Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Nrn & Intr. Seward Peninsula, Alaska

2012-02-01 to 2012-02-02 · Nrn & Intr. Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A cold air mass across northern Alaska combined with a strong pressure difference between a 950 mb low in the northern Gulf of Alaska and a ridge of high pressure across eastern Russia to produce strong wind and low wind chills along parts of the west coast of Alaska. A period of blizzard conditions were observed at Point Hope along the Chukchi Sea Coast.

Zone 201: Temperatures as low as 43 below zero combined with a northeast wind of 15 to 25 mph to produce wind chills as low as 74 below zero at the Point Lay AWOS. The lowest wind chills were during the early morning hours on the 2nd. Wind chills were 60 below zero or lower from approximately 0700AKST on the 2nd until 0030AKST on the 3rd. Atqasuk also had a short period of wind chills of 60 to 65 below from approximately 1400AKST through 1620AKST on the 2nd.

Zone 206: Temperatures of 33 to 36 below zero combined with a northeast wind of 15 to 25 mph to produce wind chills as low as 66 below at Anaktuvuk Pass from approximately 1830AKST on the 1st through 0445AKST on the 2nd.

Zone 207: Temperatures of 27 to 35 below zero combined with a north wind of 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph to produce wind chills as low as 71 below at Point Hope. The lowest wind chills of 60 below zero or lower were observed from approximately 2100AKST on the 1st through 1300AKST on the 2nd. Wind chills as low as 64 below were observed at Kivalina from approximately 2030AKST on the 1st through 0130AKST on the 2nd.

Blizzard conditions were also observed at Point Hope from approximately 0600AKST through 1100AKST on the 2nd. The wind gusted to 40 mph and the visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in blowing snow.

Zone 210: Temperatures of 29 to 38 below at Deering combined with a west wind of 15 to 30 mph to produce wind chills as low at 72 below at the Deering ASOS. The wind chills were 60 below or lower from approximately 1600AKST on the 1st through 1700AKST on 2nd. Low wind chills of 60 below or lower were also observed at Buckland from approximately 1800AKST on the 1st through 1300AKST on the 2nd. Temperatures of 27 to 36 below at the Buckland AWOS combined with a northwest wind of 15 to 25 mph to produce wind chills as low as 68 below.

Zone 211: Temperatures of 28 to 38 below zero at the Rocky Point SNOTEL combined with a north wind of 15 to 30 mph to produce wind chills as low as 68 below zero. The wind chills were 60 below or lower from approximately 0500AKST on the 1st through 0600AKST on the 2nd.

Zone 213: Temperatures of 29 to 33 below zero combined with a north wind of 15 to 25 mph to produce wind chills as low as 66 below zero at Wales. The wind chills were 60 below or lower from approximately 2100AKST on the 2nd through 1700AKSTon the 3rd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 355886. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.