Ice Storm — Baldwin Pen. & Selawik Valley, Alaska

2013-12-06 · Baldwin Pen. & Selawik Valley, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 988 mb low pressure center moved into the western Bering Sea on the 5th of December. An associated warm front and warm air moved across the Bering strait on the 5th and over the west coast of Alaska on the 6th...then continued north over interior Alaska on the 6th and 7th before weakening. This warm front spread rain or freezing rain to the west coast and many locations across the northern interior.

Zone 207: Rain fell at Kivalina (0.12 inches accumulation) on the 6th of December. Though mostly rain, ground surfaces remained frozen, so the effect was the same as Freezing rain on ground surfaces.

Zone 209: Rain fell at Kotzebue (0.34 inches accumulation) and at Norvik (.24 inches accumulation) on the 6th of December. Though mostly rain, ground surfaces remained frozen, so the effect was the same as Freezing rain on ground surfaces.

Zone 210: Rain likely fell at several locations such as the Haycok RAWS (0.21 inch), Quartz Creek RAWS (0.24 inch), Serpentine RAWS (0.11 inch) and the Hoodoo RAWS (0.48 inch). Though mostly rain, ground surfaces remained frozen, so the effect was the same as Freezing rain on ground surfaces.

Zone 211: Nome received 0.27 inch of rain. White Mountain likely received 0.13 inch of rain; at both locations precipitation likely froze to the ground.

Zone 217: Rain likely fell at Ambler (0.43 inches accumulation) and at Shungnak (0.15 inches). Though mostly rain, ground surfaces remained frozen, so the effect was the same as Freezing rain on ground surfaces.

Zone 218: An estimated 0.30 inch of freezing rain fell at Wiseman, based on the total liquid amount reported by the Co-operative Observer.

Zone 219: The weather observer at Bettles reported 0.27 inch of freezing fain.

Zone 220: An estimated 0.20 inch of rain and freezing rain was likely received by some locations across this zone, based on reports from locations in nearby zones (Bettles, Wiseman, and Eagle). At Circle City, an unknown amount of rain was reported, though it was likely several tenths of an inch based on pictures sent.

Zone 224: Eagle received about 0.20 of an inch of freezing rain, based on the ASOS and Co-operative Observer reports.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 490012. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.