Heavy Snow and High Wind in Alaska, February 2, 2000

At 3 pm Tuesday, a resurgence of strong south to southeast wind, along with an eastward expansion of the areas impacted, began ...as a major frontal low, 480 miles south of Adak, began to deepen and race north.By 3 am Wednesday, the low had deepened to at least a 960 mb center about 30 miles northwest of Sand Point, with a strong front in a southward arc into the central Pacific. As the day progressed, the storm continued to race north...centering just west of Bethel at 9 am and just north of Koyuk 6 hours later at 3 pm Wednesday, where it weakened to a 975 mb center. By 3 pm Wednesday, the front had weakened slightly, extending in an arc through Nenana and Anchorage then south southwest into the east-central Pacific. By 3 am Thursday, the front had weakened considerably, extending from the upper Tanana Valley into the central Kenai Peninsula to a position aboutt 360 miles south of Kodiak.Strong southerly winds were observed ahead of the front and also along the southeast quadrant of the storm where 3 hourly pressure tendancies exceeded 10 mbs at many locations. This storm, low and front, quickly earned the moniker of "Groundhog's Day" storm.Wind gusts reached close to 85 mph along the Alaska Peninsula in advance of the front early Wednesday, followed by rapid wind shifts to the southwest and gusts close to 70 mph. Southwest winds rapidly decreased by the end of the morning, as the low raced northward.Across Bristol Bay, wind gusts reached at least 76 mph early in the day Wednesday.Normally 'wind quiet' areas in the Kuskokwim Valley also recorded strong winds, especially at higher elevations. Tatalina Air Force Station recorded gusts of 82 mph just prior to noon on Wednesday. Prior to the onset of strong winds, heavy snow was reported early in the day.Gusts of at least 63 mph were reported on the 'back side' of the low across the Kuskokwim Delta late Wednesday morning.In advance of the front, southeasterly gusts along the Anchorage hillside ranged from 80 mph to 105 mph (highest along O'Malley Road mid Hillside at 7:30 am Wednesday). Gusts around the Portage visitor center peaked at 75 mph.Another avalanche was reported outside of Seward, again closing the highway. Minor flooding was also reported around the community of Seward, due to both melt and rain. Heavy snowfall, close to 2 feet, was reported in the higher elevations just north of town. Around Cordova, heavy rains were accompanied by southeasterly wind gusts of 70 mph Wednesday.Department of Highways reported wind gusts of 82 mph near Glennallen about midday ahead of the front.