Blizzard and Winter Storm in Alaska, April 6 to 8, 2011

A north Pacific low rapidly deepened south of the Aleutians during the evening of the 5th and was a 940 mb low as it passed over the Bering Sea buoy 46035 (350 miles north of Adak) around 1900AKST on the 6th. The low then weakened to 954 mb 150 miles west of Nunivak Island by 1500 AKST on the 7th, and to 981 mb along the Kuskokwim Delta at 1500AKST on the 8th. The low produced strong winds and heavy snowfall along much of the west coast.

Zone 207: Blizzard conditions were observed at Kivalina from 0816AKST through 1333AKST on the 7th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 36 kt/41 mph at the Kivalina ASOS. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Point Hope from 1616AKST through 2014AKST on the 8th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 38 kt/44 mph at the Point Hope AWOS.

Zone 208: Heavy snow was observed at Kiana with a storm total of 8 to 12 inches. The snow began at 0531AKST and ended around 1600AKST. Shortly after the onset of the snow there was a 2 hour period of blizzard conditions with the visibility reduced to one quarter mile in heavy snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 42 kt/48 mph at the Kiana AWSS.

Zone 209: Heavy snow fell at Kotzebue on the 7th with a total of 6.9 inches of snow. The snow began at 0509AKST and continued the remainder of the day. There was also a period of blizzard conditions from 0539AKST through 1220AKST. The visibility was reduced to less than one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 43 kt/50 mph at the Kotzebue ASOS. The snow continued until around 0600AKST on the 8th with an additional 1.2 inches on the 8th. There was a storm total of 8.1 inches for the event. Selawik also had a short period of blizzard conditions from approximately 0900AKST until 1000AKST on the 7th with a storm total of approximately 4 inches.

Zone 210: Blizzard conditions were observed at Buckland from 0336AKST through 0936AKST on the 7th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 45 kt/ 52 mph at the Buckland AWOS. It was estimated that 2 inches of snow fell, but it was nearly impossible to measure due to the strong wind. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Deering from 0320AKST through 0900AKST. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 44 kt/ 51 mph at the Deering ASOS. It was estimated that 4 inches of snow fell at Deering, but it was nearly impossible to measure due to the strong wind.

Zone 211: Blizzard conditions were observed at Nome from 2351AKST on the 6th through 0851AKST on the 7th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 48 kt/55 mph at the Nome ASOS. A total of 6.7 inches of snow fell at the Nome National Weather Service office. The 6.7 inches of snow that fell in Nome was the largest calendar day snowfall ever observed at Nome during the month of April. This event forced on the 7th the preemptive closure of all schools, as well as closure of many businesses and public offices. Blizzard conditions were also observed at Golovin from 0016AKST through 0916AKST on the 7th. The visibility was reduced to zero at times in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 54 kt/ 62 mph at the Golovin AWOS.

Zone 212: Blizzard conditions were observed at Unalakleet from 0056AKST through 0416Z. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile in snow and blowing snow. It was estimated that 2 to 3 inches of snow fell, but it was nearly impossible to measure due to strong winds. There was a peak wind gust of 48 kt/55 mph at the Unalakleet AWOS. At Koyuk, heavy snowfall was observed with a storm total of 6 to 8 inches. The snow began between midnight and 0100AKST and ended by approximately 1200AKST.

Zone 213: Blizzard conditions were observed at Gambell from 2216AKST on the 6th through 0056AKST on the 9th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was peak wind gust of 42 kt/ 48 mph at the Gambell AWOS, but the actual peak wind gust may have been higher as there were several hours during the event when the anemometer was inoperable. At Savoonga, blizzard conditions were observed from 1936AKST on the 6th through 0456AKST on the 7th. There was a peak wind gust of 48 kt/55 mph at the Savoonga AWOS. Blizzard conditions began at Teller at 0133AKST on the 7th and likely lasted until mid-late morning on the 7th; however, there were no observations available after 0300 AKST. During the onset of the blizzard conditions there was a peak wind gust of 51 kt/ 59 mph at the Teller AWSS. At Wales, blizzard conditions were observed from 2346AKST on the 6th until 0858AKST on the 7th. There was a peak wind gust of 43 kt/49 mph at the Wales AWSS.

At Gambell, There was a storm total of 12 to 18 inches, but the amounts were estimated due to significant blowing and drifting snow. The snow began between 1500AKST and 1600AKST on the 6th and continued during the day on the 7th. The snow tapered back to snow showers during the morning hours on the 8th, but the ending time of the steady snow is estimated as strong winds continued to produced significant blowing snow with reduced visibilities.

Zone 214: Heavy snow fall at Saint Marys with a storm total of approximately 12 inches. The snow likely began around 1500AKST on the 6th and continued until around 1300AKST on the 8th. There was a break in the snow during the 7th and it did not fall continuously. The snow may have mixed with rain at times before it turned back to all snow during the evening of the 7th. The snowfall was estimated due to strong winds and considerable blowing and drifting snow during the evening of the 6th. There were snow drifts that were estimated to be 2 1/2 feet deep. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile at times in snow and blowing snow, with brief periods of blizzard conditions. There was a peak wind gust of 48 kt/ 55 mph at the Saint Marys AWOS. Blizzard conditions were observed at Mountain Village from approximately 1827AKST on the 6th through 0056AKST on the 7th. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 51 kt/59 mph at the Mountain Village AWSS. There was a short period of blizzard conditions observed at Emmonak. The visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow from 2356AKST on the 6th until 0216AKST on the 7th. There was a peak wind gust of 41 kt/ 47 mph at the Emmonak AWOS. There was also a period of blizzard conditions at Scammon Bay from 1709AKST on the 6th until approximately 0030AKST on the 7th. The ending time was estimated as the visibility sensor became inoperable for a time during the event. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less in snow and blowing snow. There was a peak wind gust of 44 kt/ 51 mph at the Scammon Bay AWSS.

Zone 215: The city office in Russian Mission estimated that 18 to 24 inches of snow fell during this event. The snow began at on the 6th at 1756AKST and ended around 0830AKST on the 8th. The snow likely mixed with rain at times from the early morning through the late evening hours on the 7th. There was also a period of blizzard conditions at Marshall at the onset of the storm from approximately 1830AKST on the 6th until 0100AKST on the 7th. The ending time of the blizzard conditions was estimated as there were some missing observations. There was a peak wind gust of 53 kt/ 61 mph at the Marshall AWSS. It was estimated that 12 inches of snow fell at Marshall, but it was nearly impossible to measure the snow due to the strong winds.

Zone 216: A storm total of 12.5 inches of snow was observed at Nulato. The snow began approximately 0500 AKST on the 7th and ended approximately 0530AKST on the 8th. There was a brief period of blizzard conditions at Ruby at the onset of the storm during the morning of the 7th, but the blizzard conditions did not last for more than a couple of hours. There was a peak wind gust of 40 kt/ 46 mph at the Ruby AWSS.