High Wind — S. Slopes of Ern Brooks Range, Alaska

2011-02-14 · S. Slopes of Ern Brooks Range, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 978 mb low along the coast of Kamchatka combined with a 1030 mb high across the southern interior of Alaska to produce snow and high winds on Saint Lawrence Island and along parts of the Bering Strait Coast. Blizzard conditions were observed at Gambell, Savoonga and Wales. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less with white-out conditions at times. A second 998 mb low several hundred miles off the arctic coast combined with the high across the interior to produce blizzard conditions along parts of the arctic coast. The most severe blizzard conditions were observed at Barter Island along the eastern Beaufort Sea coast.

Zone 201: Blizzard conditions were observed at Atqasuk from approximately 1918AKST on the 13th through 0229AKST on the 14th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 42 kt (48 mph) was observed at the Atqasuk AWSS.

Zone 203: Blizzard conditions were observed at Deadhorse from approximately 2230AKST on the 13th through 1730AKST on the 14th. The wind frequently gusted over 35 mph, however, at times the wind gusts were not over 35 mph but the visibility remained one quarter mile or less in blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 36 kt (41 mph) at the Deadhorse ASOS. Blizzard conditions were observed at Kuparuk from approximately 0500AKST on the 14th through 1700AKST on the 14th. There was a peak wind gust of 37 kt (42 mph) at the Kuparuk SAWRS.

Zone 204: Blizzard conditions began at Barter Island at approximately 1600AKST on the 13th and continued until approximately 0100AKST on the 15th. The ending time of the blizzard conditions were estimated as the sensor stopped reporting data midway through the event. Prior to the outage, there was a peak wind gust of 51kt (59 mph) at the Barter Island AWSS.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions were observed at Savoonga from 1136AKST on the 14th through 0656AKST on the 15th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less. There was a peak wind gust of 62 kt (71 mph) at the Savoonga AWOS. Blizzard conditions were observed at Wales at times from 1908AKST on the 14th through 1851AKST on the 15th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less. There was a peak wind gust of 63kt (72 mph) at the Wales AWSS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Gambell at times from 1416AKST on the 14th through 0356AKST on the 15th, although conditions were not as severe as observed at Savoonga and Wales. A peak wind gust of 40 kt (46 mph) was observed at the Gambell AWOS.

Zone 218: Unofficial wind gusts to 61 kt/70 mph were reported at Chandalar AKDOT Maintenance Camp on the 14th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 277092. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.