Name: Blizzard in Alaska, March 1 to 3, 2017
Start: 2017-03-01T00:00
End: 2017-03-03T00:00
Location: Alaska

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

A strong pressure gradient developed along the eastern north slope between a 1048 high pressure center over Russia and low pressure over the interior. Blizzard conditions and strong winds were reported along the eastern north slope on February 28th through March 3rd 2017.

Zone 204: Blizzard conditions were reported at the Barter Island AWOS. A peak wind of 52 kt (60 mph) was also reported.

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 28, 2:08 PM AKST, 9 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 2:08 PM AKST, 9 hours 52 minutes before

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
208 PM AKST Tue Feb 28 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Overall, a relatively quiet pattern for northern Alaska. The
biggest forecast concern will be strong winds and blowing snow
along the Beaufort Sea coast that will persist through the end of
the workweek. The models are in very good agreement with the
overall synoptic pattern through the weekend. A longwave trough is
situated roughly over the Canadian Border, with a ridge
stretching from the Chukotsk Peninsula to the Aleutian Islands.
This general pattern persists aloft through Friday although it
does become a little bit more amplified.

Central and Eastern Interior: The Interior will get a break from
the snowy pattern that we have seen lately. Skies will gradually
clear today. The clearing skies will result in a decreasing trend
in temperatures. Low temperatures will be in the 20 to 30 below
range tonight across the Interior, with the coldest temperatures
expected along the Canadian Border. Highs tomorrow will generally
be in the single digits above and below zero. The snow-free
pattern looks to persist through the end of the workweek, with the
next chance of snow either Saturday night or early Sunday.

West Coast and Western Interior: Skies will continue to clear,
resulting in a continued cooling trend in temperatures. Below
normal temperatures will persist through the end of the week.
Models are in good agreement that west coast will remain
precipitation free through late Friday, when a short wave will
bring a quick shot of snow (there are differences in the models
of the exact timing of this feature at this point).

North Slope and Brooks Range: Blizzard conditions persist along
the Beaufort Sea Coast. Models are in good agreement that winds in
blowing snow will continue through tonight along the Beaufort Sea
coast. Winds will die down for a bit tomorrow, but will increase
again tomorrow night and will continue through Friday evening as
the models keep a tight pressure gradient over the area. We have
extended the Blizzard Warning that is out for the Beaufort Sea
coast through Friday evening. Gusty northerly winds will persist
in the eastern Brooks Range through tonight. For Barrow and point
to the west, relatively clear skies are expected through the
weekend.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Blizzard Warning for AKZ204.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ203-AKZ206-AKZ218.

Gale Warning for PKZ245.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ240.
&&

FEB 17

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 6:12 PM AKST, 5 hours 48 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
612 PM AKST Tue Feb 28 2017

AKZ222-010900-
Middle Tanana Valley-
Including Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, Eielson AFB, Ester,
North Pole, Moose Creek, Two Rivers, Fox, Chatanika,
Chena Hot Springs, and Sourdough Camp
612 PM AKST Tue Feb 28 2017

...Windy this Evening...

Northeast winds 15 mph gusting to 30 mph are now occuring and will
continue into this evening. There is blowing and drifting snow
over summits. Winds will decrease to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

Event by event

1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast

When: March 1, 12:00 AM AKST to March 3, 12:00 AM AKST
Where: Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS

What these are

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

More

Every storm in Alaska in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, March 2017

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: 684672.