Blizzard and Extreme Cold in Alaska, January 12 to 15, 2000

A strong and complex frontal system over Russia Far East moved across the Bering Sea...Chukotsk Peninsula ...and into the Chukchi Sea on the 13th. On the morning of the 14th, a low pressure center of 984 mb was located 480 miles northwest of Barrow with the cold front extending due south over the far western Brooks Range and central Seward Peninsula. On the afternoon of the 14th, the low had moved to 420 miles north of Barrow while the cold front had swept east and was east of the Canada Border. The low drifted north thereafter with the lingering west winds across the Arctic coast slowly diminishing through the afternoon of the 15th. Blizzard conditions reported at:Arctic Slope Coastal: Barrow, Kuparuk, Nuiqsut, Deadhorse.North Slopes of the Brooks Range: Alaska Department of Transportation noted Dalton Highway north of Atigun Pass closed due to blowing and drifting snow.Northern Seward Peninsula-Lower Kobuk Valley to Cape Lisburne: Kotzebue, Deering, Selawik, Kivalina, unofficially at Co-op site at Sheshalik (OTZ 17 NW)St. Lawrence Island-Bering Strait Coast:: SavoongaSouthern Seward Peninsula and Eastern Norton Sound: GolovinHighest Winds reported at:Arctic Slope Coastal: Point Lay AWOS gust 48 mph, Nuiqsut ASOS gust 44 mph, Deadhorse ASOS gust 45 mph, Barrow ASOS gust 44 mph.North Slopes of the Brooks Range: Sag River D.O.T. Camp reported gusts 50-60 mph on morning of the 14th.Northern Seward Peninsula-Lower Kobuk Valley to Cape Lisburne: Point Hope AWOS gust 56 mph; Red Dog Mine gusts 49 mph; Shishmaref AWOS gusts 53 mph; Deering ASOS gust 53 mph.St. Lawrence Island-Bering Strait Coast: Tin City AWOS gust 55 mph; Cape Prince of Wales PMEL platform gust 60 mph.Extreme Wind Chill:Northern Seward Peninsula-Lower Kobuk Valley to Cape Lisburne: Kotzebue -74 F; Selawik -75 F.Heavy SnowNorthern Seward Peninsula-Lower Kobuk Valley to Cape Lisburne: Kivalina Co-op observer: 6.0" snow in 24 hours ending 9am on the 14th.