Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — N. Brooks Rng E of Colville R, Alaska

2008-01-25 · N. Brooks Rng E of Colville R, Alaska

Wider weather episode

Under an existing cold airmass and high pressure inland over the North Slope, a surface trough moved east across the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Coast on the 25th. This caused west winds to increase to 20 to 30 mph along the Central and Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast, as well as north winds to increase through central and eastern Brooks Range passes.

Extreme Wind Chills were reported:

Zone 201: at Atqasuk AWOS, lowest wind chill -66 F, Event began at 1756AST.

Zone 203: at Alpine, lowest wind chill -76 F with winds to 20 mph; at Deadhorse ASOS, lowest wind chill -73 F with winds 15 to 30 mph; at Kuparuk, lowest wind chill -71 F with winds 15 to 25 mph. Event began at 0753AST.

Zone 204: by estimation using Komakuk Beach in Canada: -62 F with winds around 30 mph, and Deadhorse ASOS: -73 F with winds 15 to 30 mph. Estimated event began at 1100AST.

Zone 206: Atigun Pass Meteorburst lowest wind chill -68 F. Event began 0500AST.

Zone 218: along the Dalton Highway by estimation using the Atigun Pass Metorburst winds and the data from Anaktuvuk Pass AWOS. Estimated wind chills to -60 F. Estimated event began at 0500AST.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 71875. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.