Blizzard — St Lawrence Is. Bering Strait, Alaska

2001-02-10 to 2001-02-11 · St Lawrence Is. Bering Strait, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A storm as low as 961 mb moved north over the Bering Sea on the 10th, filling to 983 mb by the time it reached the western Chukchi Sea on the evening of the 11th. The associated occluded front moved over the west coast of Alaska on the 10th, and offshore of the Arctic Coast the afternoon of the 11th. A small low pressure center developed on the front in the Fairbanks area on the afternoon of the 11th, and caused the front to remain stationary over the Middle Tanana Valley, producing heavy snow. Blizzard conditions occurred across the west coast of Alaska, along with heavy snow, and over southwest Alaska, pockets of light freezing rain likely occurred where a shallow layer of cold air at the surface was overrun by warmer, moist air aloft. Areas of heavy snow also occurred over parts of the eastern Interior of Alaska. In addition, strong south winds occurred across the central Alaska Range in advance of the frontal system.Strong winds were reported at:Zone 213 - Gambell AWOS: sustained 55 mph, gust 64 mph; Savoonga AWOS sustained 60 mph, gust 75 mph.Zone 225 - Healy: gusts to 60 mph.Blizzard conditions occurred at:Zone 207 - Kivalina, ShishmarefZone 208 - Red Dog Mine Zone 209 - KotzebueZone 210 - Buckland, DeeringZone 211 - Nome, GolovinZone 213 - Gambell, Savoonga, Tin CityLight Freezing Precipitation likely occurred at:Zone 212 - KoyukZone 214 - Saint MarysZone 215 - AnvikHeavy Snow fell occurred at:Zone 211 - Nome: 6.4 inches ending midnight on the 11th.Zone 212 - Koyuk: 8.0 inches - 24 hour total on the morning of the 11th. Zone 215 - Kaltag (Co-op observer): 6.0 inches the morning of the 12thZone 218 - Upper Colleen River Co-op observer: 6.0 inches Zone 221 - Livengood D.O.T. Camp - 6.0 inchesZone 222 - Fairbanks Airport: 8.3 inches ending at noon on the 12th. Co-op Reports from the morning of the 12th ranged from 6.0 inches to 6.6 inches of snow.Zone 224 - Tok Co-op Observer: 8.0 inchesZone 226 - Trimms D.O.T. Camp reported 6.0 inches the morning of the 12th, along with poor visibility.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5235237. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.