Blizzard and Ice Storm in Alaska, November 11 to 14, 2013

A complex low pressure center of 993 mb over Kamchatka on the morning of the 12th moved to the southeast Beaufort Sea near Barter Island on the morning of the 14th deepening to 979 mb. This storm brought a variety of hazardous weather to northern Alaska: another surge of sea water across Norton Sound, rising 4 to 8 feet to prolong the inundation which had occurred just a few days earlier though the peak surge did occur during the falling tide so the overall rise in sea level was not as high as the previous event. A strong warm front with this system spread precipitation across the west coast and interior starting out as freezing rain, then rain, though remaining as snow near the Brooks Range. Some locations in the interior received nearly 1 inch of ice, with many locations receiving one-quarter to one-half inch overall. Very strong westerly winds gusting from 50 to 75 mph developed just behind the warm front as it moved across the west coast and interior of northern Alaska on the afternoon of the 13th through the morning of the 14th. In addition to the wintry mix of precipitation and strong winds, temperatures soared into the lower 40s when the wind arrived. As the low pressure center continued east of Barter island on the 14th, a short period of blizzard conditions occurred there.

Coastal Flooding was reported at:|Zone 211: Nome and the Road to Council...minor flooding as water levels rose about 4 feet above tidal values, though no further damage from the previous surge on the 11th.

Zone 212: At Shaktoolik, the water rose again but not as high as the previous surge. Nontheless more of the beach was eroded as well as some more of the old runway. While this runway is no longer used for air transportation it still provides ground access to subsistence activities farther away from the village. At Stebbins, the water rose a bit lower than the previous surge, with no further damage.

Zone 214: Kotlik received some minor flooding of roads and streets with the storm surge, but no further damage to the areas already inundated.

Rain...Freezing Rain...Snow...Blizzard and High Winds or Strong Winds occurred in these areas:

Zone 204: Blizzard conditions occurred at Barter Island during the late morning through mid afternoon of the 14th, as indicated by the AWOS. A peak gust of 58 kt (67 mph) occurred during that time.

Zone 207: Light freezing rain was likely, as indicated by the AWOS at Point Hope (0.03 inch); Kivalina (0.02 inch) and Shishmaref (0.05 inch). Winds gusted to 43 kt (49 mph) at Shishmaref at 1716AKST on the 13th.

Zone 208: Though no reporting sites met warning criteria, Noatak received an estimated 4 inches of snow, and in addition the AWOS reported what was likely 0.05 inch of freezing rain on the evening of the 13th.

Zone 209: Kotzebue received 0.12 inch of freezing drizzle and rain, as well as 4.4 inches of snow. Selwik received about 4 inches of snow, and Noorvik likely received 0.05 inch of freezing rain, according to the AWOS. Winds gusted as high as 49 kt (56 mph) at both the Kotzebue ASOS and Selawik AWOS between 2000AKST and 2200AKST on the 13th.| |Zone 210: Deering received approximately 0.15 inch of rain from the evening of the 12th through the afternoon of the 13th according to the ASOS. Ground was likely frozen so rain turned to ice on the ground. High winds were reported at Deering where the ASOS reached a peak gust of 62 kt (71 mph) during the late afternoon of the 13th.

Zone 211: Rain fell at Nome (0.52 inches accumulation) and at White Mountain (.18 inches accumulation). Though mostly rain, ground surfaces remained frozen, so the effect was the same as Freezing rain on ground surfaces. Although rain ended at about 1300AKST on the 23th, high winds occurred later that afternoon, as winds at the Nome ASOS and White Mountain AWOS each gusted to 53 kt (61 mph).

Zone 212: Rain fell at Unalakleet (0.23 inches accumulation) and at Koyuk (.20 inches accumulation). Though mostly rain, ground surfaces remained frozen, so the effect was the same as Freezing rain on ground surfaces.

Zone 213: Rain was reported at Wales (estimated 0.20 inch) and Teller (0.26 inch), along with lesser amounts at Brevig Mission (0.07 inch) and likely at Savoonga (0.08 inch). Ground was likely frozen so rain turned to ice on the ground. High winds reported were: Teller AWOS 65 kt (75 mph); Wales AWOS 56 kt (64 mph); Savoonga AWOS 55 kt (63 mph) and Brevig Mission AWOS 53 kt (61 mph).

Zone 214: Rain fell at Scammon Bay (0.74 inches accumulation) Saint Mary (.54 inches accumulation) and at Mountain Village (.23 inches accumulation). Ground was frozen.

Zone 215: Rain fell at Holy Cross (0.25 inches accumulation). Ground was frozen.

Zone 216: Rain fell at Kaltag (0.12 inches accumulation). Ground was frozen.

Zone 217: Ambler reported 10 inches of new snow fell on the 13th. An estimated amount of 0.08 inch of Freezing Rain likely occurred there during the evening of the 13th...according to the AWOS. At Shungnak, the AWOS reported wind gusts to 50 kt (58 mph) from 0000AKST to 0100AKST on the 14th.

Zone 219: 8.5 inches of snow fell at the Bettles airport.

Zone 220: Circle Hot Springs resident reported damage to the siding of a barn, as well as a bent flagpole. An estimate 0.07 inch of freezing rain fell at Fort Yukon.

Zone 221: At Nenana, 0.88 inch of freezing rain and rain fell on frozen ground. At Tanana, 0.29 inches of freezing rain and rain was measured, and the ASOS there gusted to 44 kt (53 mph). At Minchumina, the AWOS reported a wind gust to 39 kt (45 mph). Power was reported out for a period of time at Nenana from the late evening of the 13th into at least the 14th.

Zone 222: In the Fairbanks area, approximately 0.25 to 0.4 inch of freezing rain and rain fell during the event. Precipitation actually started as sleet or ice pellets mixed with snow the morning of the 13th, accumulating around 0.2 inches, then light snow occurred during the afternoon with little accumulation. Temperatures warmed above freezing in the evening and precipitation fell as freezing drizzle, freezing rain, light snow and finally rain before turning back to snow early on the 14th. From about midnight through 0500AKST on the 14th winds gusted to 54 kt (62 mph) at Fort Wainwright ASOS, 48 kt (55 mph) at Fairbanks ASOS (the highest ever observed during the winter months), and 42 kt (49 mph) at Eielson AFB ASOS. This extreme event downed many ice-covered trees onto power lines, cutting power to 13,000 Golden Valley Electric Association customers overnight on the 13th and morning of the 14th. Power was restored to 5,000 customers by 0845AKST on the 14th...only 800 customers remained without power the morning of the 18th and all customers were back online on the 21st. Extra linemen and equipment were utilized from Chugach Electric, who traveled 350 miles from the Anchorage area. The electric utility costs were estimated between 3 and 5 million for the outage, which includes equipment and labor. The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District cancelled classes for the 13th through the 15th. The Fairbanks North Star Borough opened up emergency shelters, utilizing 23 high schools which were used by a handful of people for a few days following the event. Thirty structures were reported damaged by this event. The Borough and City of Fairbanks each issued a Disaster Declaration on the 17th, and on the 18th the Governor of Alaska also issued a state disaster declaration for the Borough.

Zone 223: Approximately 0.24 inch of rain or freezing rain likely fell at the Co-operative Observer at Delta 6N; other locations had much less or no liquid precipitation.

Zone 225: About 0.30 inch of rain/ice is estimated from the report by the Denali Park Cooperative station, occurring on the 13th and early morning of the 14th. The State of Alaska RWIS station at Antler Creek reported a gust to 61 kt (70 mph) at 2320AKST on the 13th.

Zone 227: Although below Warning criteria, McGrath received 0.1 inch of rain falling on frozen ground, and Nilolai AWWS reported 0.01 inch of rain.