Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, December 19 to 20, 2001

A large low deepened and moved toward the Aleutians Monday morning. The storm moved up the Aleutian Chain later Monday and Tuesday. As the storm continued to develop and move east, its effects spread from the Aleutians through the Alaska Peninsula and into Kodiak Island. The storm moved across Kodiak Island Wednesday afternoon and into Wednesday night. Pre-frontal winds reached warning levels at many areas, accompanied by blizzard conditions in snow and blowing snow. Winds along the back side of the low also reached warning levels across the central and eastern Aleutians.171 - Near blizzard conditions were reported at Chignik Wednesday afternoon and into Wednesday evening. Blizzard conditions were likely in several areas of Kodiak Island itself from late Wednesday afternoon through early Thursday. Peak winds likely reached the 60 mph warning level somewhere on the Island. Snowfall at the Kodiak observing site reached 8.4 inches in a 12 hour period...a tad over warning thresholds for the area.191 - Blizzard conditions appear reached across the western Aleutians. Shemya ASOS reports used. On the back side of the low, wind gusts reached 71 mph from the north at Atka around 0835 AST Wednesday. Visibilities of 1/4 mile were reported after 4:15 am AST...with the visibility sensor inoperable during the event thereafter. Actual warning level north winds at Atka were very brief. 195 - High Wind criteria were met at Saint George, but not at Saint Paul, according to the ASOS reports. Visibilities reached at least 1/4 mile in snow and blowing snow (mostly blowing snow) at Saint Paul earlier in the day. Only 1 inch of new snow was reported from Wednesday night through Thursday morning.185 - High Wind criteria likely first reached around 0200 AST Wednesday with pre-frontal easterlies (non-augmented AWOS observation). Visibilities of 1/4 mile reported by AWOS. Conditions improved with frontal passage just prior to noon Wednesday. On the back side of the low, northwest wind gusts peaked at 69 mph at 2:35 am AST Thursday. Strong northwest winds subsided below warning levels around 9:00 am AST Thursday.Event Maxima...171 - Winds pre-frontal winds reached 55 mph at Sitkinak between 6 and 7 pm Wednesday. At Kodiak, peak winds reached 43 mph between 9 pm and 10 pm Wed.191 - Shemya recorded 1/4 mile in heavy snow and gusty northwest winds around 35 mph on the back side of the low Tuesday. Pre-frontal conditions there indicated heavy snow...however snowfall amounts are unavailable at the site. Blizzard conditions were likely reached there during the event. 71 mph north winds were reported at Atka on the back side of the storm.195 - Pre-frontal north northeast winds at St. George reached 62 mph between 3 pm and 6 pm AST Wednesday. Gusty north northwest winds close to 60 mph were also reported early Thursday as the low moved to the east.181 - Just north of the arctic front, east northeast winds reached 54 mph at the Cold Bay ASOS... indicating conditions peak winds likely reached close to 65 mph.185 - Peak easterly winds at the Dutch Harbor ASOS reached 70 mph around 9 am Wednesday. Visibilities of 1/4 mile or less were apparent from around 2 am AST Wednesday to noon AST Wednesday.