Blizzard — Lower Kobuk & Noatak Valleys, Alaska

2002-04-25 to 2002-04-26 · Lower Kobuk & Noatak Valleys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A strong and large storm (974 mb) moved northeast across Russia Far East late on the 25th through the morning of the 26th, across the Chukchi Sea on the 26th, continued east across the southern Arctic Ocean to a point north of Prudhoe bay on the morning of the 27th. The warm front of this sytem moved across western Alaska the night of the 25th and across the interior of Alaska on the 26th. The cold front moved over western Alaska the morning of the 26th and across the interior the afternoon and evening of the 26th, remaining north of Fairbanks and McGrath. Strong southwesterly flow associate with this system and the circulation around it brought a variety of winter weather and strong winds to much of northern Alaska.Blizzard Conditions were reported at:Zone 201 - Point LayZone 202 - BarrowZone 203 - Deadhorse, NuiqsutZone 207 - ShishmarefZone 208 - Red Dog MineZone 209 - Kotzebue, SelawikZone 213 - Savoonga, Tin CityZone 214 - Saint MarysZone 220 - 12 Mile Summit of the Steese HighwayZone 222 - A citizen phoned in a report of 1/8 mile visibility along Chena Ridge the night of the 25th. This likely occurred intermittently especially along even higher terrain in the zone, through the morninging of the 27th.Heavy Snow was reported at::Zone 218 - The Alaska Department of Transportation Camp at Chandalar Shelf reported 19 inches of new snow in a 48 hour period.Zone 221 - The Alaska Department of Transportation reported 12 inches of new snow on the Elliott Highway near Manley Hot Springs, causing a temporary closure of the highway.Zone 222 - Nine Co-op observers reported snowfalls exceeding 6 inches in 24 hours were reported, the greatest being 15 inches at the Ester Dome Co-op site. 6.4 inches of new snow fell at Fairbanks Airport - the third highest April snowfall in 97 years of record.High Winds were reported at:Zone 201 - Cape Lisburne AWOS: gusts to 67 mph; Wainwright ASOS: gusts to 65 mph (57 knots); Point Lay AWOS: gusts to 59 mph (51 knots);Zone 202 - Barrow ASOS: gusts to 59 mph (51 knots);Zone 203 - Deadhorse ASOS: gusts to 55 mph (48 knots) Nuiqsut ASOS: gusts to 58 mph (50 knots)Zone 207 - Shishmaref AWOS: gusts to 70 mph (61 knots)Zone 213 - Savoonga AWOS: gusts to 75 mph (65 knots)Zone 220 - Eagle Summit RAWS (Steese Highway: gusts to 43 knots (50mph); Alaska Department of Transportation estimated winds 55 mph over 12 Mile Summit (Steese Highway)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5288658. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.