Blizzard, Western Arctic Coast
- When
- February 15, 4:52 PM AST to 6:56 PM AST
- Where
- Western Arctic Coast forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Blizzard in Alaska, February 15, 2002
Blizzard conditions were reported along the Western Arctic Coast as a building high pressure system over the Arctic Ocean moved south, and a weakening occluded front moved northwestward into the area. As these systems merged, the pressure gradient between them strenghthened creating strong winds and blowing snow sufficient enough to significantly reduce visibility.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 AFG wrote it up.
Blizzard conditions were reported along the Western Arctic Coast as a building high pressure system over the Arctic Ocean moved south, and a weakening occluded front moved northwestward into the area. As these systems merged, the pressure gradient between them strenghthened creating strong winds and blowing snow sufficient enough to significantly reduce visibility. Point Lay reported wind gusts up to 37 knots (43 mph) with the visibility reduced to less than 1/4 mile in blowing snow.
Event by event
1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
More
Every storm in Alaska in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, February 2002
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: 5280007.