Blizzard — Pribilof Islands, Alaska

2013-03-01 to 2013-03-02 · Pribilof Islands, Alaska

Event narrative

As the main low crossed just south of the Aleutian Islands the occluded front moved just south of the Pribilof Islands. This created a strong pressure gradient and area of strong lift over the Pribilof Islands. St Paul Island entered Blizzard conditions a little before midnight and peaked around 3 AM AKST when visibility continued to be 1/4 mile in blowing snow driven by Easterly winds gusting to 45 mph. St George Island was near blizzard conditions that night with nearly five hours of 1/2 mile visibility reports to go along with winds gusting to 50 mph. There were no reports of damage or injuries from either Island.

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 439157. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.