Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, January 30 to 31, 2000

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, January 30 to 31, 2000
Start: 2000-01-30T09:00
End: 2000-01-31T23:59
Location: Alaska

January 30 to 31, 2000 · NWS AFC · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 AFC wrote it up.

A moderate low, and associated frontal system, pushed northwest through the Gulf of Alaska Sunday, triggering two days of heavy snows across the southeast mainland of the State. By late Monday morning, a 965 mb low began to weaken rapidly as it made its way northward toward Montague Island.By late Monday, the arctic front extended from Northway to Gulkana and into western Prince William Sound. The deep low (that was moving north toward Montague Island earlier in the day) had weakened to 986 mbs just southwest of Montague Island by 9 pm Monday. The low continued to rapidly weaken and move east Monday night and early Tuesday...pulling the arctic air southeastward with it.At a remote site in lower Cook Inlet, wind gusts reached 68 mph several times Monday, as cold arctic air funneled through western Alaska Range passes into the Kenai Peninsula. In the Seward area, close to whiteout conditions in blowing snow and wind gusts of 45 mph were reported late Sunday morning. Snowfall was reported as 'intense'. Avalanches were reported all up and down Lowell Point Road.Avalanches were also reported in several areas around Valdez and parts of the Seward Highway closing both the Seward and Richardson Highway just north of Valdez.By midday Monday, 24 - 36 hour snowfall reports indicated: 2 1/2 to 4 feet of snow around Whittier Sunday and Monday. 14" - 22" of new snow around Seward Sunday and Monday. 2' - 2 1/2' of new snow at the Alyeska ski resort from noon Sunday to noon Monday. Along the Anchorage hillside, new snowfall ranged from 6" - nearly 1 1/2 feet around Glenn Alps from late Sunday through Monday mid morning. 1' of new snow overnight reported at the Girdwood DOT site. Moose Pass and Cooper Landing recorded 5" - 10" of new snow. 6" - 8" of new snow fell across north Kenai. Homer recorded anywhere from 4" - 14". Thompson Pass 15" of new snow in 12 hours. Ernestine (MP302 on the Richardson highway) recorded 24" of new snow.Additionally, 4 avalanches from Bird Point to Girdwood were reported on the Seward highway. One avalanche was recorded at mile 8 of the Glenn highway. 2 avalanches, one at MP 20 and the other at MP 51, were reported along the Richardson Highway.By 4pm Monday, Girdwood reported an additional 14" of snow, adding up to 36" within a 30 hour time span. Whiteout conditions were reported at the DOT Silvertip site. Avalanches trapped traveller's near Girdwood.70 mph winds were reported around Cordova around noon Monday.Late Monday afternoon, reports of 10" - 14" of new snow at Butte, and 16" of new snow along the Talachulitna River, were received.Valdez reported brief freezing rain and Ernestine (MP 302) recorded 24" of new snow.

Event by event

2 winter storm, 2 high wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Cook Inlet

When: January 30, 9:00 AM AST to January 31, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Cook Inlet forecast zone
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow, Central Gulf Coast

When: January 30, 9:00 AM AST to January 31, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Central Gulf Coast forecast zone
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

Winter Storm, Copper River Basin

When: January 30, 9:00 AM AST to January 31, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Copper River Basin forecast zone
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

High Wind, Cook Inlet

When: January 31, 3:00 AM AST to 6:00 PM AST
Where: Cook Inlet forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Central Gulf Coast

When: January 31, 11:30 AM AST to 12:30 PM AST
Where: Central Gulf Coast forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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

Every storm in Alaska in 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, January 2000

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: 5127208, 5127584, 5127585, 5127586, 5127587.