Winter Storm — Cook Inlet, Alaska

2000-01-30 to 2000-01-31 · Cook Inlet, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A moderate low, and associated frontal system, pushed northwest through the Gulf of Alaska Sunday, triggering two days of heavy snows across the southeast mainland of the State. By late Monday morning, a 965 mb low began to weaken rapidly as it made its way northward toward Montague Island.By late Monday, the arctic front extended from Northway to Gulkana and into western Prince William Sound. The deep low (that was moving north toward Montague Island earlier in the day) had weakened to 986 mbs just southwest of Montague Island by 9 pm Monday. The low continued to rapidly weaken and move east Monday night and early Tuesday...pulling the arctic air southeastward with it.At a remote site in lower Cook Inlet, wind gusts reached 68 mph several times Monday, as cold arctic air funneled through western Alaska Range passes into the Kenai Peninsula. In the Seward area, close to whiteout conditions in blowing snow and wind gusts of 45 mph were reported late Sunday morning. Snowfall was reported as 'intense'. Avalanches were reported all up and down Lowell Point Road.Avalanches were also reported in several areas around Valdez and parts of the Seward Highway closing both the Seward and Richardson Highway just north of Valdez.By midday Monday, 24 - 36 hour snowfall reports indicated: 2 1/2 to 4 feet of snow around Whittier Sunday and Monday. 14" - 22" of new snow around Seward Sunday and Monday. 2' - 2 1/2' of new snow at the Alyeska ski resort from noon Sunday to noon Monday. Along the Anchorage hillside, new snowfall ranged from 6" - nearly 1 1/2 feet around Glenn Alps from late Sunday through Monday mid morning. 1' of new snow overnight reported at the Girdwood DOT site. Moose Pass and Cooper Landing recorded 5" - 10" of new snow. 6" - 8" of new snow fell across north Kenai. Homer recorded anywhere from 4" - 14". Thompson Pass 15" of new snow in 12 hours. Ernestine (MP302 on the Richardson highway) recorded 24" of new snow.Additionally, 4 avalanches from Bird Point to Girdwood were reported on the Seward highway. One avalanche was recorded at mile 8 of the Glenn highway. 2 avalanches, one at MP 20 and the other at MP 51, were reported along the Richardson Highway.By 4pm Monday, Girdwood reported an additional 14" of snow, adding up to 36" within a 30 hour time span. Whiteout conditions were reported at the DOT Silvertip site. Avalanches trapped traveller's near Girdwood.70 mph winds were reported around Cordova around noon Monday.Late Monday afternoon, reports of 10" - 14" of new snow at Butte, and 16" of new snow along the Talachulitna River, were received.Valdez reported brief freezing rain and Ernestine (MP 302) recorded 24" of new snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5127208. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.