Blizzard in Alaska, January 12 to 13, 2002

Name: Blizzard in Alaska, January 12 to 13, 2002
Start: 2002-01-12T10:21
End: 2002-01-13T00:53
Location: Alaska

January 12 to 13, 2002 · NWS AFC · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A weakening low moved across the eastern Aleutians, pushing into strong high pressure centered in far eastern Siberia. Blizzard conditions continued for up to 5 hours at a time.

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 AFC wrote it up.

A weakening low moved across the eastern Aleutians, pushing into strong high pressure centered in far eastern Siberia. The front associated with the low was preceded by brisk northeast winds and blizzard conditions in blowing snow, along with snow and temperatures in the mid 20s.Blizzard conditions continued for up to 5 hours at a time. Saint Paul observer said snow drifts there were up to 20 feet high and that "visibilities approached zero at times, although the ASOS didn't report it". He also commented that the sea ice edge was just south of Saint Paul.Event maxima...Northeast wind gusts reached 52 mph at Saint George Island around noon Saturday.

Event by event

1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Pribilof Islands

When: January 12, 10:21 AM AST to January 13, 12:53 AM AST
Where: Pribilof Islands forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

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.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alaska in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, January 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: 5277127.