Blizzard — Lower Kobuk & Noatak Valleys, Alaska

2011-02-17 · Lower Kobuk & Noatak Valleys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 970 mb low in the Gulf of Anadyr combined with a 1040 mb high in the Yukon to produce heavy snow and blizzard conditions along a portion of the west coast of Alaska.

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were observed at both Kivalina and Point Hope. At Kivalina, blizzard conditions were observed from approximately 0100AKST through 1700AKST on the 17th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There were reports of snow drifts of up to 12 feet in the village, and both the school and airfield were closed. There were several search and rescues required for missing persons. A peak wind gust of 49 kt (57 mph) was observed at the Kivalina ASOS.

At Point Hope, blizzard conditions were observed from 0316AKST until approximately 2000AKST. The ending time was estimated as the visibility sensor became inoperable during the event. There was a peak wind gust of 46 kt (55 mph) at the Point Hope AWOS.

Zone 208: Blizzard conditions were observed at Noatak from approximately 0556AKST through 1336AKST on the 17th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 43 kt (49 mph) at the Noatak AWOS.

Zone 209: Blizzard conditions were observed at Kotzebue from approximately 0053AKST through 1300AKST on the 17th. The visibility was reduced to near zero at times with white-out conditions. Due to the severity of the blizzard, the city of Kotzebue closed the city offices and suspended plowing operations. The schools and airport were also closed during the storm. The blizzard conditions likely extended inland to Selawik as the village offices were also reported as being closed.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions were observed at Savoonga from approximately 1936AKST on the 16th until 2330AKST on the 17th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 59 kt/68 mph at the Savoonga AWOS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Gambell from approximately 0430AKST through 0730AKST on the morning of the 17th. There was a peak wind gust of 46 kt (53 mph) at the Gambell AWOS. Along the Bering Strait Coast, blizzard conditions were observed at Wales at times during the last evening hours on the 16th into the early morning hours on the 17th. Although there was not a three consecutive hour stretch with the visibility below one quarter mile, there was a peak wind gust of 60 kt/69 mph at the Wales AWSS.

Zone 217: Blizzard conditions were observed at Shungnak from 0822AKST through 1813AKST on the 17th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 50 kt (58 mph) at the Shungnak AWSS. It is also likely that heavy snow fell at Ambler.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 274594. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.