Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, February 13 to 14, 2004

Name: Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, February 13 to 14, 2004
Start: 2004-02-13T07:16
End: 2004-02-14T14:16
Location: Alaska

February 13 to 14, 2004 · NWS AFG · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Strong high pressure over the Arctic Ocean and moderately strong low pressure center over the eastern Aleutians created a moderate to strong pressure gradient over Alaska.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

Strong high pressure over the Arctic Ocean and moderately strong low pressure center over the eastern Aleutians created a moderate to strong pressure gradient over Alaska. An occlusion aloft moved north over the west coast of Alaska on the 13th tightening the pressure gradient over western Alaska, causing winds to increase.High winds were reported at:Zone 207: Point Hope AWOS: gusts to 59 kts (68 mph).Zone 211: Golovin AWOS: gusts to 62 knots (71 mph).Zone 212: Unalakleet AWOS: gusts to 62 knots (71 mph).Blizzard conditions were likely at:Zone 201: Point Lay

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 13, 6:00 AM AST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 13, 6:00 AM AST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

NORTH ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
600 AM AST FRI FEB 13 2004

.DISCUSSION...

SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST RIDGE CONTINUES TO KEEP SYSTEMS BOTTLED UP
OVER THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS.  AN OCCLUDED FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH A
966 MB LOW 120 NM WEST OF DUTCH HARBOR IS STRETCHED OUT WEST TO
EAST OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA. THIS FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY
TO THE NORTH OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS INTO CENTRAL ALASKA THEN
DISSIPATE AS HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE HIGH ARCTIC BLOCKS
ANY FURTHER MOVEMENT.

SHORT TERM CONCERNS ARE FOR WINDS ALONG THE WEST COAST NEAR THIS
LOW WHICH HAVE BEEN BLOWING FOR SEVERAL DAYS.  WIND AND BLOWING
SNOW ADVISORIES COVER MOST OF THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST
AREA AS WELL AS ZONE 223 AND THE HILLS AROUND FAIRBANKS.

AS THE OCCLUDED FRONT MOVES TO THE NORTH...STRONG EAST WINDS WILL
FUNNEL THROUGH THE NOATAK VALLEY AND NORTH TOWARD CAPE LISBURNE. A
HIGH WIND WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE POTENTIAL FOR GUSTS OF 55 TO 60 MPH IN THE FAVORED
LOCATIONS.

THE ARCTIC COAST WILL REMAIN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HIGH PRESSURE
PARKED TO THE NORTH.  AN INCREASE IN WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH
TEMPERATURES THAT HAVE REMAINED IN THE 20 BELOW RANGE TO PRODUCE
WIND CHILLS AT ADVISORY LEVELS IN ZONES 203/204/205.

THE MID RANGE AND EXTENDED FORECASTS FEATURE A SLIGHT WEAKENING
AND WESTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE RIDGE.  THIS WILL ALLOW LOWER
HEIGHTS TO DROP IN OVER NORTHEAST ALASKA.  THE TRUE LONG RANGE
INDICATES THAT THE RIDGE WILL BUILD IN WESTERN CANADA WITH A
SERIES OF SYSTEMS MOVING NORTH THROUGH THE BERING SEA.  THIS WILL
ALLOW SOUTHERLY FLOW TO RETURN ACROSS THE STATE.

.AFG...WATCH/WARNING/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WATCH SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT
           ZONES 201...207...208...217
         WIND ADVISORY TODAY
           ZONES 201...207...210...211...212...213...214...219
           222...223
         BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY TODAY
           ZONES 201...213
         WIND CHILL ADVISORY
           ZONES 203...204...205
MARINE...BRISK WIND ADVISORY
           AREAS 9A...9B...10A...10B...11A

AT FEB 04

Event by event

3 high wind, 1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Srn Seward Peninsula Coast

When: February 13, 7:16 AM AST to 4:56 PM AST
Where: Srn Seward Peninsula Coast forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills

When: February 13, 7:36 AM AST to 11:56 PM AST
Where: Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard, Western Arctic Coast

When: February 13, 10:00 AM AST to 8:51 PM AST
Where: Western Arctic Coast forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Chukchi Sea Coast

When: February 14, 10:56 AM AST to 2:16 PM AST
Where: Chukchi Sea Coast forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
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 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, February 2004

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: 5381556, 5381558, 5381559, 5381557.