Blizzard — Western Aleutians, Alaska

2013-03-01 to 2013-03-02 · Western Aleutians, Alaska

Event narrative

The Adak AWOS (PADK) and the NWS surface analysis was used for this event verification. The event took place in the eastern part of zone 191 and PADK is the closest station that was in a similar section of the storm as analysed by NCEP/OPC on their surface analysis. Therefore the 8 hours of Blizzard conditions reported on Adak are likely similar to what was occurring in the eastern part of zone 191. The timing was also estimated from the PADK observations and the surface analysis. PADK reported 1/4 mile visibility for around 8 hours with Northwest winds gusting up to 77 MPH.

Wider weather episode

A 989 mb low south of Attu the afternoon of February 28 moved eastward and rapidly deepened 25 mb overnight to 964 mb the morning of March 1. It then began to slow its forward movement and slowly weaken as it cut a path just south of the Aleutian Islands through the evening of March 2nd. This storm brought Blizzard conditions to parts of the Aleutians and northward to the Pribilof Islands.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 438711. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.