1st.

Zone 214: A total of 15 inches of snow was observed at Emmonak. The majority of the snow likely fell from about 0300AKST on the 1st through the early evening hours on the 1st. Additional light snow and freezing rain likely fell through the morning of the 3rd. Northeast winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph produced significant blowing and drifting snow with near blizzard conditions at times during the morning hours on the 1st, especially near the coast. The visibilities improved late on the afternoon of the 1st as the temperatures warmed significantly to near and in some places a little above freezing. It is likely that the snow mixed with or changed to freezing rain in spots along the Yukon Delta coast during the late afternoon hours on the 1st through the early morning hours on the 2nd.

Zone 216: A total of 12 inches of snow was observed at Ruby. The snow began at 0756AKST on the 1st and ended at 2233AKST on the 2nd. The heaviest of the snow fell on the 1st, and it is likely that there was 6 inches of snowfall by late on the evening of the 1st.

Zone 217: Blizzard conditions were observed at Shungnak on the 1st into the 2nd. According to the maintenance department at the school the visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter of a mile in snow and blowing snow. The wind was estimated to be 30 to 40 mph. The visibility was not as low at the Shungnak AWOS, however, there were wind gusts as high as 47 kt (54 mph) which would support the blizzard conditions that were observed at the school.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 266684. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.