Winter Storm — Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

2011-02-07 to 2011-02-09 · Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 988 mb low near the Alaska Peninsula at 1200AKST on the 8th moved north to near Unalakleet and weakened to 1001 mb by 0300AKST on the 9th. The low continued to weaken to 1004 mb and moved into northeast Alaska by 1500AKST on the 9th. The low produced heavy snow across parts of western Alaska and blizzard conditions along parts of the Seward Peninsula and Chukchi Sea Coast.

Zone 205: Based on the report of 14 inches of snow at Ambler, it is likely that upslope areas along the south slopes of the Brooks Range received in excess of 1 foot of snow. There are no observation sites in this area.

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were observed at Kivalina from 0553AKST through 2200AKST on the 9th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 47 kt (54 mph) at the Kivalina ASOS.

Zone 208: A storm total of 6 inches of snow was observed at Kiana. The snow began during the afternoon hours on the 8th and ended during the late afternoon hours on the 9th. There were reports of 5 to 6 foot snow drifts at Noatak.

Zone 209: Blizzard conditions were observed at Selawik from approximately 1200AKST through 1700AKST on the 9th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 35 kt (40 mph) at the Selawik AWOS.

Zone 210: Blizzard conditions were observed at Deering from 0453AKST on the 9th through 1753AKST on the 10th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 43 Kt (49 mph) was observed at the Deering ASOS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Buckland from 0756AKST on the 9th through 1716AKST on the 10th. A peak wind gust of 47 kt (54 mph) was observed at the Buckland AWOS.

Zone 211: Six to 8 inches of snow was observed at Golovin along the southern Seward Peninsula Coast. Snowfall amounts were much lighter to the west of Golovin, with only 6 tenths of an inch of snow observed at Nome. The snow began during the morning hours on the 8th and continued through the early morning hours on the 9th.

Zone 212: Heavy snow was observed at Koyuk and Elim with an event total of 18 inches at Koyuk and 12 inches at Elim. The snow began during the early morning hours on the 8th and continued through the late morning hours on the 9th.

Zone 214: Heavy snow was observed at Saint Marys with a storm total of 6 to 8 inches. The snow began during the early morning hours on the 8th and ended during the morning hours on the 9th.

Zone 215: Heavy snow was observed at Anvik with a storm total of 8 inches. The snow may have changed to freezing rain at times at Holy Cross and Marshall as temperatures were just above freezing at times. The snow began late on the evening of the 7th and ended late in the afternoon on the 8th.

Zone 216: Snow fell across the lower Koyukuk Valley and middle Yukon Valleys from the early morning hours on the 8th through the afternoon hours on the 9th. In some areas the snow fell heavily at times. Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 inches at Galena to one foot at Koyukuk. A total of 6 to 8 inches was observed at Ruby.

Zone 217: Heavy snow fell at Ambler with a storm total of 14 inches. The snow began late on the afternoon on the 7th and continued through late evening on the 9th. The snow was accompanied by strong wind at Shungnak which produced significant blowing and drifting snow, and briefly reduced the visibility to one quarter mile during the evening of the 7th. There was a peak wind gust of 43 kt (49 mph) at the Shungnak AWSS.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 272449. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.