Heavy Snow — Wrn Tanana Vly Wrn Yukon Vly, Alaska

2003-11-24 · Wrn Tanana Vly Wrn Yukon Vly, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 975 mb low pressure center moved northeast over the Bering sea from Kamchatka Peninsula to Saint Lawrence Island the evening of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. The low then slowed and began weakening, moving east across the Seward Peninsula Sunday and across the western interior Monday; then reaching Fairbanks Monday night before dissipating. The associated strong frontal system moved northeast across western Alaska Sunday and interior Alaska Sunday night, producing blizzard conditions over western Alaska and areas of heavy snow over the Seward peninsula and near Kotzebue. The snow diminished as the system weakened but local heavy snow was reported at several interior Alaska sites. Blizzard Conditions were reported atZone 207 - Kivalina; Point HopeZone 209 - Kotzebue, SelawikZone 210 - BucklandZone 211 - GolovinZone 213 - Gambell; SavoongaHeavy Snow was reported at:Zone 209: National Weather Service office at Kotzebue reported 11.3 inches; it is likely that 6 to 9 inches of snow fell at Selawik as the automated station reported very low visibility during the same time period as Kotzebue's snowfall. Snow began at 0700 AST and reached 6 inches at 1800 AST on the 23rd.Zone 210: Estimated that 6 to 10 inches of snow fell over the zone on the 23rd by averaging the amounts recorded by the National Weather Service at Nome (4.8 inches) and Kotzebue (11.3 inches). Snow estimated to begin at 0000 AST and reached 6 inches at 1300 AST on the 23rd.Zone 216 - Kaltag Co-operative Observer: 9 inches Snow began at 0300 AST and reached 6 inches at 1100 AST.Zone 221 - Nenana: State of Alaska Department of Transportation Camp: 6 to 8 inches. Estimated snow started at 1300 AST on the 23rd and reached 6 inches by 1100 AST on the 24th.Zone 222 - Cooperative observers at Keystone Ridge: 6.7 inches; Mile 42 Steese Highway: 9.1 inches (in less than 2 days). Estimated snow started at 2000 AST on the 23rd and reached 6 inches at 1100 AST on the 24th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5335376. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.