Blizzard — Western Alaska Peninsula, Alaska

1999-12-20 · Western Alaska Peninsula, Alaska

Wider weather episode

An intense 963 mb low in the north-central Pacific moved into Bristol Bay early Sunday, weakening to a 980 mb center. By 9 am Monday, the low had weakened to a 994 mb center just west of Kotzebue Sound. Brisk north winds along the west side of the low were observed from the Pribilofs into the eastern Aleutians. Gusts reached 67 mph at Dutch Harbor Saturday.Strong easterly winds were observed ahead of the front associated with this low. By Saturday evening, the front had moved northeast into the Gulf of Alaska...on its way inland toward the Alaska Range early Sunday. Gusts reached 76 mph at Middleton Island in advance of the front, diminishing rapidly around 3 am Sunday as the front moved by the Island. Gusts reached 53 mph late Saturday, and 64 mph Sunday, around Cordova. Strongest winds around Cordova occurred with the frontal passage. Across the Kuskokwim Delta, blizzard conditions developed Saturday, continuing into Sunday. Wind chills reached 50 below around Bethel Monday with winds still gusting to 40 mph.Blizzard conditions were also reported across the Pribilofs from Saturday through early Monday.Strong northerly winds were also reported along the Alaska Peninsula, accompanied by local blizzard conditions in blowing snow Monday.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5721649. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.