Winter Storm — Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills, Alaska

2011-12-10 · Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 955 mb low in the central Bering Sea at 0300AKST on the 10th moved into the Gulf of Anadyr as a 969 mb low by 2100AKST on the 11th. The low then drifted to the west along the Russian Coast and slowly weakened on the 12th.

Zone 211: Blizzard conditions were observed at Nome from approximately 0944AKST through 1930AKST on the 10th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust to 46 kt (53 mph) at the Nome ASOS. A total of 4.5 inches of snow was observed at the Nome National Weather Service office. At Golovin, blizzard conditions were observed from approximately 1100AKST through 1900AKST. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust to 46 kt (53 mph) at the Golovin AWOS. According to the city office, people were getting stuck trying to go from their homes to the village store. It was estimated that 4 to 7 inches of snow fell, but it was nearly impossible to measure due to the blowing and drifting snow. According to the village office at White Mountain, it was estimated that in excess of 8 inches of snow fell during the storm.

Zone 212: Heavy snow was observed at Unalakleet, and it was estimated by law enforcement that a total of 12 inches of snow fell during the afternoon and evening hours of the 10th. The snow was difficult to measure due to strong wind that produced significant blowing and drifting snow. There was a peak wind gust to 46 kt (54 mph) at the Unalakleet AWOS. The snow likely ended as a period of freezing rain in spots during the evening.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions were observed at Gambell from approximately 2030AKST on the 10th until 0700AKST on the 11th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile at times in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust to 50 kt (58 mph) at the Gambell AWOS.

Zone 214: Heavy snow was observed in spots along the Yukon Delta from the evening hours on the 9th through the late evening hours on the 10th. A total of 8 inches of heavy wet snow was observed at Saint Marys, with up to one foot at Mountain Village. The snow was difficult to measure due to strong wind which produced significant blowing and drifting snow. It is likely that the snow changed over to freezing rain in spots during the afternoon and early evening hours on the 10th. The wind gusted to 40 kt (46 mph) at the Mountain Village AWWS, and to 38 kt (44 mph) at the Saint Marys AWOS. Along the coast, the wind gusted as high as 51 kt (59 mph) at the Scammon Bay AWSS.

Zone 216: Heavy snow was observed in parts of the middle Yukon Valley from the afternoon hours on the 10th through the early morning hours on the 11th. The Koyukuk Post Office estimated that 8 inches of snow fell, and the Ruby Post Office estimated a storm total of approximately 12 inches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 351834. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.