Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, January 2 to 5, 2005

An occluded front moved north from the Bering Sea over western Alaska on the 2nd and moved east across the North Slope and through the central Interior on the evening of the 2nd and on the 3rd...stalling near Fairbanks into the 4th until an Arctic cold front swept in from the west and pushed the old frontal system into Canada by the evening of the 4th. Snow lingered over the southeast interior behind the cold front until the morning of the 5th. Heavy Snow was reported at:Zone 216: Galena Co-operative Observer 8.0 inches in 24 hours beginning at 1800 AST on the 1st.Zone 219: Bettles Airport: 10.4 inches in 24 hours beginning 0000 AST on the 3rd.Zone 221: Minchumina Co-operative Observer: 11.8 inches in 24 hours beginning 2300 AST on the 2nd. Nenana D.O.T. reported 6.0 inches on the 4th at 0820 AST; begin time unknown. Zone 224: Northway: FAA Observer estimated 10.3 inches. Snow began 1400 AST on the 4th. Tok: Co-operative Observer reported 7.5 inches during the evening of the 4th. Unknown start time of snow. Zone 225: Healy Co-operative Observer: 6.0 inches for a 24 hour total beginning 2000 AST on the 3rd. The D. O. T. reported on the morning of the 4th that 16.0 inches to 30.0 inches of new snow existed in the Cantwell section, of which the northern-most portion lies in the southern end of the zone. Ice Storm/Freezing Rain reported by the Alaska Department of Transportation at:Zone 221: Nenana (in conjunction with 6.0 inches of snow). Amount was probably less than warning criteria. Nonetheless driving conditions were difficult and a Travel Advisory by D.O.T. was posted.Zone 224: Freezing Rain and black ice on the Alaska Highway; difficult driving conditions. Amount was likely between 0.1 inch and 0.25 inches. Travel Advisory by D.O.T. in effect.Zone 225: 1158 AST Jan. 3rd: Parks Highway from Milepost 262 south to Milepost 159 - Freezing Rain reported with black ice and very slick driving conditions. Travel not advised by D.O.T. 820 AST Jan. 4th: Freezing Rain and very icy roads reported through the Healy section, with heavy snowfall in the Cantwell section (see Heavy Snow zone 225 above). All unnecessary travel not advised by D.O.T. Amount of Freezing rain not exactly reported, but could have been up to one-quarter of an inch near Denali Park as the reported amount of rain and melted snow was 0.45 inches with 1.5 inches of snowfall, both on the morning of the 4th. Zone 226: 839 AST 4th: Raining hard along the Tok Cutoff Highway, travel not advised by D.O.T. Blowing and drifting snow, black ice, icy patches, rain/snow mix and standing water in low-lying areas, very difficult driving conditions on Richardson Highway. High Wind was reported at:Zone 201: Cape Lisburne AWOS highest gust 58 knots (67 mph).Zone 213: Savoonga AWOS highest gust 56 knots (64 mph); Tin City AWOS 53 knots (61 mph).Zone 223: Delta Junction ASOS: Peak gust 52 knots (60 mph).Zone 226: Army MesoNet: Texas Range and Texas Condo sites: 57 knots (66 mph); OP10A site 56 knots (64 mph).