Blizzard — Lower Kobuk Valley-northern Seward Peninsula, Alaska

2000-12-19 · Lower Kobuk Valley-northern Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Wider weather episode

High pressure over eastern Siberia and the Yukon Territory combined with several low pressure systems moving north over the Bering Sea brought blizzard conditions and strong winds to northwest Alaska. Enough warm air moved north from the last of the weather fronts to cause brief freezing rain at Deering in zone 3 during the middle of the afternoon on the 19th. Strong winds also occurred over the Tanana Valley along the Tanana River where the associated weather fronts moving over Alaska intensified the East winds at Delta Junction, as well as south winds through the Alaska Range, blowing at Healy.Blizzard conditions were reported at:Zone 3: KotzebueZone 6: NomeZone 9: Tin CityZone 1: Point LayHigh Winds were reported at:Zone 3: Point Hope AWOS: 51 mph sustained, gust 61 mph.Zone 7: Delta Junction ASOS: 48 mph sustained, gust 60 mph afternoon of the 17th; Healy: 35 mph sustained, gust 60 mph evening of the 19th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5177593. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.