Heavy Snow and High Wind in Alaska, January 22 to 25, 2000

A moderate front, extending from just west of Nunivak Island to just west of Cold Bay late Saturday, was preceded by brisk southeasterly winds across much of the southern mainland. By late Sunday, the front extended nearly north-south from Ambler to King Salmon, weakening from Fairbanks to Valdez and southeast late Tuesday morning. The front finally moved east into Canada and to near Cape Fairweather in Southeast Alaska late Tuesday.Across the Bristol Bay area, wind gusts reached 62 mph at Egegik and 61 mph at King Salmon late Saturday. A private weather system in Naknek measured a 71 mph gust at 9:20 pm Saturday. Wind and snow reportedly downed power lines around Naknek late Sunday. Naknek Electric Association extimated 1-2 inches of ice on the line conductors and 3 1/2 inches of snow on the lines prior to the lines going down. Winds snapped 6 poles in Naknek...with several more reported damaged in south Naknek.Along the Kuskokwim Delta, wind gusts reached 67 mph at Bethel late Saturday...with winds diminishing early Sunday. Winds at Saint Mary's reached 64 mph late Saturday. Blizzard conditions were recorded at several locations.Across the Kuskokwim Valley local wind gusts reached 61 mph around the McGrath area, with stronger gusts probably occurring out of Alaska Range Passes.On Kodiak Island, gusts of 61 mph were recorded at the remote Booth Lake site early Sunday afternoon.In lower Cook Inlet, a remote C-Man site on Augustine Island recorded pre-frontal gusts just shy of 60 mph (58 mph). Gusts at the Portage ASOS reached 76 mph several times late Sunday and early Monday.6" - 8" of new snow was reported just north of Seward, as elevations rise on the Seward highway.Along the upper Anchorage hillside gusts of 77 mph were recorded at the Rabbit Creek site late Sunday. Earlier in the day gusts reached 86 mph at the Glen Alps mesonet site. A report of 94 mph was recorded at a co-op site near the intersection of O'Malley and Maintree roads along the mid Anchorage hillside.Brisk southeast wind gusts were also reported around the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. One report of 70 mph winds and whiteout conditions was received on the Willow side of Hatcher Pass.Gusts near 60 mph were also reported locally around Prince William Sound and in the Copper River Basin Sunday and Monday. Additionally, heavy snow fell around many areas of Prince William Sound...including Whittier and near Thompson Pass (just north of Valdez) where nearly 2 feet of new snow was reported.