Blizzard — Nrn & Intr. Seward Peninsula, Alaska

2011-02-19 to 2011-02-20 · Nrn & Intr. Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 966 mb low along the northern coast of Kamchatka at 0900AKST on the 19th moved into the Gulf of Anadyr as a 980 mb low at 0300AKST on the 20th. The low continued to gradually weaken to 988 mb in the southern Chukchi Sea by 1500AKST on the 20th. The low produced blizzard conditions along parts of the west coast of Alaska on the 19th into the 20th.

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were observed from approximately 0330AKST through 0700AKST at Kivalina. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 42 kt (48 mph) at the Kivalina ASOS. Point Hope had a short period of blizzard conditions from approximately 0500AKST until 0616AKST.

Zone 209: Blizzard conditions were observed at Kotzebue from approximately 0100AKST through 1700AKST on the 20th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 46 kt (53 mph) at the Kotzebue ASOS.

Zone 210: There were two periods of blizzard conditions at Buckland. The first occurred from approximately 0556AKST through 0930AKST on the 19th. The visibility was reduced to on quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 39 kt (45 mph) at the Buckland AWOS. A second period of blizzard conditions were observed from approximately 0216AKST through 0716AKST on the 20th. There was a peak wind gust of 35 kt (41 mph) at the Buckland AWOS. A period of blizzard conditions was also observed at Deering from approximately 2200AKST on the 19th through 0100AKST on the 20th. There was a peak wind gust of 44 kt (51 mph) at the Deering ASOS.

Zone 211: Heavy snowfall was observed at Nome with a storm total of 10.9 inches. The snow began at 1940AKST on the 19th and ended at 1834AKST on the 20th. The snow was accompanied by an east wind that gusted as high as 37 kt (43 mph) and produced areas of blowing snow with the visibility reduced to one quarter mile or less at times. Heavy snowfall was also observed at Golovin and the city offices estimated a storm total of 10 inches.

Zone 212: Heavy snow fell at Shaktoolik from the evening of the 19th through the afternoon of the 20th. The city offices in Shaktoolik estimated that a total of 9 inches of snow fell.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions were observed on Saint Lawrence Island as well as along the Bering Staight coast during this event. At Savoonga, blizzard conditions were observed from 1556AKST on the 19th and continued until approximately 2200AKST. There was a break in the blizzard conditions overnight, however, they resumed around 0956AKST on the 20th and continued through approximately 1900AKST. There was a peak wind gust of 55 kt (63 mph) at the Savoonga AWOS. At Gambell, blizzard conditions were observed on the 19th from approximately 1516AKST through 2116AKST. There was a peak wind gust of 51 kt (59 mph) at the Gambell AWOS. At Teller, blizzard conditions were observed from approximately 2315AKST on the 19th through 0220AKST on the 20th, and then again on the 21st from 1120AKST through 1830AKST. There was a peak wind gust of 51 kt (59 mph) at the Teller AWSS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Wales from approximately 1800AKST on the 19th through 0400AKST on the 20th. There was a peak wind gust of 73 kt (84 mph) at the Wales AWSS.

Zone 214: Blizzard conditons were observed at Emmonak from approximately 2100AKST on the 19th until 0001AKST on the 20th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 40 kt (46 mph) at the Emmonak AWOS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Scammon Bay from approximately 1500AKST through 2200AKST on the 19th. The visibility was reduced to less than one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 49 kt (57 mph) at the Scammon Bay AWSS.

Zone 215: Blizzard conditions were observed at Marshall from approximately 2230AKST on the 19th through 0216AKST on the 20th. The visibility was 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 Marshall AWSS.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 274845. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.