Blizzard in Alaska, November 17, 2010

The combination of a strong 1050 mb high across the southern interior of Alaska and a 992 mb low that moved from west to east across the Arctic Ocean and passed about 400 miles north of Barrow during the afternoon of the 17th produced snow and strong winds and led to a period of blizzard conditions in zones 201 through 206 on the 17th. The following are the conditions that were observed across the area:

Zone 201: Blizzard conditions were observed at Atqasuk during the late morning and afternoon hours on the 17th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 43 kt/49 mph was observed at the Atqasuk AWSS. Wind gusts as high as 62kt (71 mph) were observed at the Cape Lisburne AWOS.

Zone 202: Blizzard conditions were observed at Barrow during the morning hours on the 17th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 42kt (48 mph) was observed at the Barrow ASOS.

Zone 203: Blizzard conditions were observed at times during the day on the 17th along the central Beaufort Sea Coast. The visibility at Nuiqsut was reduced to one quarter mile at times in snow and blowing snow during the afternoon and evening hours. A peak wind gust of 53kt (61 mph) was observed at the Nuiqsut ASOS. Blizzard conditions were observed Deadhorse during the afternoon and evening on the 17th. A peak wind gust of 51 kt (59 mph) was observed at the Deadhorse ASOS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at times at Kuparuk and Alpine. Peak wind gusts of 55 kt (63 mph) were observed at Kuparuk and 42kt (48 mph) at the Alpine SAWRS.

Zone 204: Blizzard conditions were observed during the afternoon and evening hours of the 17th at Barter Island. Although the AWSS only reported a short period of one quarter mile visibility, calls to the fire station in Barter Island indicated that the visibility was frequently one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. A peak wind gust of 58 kt (67 mph) was observed at the Barter Island AWSS.

Zone 205: Blizzard conditions likely occurred along the coastal plain in Zone 205 during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 17th. Due to limited observations in the area that blizzard conditions were based on the combination of a very strong pressure gradient and the blizzard conditions that were observed at Atqasuk which was the closest available observation platform.

Zone 206: Blizzard conditions likely occurred on the coastal plain based on reports from the DOT of 40 to 50 mph wind and blowing and drifting snow reducing the visibility to near zero. The visibility at Anaktuvuk Pass only briefly dropped to one quarter mile, but the visibilities were likely much lower along the coastal plain.