Winter Storm — Tanana Valley, Alaska

2000-10-05 to 2000-10-07 · Tanana Valley, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A large storm in the Gulf of Alaska moving slowly west spread moisture over a cool airmass covering the eastern Interior of Alaska. This resulted in areas of light freezing rain. Heavy snow also occurred over the western Tanana Valley where the Cooperative Observer at Anderson reported 8 inches of new snow in the 24 hours ending at 0800 on the 6th. Light freezing rain was reported in the Tanana Valley at at many places on the morning of the 5th, and also on the 6th. Likewise the Upper Yukon Valley had snow and occasional light freezing rain during this time period, over the area from Circle and Eagle south ward. Snow and freezing rain turned to rain over the central and eastern Tanana Valley on the 6th, then alternated between snow and rain before ending late on the 6th. Then overnight temperatures dropped, causing the wet snow and slush to freeze hard, resulting in treacherous driving conditions on the 7th. Not since 1992 in the Tanana Valley had a "first of the season" Winter Storm with such significance occurred.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5160822. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.