Winter Weather — Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

2015-12-24 · Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

A 24 YOM perished after his snowmobile went through river ice during a storm producing near-zero visibility. The man died from exposure and was one 4 family members enroute from the village of Kwethluk to Russian Mission. Rescuers found two survivors and the body of the victim at the location on the 26th. A third survivor had made it to the destination village of Russian Mission.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system entered the Aleutian Islands at 976 mb the morning of 6/23. It rapidly strengthened to 955 mb and moved across the Bering Sea. This storm brought strong winds to the Aleutians and Pribiliof Islands, and caused blizzard conditions along the West Coast with snow ahead of the front. One death attributed to whiteout conditions occurred during this time. Prolonged periods of high winds and heavy waves caused damage along the West Coast. A second low pressure system that formed along the front also brought high winds and blizzard conditions to southcentral Alaska.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 607472. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.