Winter Storm — Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills, Alaska

2011-11-12 to 2011-11-13 · Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 951 mb low between Nunivak Island and Saint Paul Island at 1500AKST on the 11th moved to the Kuskokwim Delta by 2100AKST and weakened to 963 mb by 0300AKST on the 12th as the low continued to move inland. The low weakened to 976 mb and moved to near Unalakleet by 1500AKST on the 12th. The low produced heavy snowfall and strong winds in parts of southwest Alaska.

Zone 212: A total of 7 to 8 inches of snow was observed at Unalakleet. The snow began around 0800AKST on the 12th and ended around 0500AKST on the 13th. There was a report of 5 inches of snow at Saint Michael, but the snow was difficult to measure due to extensive blowing snow. To the north of Unalakleet, snowfall amounts dropped off to 2 to 3 inches at Shaktoolik, with no snow at Koyuk.

Zone 214: A total of 12 to 18 inches of snow was observed at Saint Marys. The snow was difficult to measure due to extensive blowing and drifting snow. The snow began around 1800AKST on the 11th and ended around 0000AKST on the 12th. A storm total of 12 inches was estimated at Scammon Bay, but the snow was nearly impossible to measure due to strong winds. A peak wind gust of 54kt/63mph was observed at the Scammon Bay AWSS. Inland, there was a peak wind gust of 41kt (47 mph) at the Marshall AWSS. The visibility dropped to one quarter mile at times in snow and blowing snow, but blizzard conditions were short lived as temperatures were in the upper 20s during the storm, which limited the blowing snow to some degree.

Zone 215: Based on reports along the Yukon Delta and at Unalakleet it is likely that snowfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches were observed in parts of the lower Yukon Valley. Peak wind gusts of 34 kt (40 mph) at the Holy Cross AWSS and 38kt (45 mph) at the Russian Mission AWSS likley produced significant blowing and drifting snow and the visibility briefly dropped to one quarter of a mile in snow and blowing snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 347474. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.