Heavy Snow — Denali, Alaska

2015-11-24 to 2015-11-25 · Denali, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 968 mb low pressure center in the western Bering Sea along with the associated occluded front pushed northeast towards Saint Lawrence Island during the morning hours of the 23rd of November 2015. This low produced strong easterly winds along with snow and blowing snow creating blizzard conditions for Saint Lawrence Island during the daytime hours. Blizzard conditions spread north and east across the Seward Peninsula and the Yukon Delta and along the northwest coast of Alaska during the daytime hours of the 23rd. The associated occluded front moved into the interior of Alaska on the 24th through 26th bringing areas of heavy snowfall in and near the Alaska Range, along with a period of high wind to the eastern Alaska Range.

Blizzard conditions occurred at:

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Kivalina ASOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 41 kt (47 mph) at the Kivalina ASOS.

Zone 209: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Kotzebue ASOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 46 kt (53 mph) at the kotzebue ASOS.

Zone 210: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Deering ASOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow.

Zone 211: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Nome ASOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 47 kt (54 mph) at the Nome ASOS.

Zone 212: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Golovin AWOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 56 kt (64 mph) at the Golovin AWOS.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Gambell AWOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 43 kt (50 mph) at the Gambell AWOS.

Zone 214: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Mountain Village AWOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow.

Zone 216: Blizzard conditions were observed at the Kaltag ASOS. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow.

Heavy Snow was reported at:

Zone 221: A foot of snow fell at the Minchumina airport. Snow began during the afternoon of the 24th and continued into the morning hours of the 25th.

Zone 225: An estimated 17.3 inches of snow fell at Mckinley park headquarters. Snow began early on the 24th and continued into the afternoon hours of the 25th.

Zone 226: An estimated 24 inches of snow fell at the Black Rapids mesonet site. Snow began in the afternoon of the 23rd and continued into the morning of the 26th. Strong winds also produced local blizzard conditions.

High Wind was reported at:

Zone 226: The U.S. Army Mesonet site Texas Condo reported wind gusts to 66 kt (76 mph) on the 23rd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 607764. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.