Alaska, 1998

Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, April 9 to 10, 1998

April 9 to 10, 1998 · NWS AFG · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

A strong springtime Low pressure center moved from Kamchatka toSaint Matthew Island, spreading blizzard conditions and strong winds across the west coast of Alaska. At Nome (Zone 6) the wind removed one-quarter of the roof of a hangar, and a ham radio tower was toppled.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AFG wrote it up.

A strong springtime Low pressure center moved from Kamchatka toSaint Matthew Island, spreading blizzard conditions and strong winds across the west coast of Alaska. At Nome (Zone 6) the wind removed one-quarter of the roof of a hangar, and a ham radio tower was toppled. Highest winds(kt): Zone 6: Nome 41 gust 48; Unalakleet: 28 gust 37; Zone 10: Hooper Bay 49 gust 59; Saint Marys 36 gust 51; Emmonak: 40 gust 49; Zone 3: Point Hope: 29 gust 35; Noatak: 25 gust 35; Shishmaref: 38 gust 44; Kotzebue 37 gust 41; Zone 9: Gambell: 35 gust 45; Savoonga 38 gust 44.

Event by event

4 high wind, 3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Yukon Delta

When
April 9, 4:00 AM AST to April 10, 12:00 PM AST
Where
Yukon Delta forecast zone

High Wind, Yukon Delta

When
April 9, 7:00 AM AST to April 10, 4:00 AM AST
Where
Yukon Delta forecast zone
Measured
59 kt (68 mph)

Blizzard, St. Lawrence Island-Bering Strait Coast

When
April 9, 10:00 AM AST to April 10, 7:00 PM AST
Where
St. Lawrence Island-Bering Strait Coast forecast zone

High Wind, St. Lawrence Island-Bering Strait Coast

When
April 9, 12:00 PM AST to 3:00 PM AST
Where
St. Lawrence Island-Bering Strait Coast forecast zone
Measured
45 kt (52 mph)

High Wind, Southern Seward Peninsula-Eastern Norton Sound

When
April 9, 1:00 PM AST to 7:00 PM AST
Where
Southern Seward Peninsula-Eastern Norton Sound forecast zone
Measured
48 kt (55 mph)
Property damage
$50,000

Blizzard, Southern Seward Peninsula-Eastern Norton Sound

When
April 9, 3:00 PM AST to April 10, 6:00 PM AST
Where
Southern Seward Peninsula-Eastern Norton Sound forecast zone

High Wind, Lower Kobuk Valley-Northern Seward Peninsula

When
April 9, 6:00 PM AST to April 10, 3:00 AM AST
Where
Lower Kobuk Valley-Northern Seward Peninsula forecast zone
Measured
44 kt (51 mph)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Alaska in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, April 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5637293, 5637296, 5637294, 5637298, 5637295, 5637292, 5637297.