High Wind — Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

2004-01-08 to 2004-01-09 · Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

Strong high pressure which developed early in the month over interior Alaska and Canada migrated to northwest Alaska and the Chukchi Sea on the 5th then continued north slowly to cover the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas on the 7th, maintaining it's strength of 1050 to 1055 millibars into the 8th. Low pressure centers moved along the Aleutian Islands or into the Gulf of Alaska through the 10th helping to slowly weaken the High fursther, but not before producing strong pressure gradient in areas across Northern Alaska...resulting in Blizzard conditions, High winds, and Extreme Wind Chills in various locations.Strong winds were reported at:Zone 207: Point Hope AWOS peak gust 65 knots (75 mph) at 1035 AST on the 9th, and 59 knots (68 mph) at 0455 AST on the 10th.Zone 210 - Hoodoo Hill Remote Automated Weather System (RAWS):gust near 52 knots (60 mph).Zone 212 - Unalakleet AWOS: peak gust 58 knots (67 mph). Zone 213 - Tin City AWOS peak gust 59 knots (68 mph).Zone 217: Noatak River Remote Automated Weather System (RAWS): sustained wind 63 knots (72 mph) and peak gust 71 knots (82 mph).Zone 225 - Wonder Lake Remote Automated Weather System (RAWS): sustained winds 35 to 39 knots (40 to 45 mph) mph with a peak gust to 54 knots (62 mph).Blizzard Conditions reported or likely occurred at:Zone 213 - Tin CityZone 212 - Unalakleet - AWOS visibility was 1/4 mile then stopped reporting.Zone 217 - Due to high winds such as at the Noatak River Remote Automated Weather System (RAWS).Near-blizzard conditions (Winter Weather Mix) occurred at:Zone 210 - NomeExtreme Wind Chill occurred at:Zone 217 - Noatak River Remote Automated Weather System (RAWS): -62

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5381295. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.