Blizzard — Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

2004-02-10 to 2004-02-11 · Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

Wider weather episode

Strong high pressure over the Arctic Ocean moved east to northwest Canada while a low pressure center moved north over the eastern Bering Sea. The combination caused a strong pressure gradient over northern Alaska with locally strong easterly winds. Blizzard conditions in blowing snow developed over portions of the North Slope, along with extreme wind chills due to a presistent colder airmass over this region. Strong Chinook winds developed over the Alaska Range during this event. Blizzard conditions were reported or likely occurred at:Zone 201: Point Lay through the evening of the 11th, then at Wainwright on the day and evening of the 12th. Zone 202: Barrow - first during the late evening of the 9th; then overnight on the 10th through noon on the 11th.Zone 203: Nuiqsut; also at Deadhorse and Kuparuk. Occurred on the evening of the 9th and during the day on the 11th.Zone 213: Savoonga Extreme Wind Chills occurred at:Zone 202: Barrow: -65 FZone 203: Deadhorse: -68 F; Nuiqsut: -67 FHigh Winds occurred at:Zone 201: Cape Lisburne AWOS peak gust 52 knots (60 mph).Zone 223: along the southern boundary, west half, a person reported 50 trees downed along the "Rex Trail" which runs from Rex near the Clear Air Force Base to Gold King Airstrip. Winds measured at Gold King Airstrip (by over-the-counter instruments) were south 70 knots (80 mph). Delta Junction AWOS did not receive the Chinook winds, remaing east-southeast with gusts to 49 knots (56 mph).Zone 225: Healy reported gusts to 60 knots (69 mph).Zone 226: Gold King Airstrip: private citizen has over-the-counter wind instument: 70 knots (80 mph); U.S. Army Mesonet Stations: Texas Condo: 54 knots (62 mph); Texas Range: 53 knots (61 mph).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5381554. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.