Ice Storm — Upr Tanana Vly Fortymile, Alaska

2013-01-14 · Upr Tanana Vly Fortymile, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A low pressure center of 976 mb near the Pribilofs on the afternoon of the 12th moved north to the Bering Strait 0900AKST on the 14th weakening to 986 mb, then continued north to the central Chukchi sea through the morning of the 15th, weakening to 1002 mb. A series of weather fronts associated with the low moved northeast over northern Alaska on the 13th through 15th, at first pushing warmer air north then followed by cooling on the 15th.

Zone 201: Blizzard conditions occurred at Wainwright, Point Lay, and Atqasuk. At Atqasuk, the wind gusted as high as 56 kt (64 mph) around noon on the 13th.

Zone 202: Blizzard conditions occurred at Barrow From about noon on the 13th through mid-morning on the 14th, where the visibility was 1/4 mile or less in snow and blowing snow. The wind gusted as high as 51 kt (59 mph) in the late morning of the 13th.

Zone 203: Blizzard conditions occurred at Deadhorse, Nuiqsut, Alpine, and Kuparuk. The wind gusted as high as 51 kt (59 mph) at Deadhorse on the morning of the 13th.

Zone 206; Blizzard conditions likely occurred over the far northern portion of the zone throughout the 13th, as inferred from conditions reported by observing platforms in the adjacent zone 203.

Zone 209: Blizzard conditions occurred at Selawik, where the visibility was around 1/4 mile in blowing snow during the evening of the 12th. Near-blizzard conditions occurred at Kotzebue during this time.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions occurred at Gambell during the evening of the 12th, as indicated by the AWOS. Blowing snow reduced visibility to 1/4 mile or less.

Zone 215: Rain was reported at Russian Mission. During the afternoon of the 12th 0.21 inches fell.

Zone 217: Near blizzard conditions were likely at Shungnak where the AWSS reported visibilities as low as 1/4 mile, but only for about an hour. Additionally, the wind gusted as high as 52 knots (60 mph) at Shungnak.

Zone 219: Heavy snow was reported at Bettles, where a storm total of 14 inches was reported by the FAA contract weather observer.

Zone 221: Rain fell on the 14th over the western portions of the zone, with Nenana ASOS receiving 0.16 inches and Clear Sky Lodge Co-operative Observer reporting 0.29 inches.

Zone 222: Freezing Rain fell in the Fairbanks area. The Airport received approximately 0.15 inches on the 14th. The amount of ice that developed on the roads prompted school officials to close school on the 15th.

Zone 224: Northway ASOS reported 0.13 inch of rain on the morning of the 14th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 423667. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.