Blizzard — Chukchi Sea Coast, Alaska

2014-01-17 to 2014-01-18 · Chukchi Sea Coast, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A strong 952 mb low entered the eastern Bering Sea during the morning hours of the 17th. The associated occluded front pushed north during the day. A strong pressure gradient along with snow and strong winds produced blizzard conditions at a variety of locations along the West Coast of Alaska on January 17th.

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were likely at Kivalina during the night of the 17th, where the visibility was frequently one-quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. Winds gusted as high as 47 kt (54 mph). At Point Hope, the AWOS reported a peak gust to 58 kt (67 mph) between 2000AKST and 2100AKST on the 17th.

Zone 211: Blizzard conditions occurred at Nome, where the visibility was one quarter mile or less along with a peak gust of 55 kt (63 mph) on the 17th.

Zone 212: Blizzard conditions were likely at St. Michael on the 17th, where the AWSS began reporting a visibility of one-quarter mile at 0756AKST but then stopped reporting visibility until the early evening. Based on winds remaining strong enough for blizzard conditions, its likely there was no improvement in visibility until the late afternoon of the 17th.

Zone 213: Brevig Mission and Wales likely experienced blizzard conditions on the 17th. The AWOS at Brevig Mission reported continuously during this time, though the AWOS at Wales stopped reporting visibility after a few hours during what was likely the wordt conditions. Blizzard conditions were also likely at Tin City. The Gambell AWOS reported less than 3 hours of blizzard conditions. Highest wind gusts reported were Tin City 64 kt (74 mph), Gambell 59 kt (68 mph), Wales 50 kt (58 mph).

Zone 214: Blizzard conditions were likely at Emmonak, where the AWOS reported a visibility around one quarter mile during the late morning through mid-afternoon of the 17th. Blizzard conditions were also likely at Cape Romanzof, beginning on the 16th and extending into the 17th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 494234. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.