Blizzard — Pribilof Islands, Alaska

2013-03-07 · Pribilof Islands, Alaska

Event narrative

When the low and associated occluded front moved into Bristol Bay on March 7th the North to Northwest winds increased in conjunction with heavy snowfall. Blizzard conditions began just after midnight on the 7th and persisted into the middle of the evening. The most severe conditions on St Paul Island (PASN) were reported around 11 AM AKST with 1/4 mile visibility in blowing snow and Northwest winds sustained at 49 mph and gusting to 63 mph.

Wider weather episode

On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 6th, there was a 960 mb low with occluded front centered about 400 miles south of Dutch Harbor. This low continued to strengthen some as it progressed northward reaching a peak of 954 mb just south of the Alaska Peninsula on the morning of March 7th. This storm then started to weaken as it moved into Bristol Bay and then inland on March 8th. This storm brought high winds to the Anchorage area as well as blizzard conditions to parts of Southwest Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 442949. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.