Heavy Snow — S. Slopes of Ern Brooks Range, Alaska

2008-01-22 · S. Slopes of Ern Brooks Range, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 980 mb low moved north over the southeastern Bering Sea on the 21st, to Nome at 9am on the 22nd and to Barrow 9pm on the 22nd, then moved northeast approaching Banks Island 3pm on the 23rd. This system produced blizzard conditions over portions of western Alaska and the North Slope, and Heavy snow in the Brooks Range.

Blizzard Conditions:

Zone 201: likely at Atqasuk AWSS; highest gust 50 knots (59 mph).

Zone 203: occurred at Deadhorse. Maximum wind gust to 54 knots (62 mph).

Zone 204: likely occurred at Barter Island (Kaktovik). Though the AWOS was not reporting, nearby Komakuk Beach in Canada and Deadhorse both indicated blizzard conditions. Komakuk Beach highest gust was 54 knots (62 mph).

Zone 209: occurred at Kotzebue, and likely at Selawik AWOS, highest gust 49 knots (56 mph).

Zone 210: likely at Deering, highest gust 46 knots (56 mph).

Zone 211: Occurred at Nome, and likely at Golovin; each had highest gust of 49 knots (56 mph). At Nome, power was lost to various sections north of town as power lines iced up rapidly in the wet snowfall, falling temperatures, and strong winds. Extensive damage resulted to 13 homes due to frozen/burst water pipes. The City of Nome set up an Incident Command System to organize emergency resources. Volunteer Fire Fighters and EMTs went door-to-door to the neighborhoods north of town to deliver emergency messages and conduct welfare checks. A shelter was set up at the Recreation Center in town, but was not utilized. At Golovin the City Office was closed down due to the storm and the roof of the new power plant there blew off.

Zone 212: likely at Koyuk AWOS, highest gust 41 knots (47 mph).

Zone 214: came close at Emmonak but lasted less than 3 hours.

Zone 218: were reported at Chandalar Lake by the weather observer; highest gust was 44 knots (51 mph). Additionally Blizzard conditions were likely in and south of Atigun Pass as the Alaska Department of Transportation closed the Dalton Highway on Tuesday the 22nd for much of the day due to blowing snow.

Heavy Snow:

Zone 218: reported by Cooperative observer at Wiseman, a total of 15.5 inches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 71870. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.