A warm front moved across the northwest Arctic providing gusty winds, ice accumulations up to a quarter of an inch, and heavy snow at times.
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.
The episode as NWS AFG wrote it up.
A warm front moved across the northwest Arctic providing gusty winds, ice accumulations up to a quarter of an inch, and heavy snow at times.
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 Dec 1, 1:49 PM AKST, 21 minutes earlier.
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
149 PM AKST Thu Dec 1 2022
.SYNOPSIS...A mix of precipitation across the forecast area over
the next couple days as warm air surges north up the West Coast
and into the Western Interior and Arctic. Freezing rain and rain
on the West Coast starts this evening spreading into the Arctic
and Western Interior tonight. Up to one quarter inch of ice is
expected in coastal areas, see Warnings and Advisories for
locations and details. Expecting snow from Fairbanks and the
Dalton Highway east, but there is a chance of freezing rain that
will extend east to Arctic Village and Fort Yukon with a slight
chance around Fairbanks. Temperatures surging well into the 30s
above along the West Coast and above freezing in the Arctic east
to border. For the Interior east of the Nulato hills temperatures
will warm to around freezing Saturday afternoon.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Models...A lot of inconsistency over the last few runs, and that
continues with the 01/12Z and 01/18Z solutions. Lots of challenges
with strong winds in the Arctic and on the West Coast lighter than
previous solutions, and the potential for freezing precipitation
not extending as far east into the Interior. Will be leaning
toward lighter winds, but they will still be gusting to the 50 to
60 mph range at Cape Lisburne, Utqiagvik, and Kaktovik with winds
gusting to around 40 mph for the remainder of the coastal areas.
For freezing precipitation will be keeping it mainly west of
Fairbanks, only a slight chance around Fairbanks, but will keep it
extended across the Arctic Coast to Deadhorse with slight chance
east of there, and north of Fairbanks it will be west of Arctic
Village and Fort Yukon.
Aloft...At 500 hpa...A couple of weak shortwaves are moving south
over the AlCan this evening kicking off some showers. Ridging is
building north and moving east with the axis over the West Coast
and ridging extending to 80N. The ridge axis will move over
Bristol Bay to Utqiagvik and north by Friday morning, then Kodiak
Island to Nuiqsut north by Friday afternoon. Strong southwest flow
will develop over the Bering Sea Friday as several shortwaves
associated with a 480 dam low near the New Siberian Islands move
to the Bering Strait and Northwest Arctic Coast. Saturday morning
the ridge axis will be over Prince William Sound to Demarcation
Point and northeast while a stronger shortwave will move across
the Northwest Arctic Coast to lie over Utqiagvik to Galena as the
low remains near the New Siberian Islands. Another ridge axis will
rotate over the Bering Sea to lie from Bristol Bay to the Gulf of
Anadyr. A strong shortwave will move over the Kamchatka Peninsula
and Western Bering Sea. Saturday afternoon the shortwave in the
Arctic will move east of the state while the ridge axis will
rotate over Seward to Utqiagvik and north. The strong shortwave
over the Bering Sea will stall over the Western Bering Sea. Sunday
morning the ridge axis will be over Prince William Sound to
Utqiagvik while the shortwave will move near the Dateline. At 850
hpa...-20C isotherm is east of the state. The -10C isotherm lies
from prince William Sound to utqiagvik, while the 0C isotherm has
been pushed north to lie from is south of the forecast area this
morning with the Kodiak Island to Deering to Point Hope this
evening. Friday morning the -10C isotherm will lie from McCarthy
to Deadhorse, while the 0C isotherm will lie from Kodiak City to
Galena to Utqiagvik. Friday afternoon a pool of -10C will be
hanging on over the southeast Interior as the 0C isotherm lies
from Valdez to Minchumina to Fort Yukon to Deadhorse to Utqiagvik
to Point Hope to Gambell.
Surface...High pressure has moved over most of the state this
afternoon with a 1033 mb high near Chicken, a 1029 mb high near
Venetie, a 1034 mb high near Lake Minchumina, and a 1030 mb high
near Togiak. High pressure extends north across the Eastern
Arctic Coast, then northwest across the Arctic, and west across
Kotzebue Sound, the Bering Strait, and St Lawrence Island. A
strong 985 mb low near the New Siberian Islands has a front that
extends east, then south over Chukotka just west of the Dateline.
Friday morning the High pressure across the Interior will be
weakening as the highs merge and move into the Southern Yukon
Territory at 1037 mb with high pressure pushing west to across the
Alaska Range and southwest mainland. The front over Chukotka will
move east of Dateline with a 995 mb low near Wrangel Island.
Friday afternoon high pressure will be holding south of the Yukon
River with a 1032 mb high in the Copper River Basin. The low near
Wrangel Island will move to 200 nm north of Utqiagvik at 995 mb
while the front will move to the Northwest Arctic Coast then south
through the Bering Strait to Gambell. Saturday morning high
pressure still holding south of the Yukon River as 1030 mb high
remains in Copper River Basin. The low will move to 200 nm north
of Point Tompson at 992 mb while the front will be over the
Northwest Coast.
Arctic Coast and Brooks Range...A mix of precipitation across the
area with up to one tenth of an inch of ice accumulation expected
along with periods of snow. See Winter Storm Warnings and
Advisories for details. Freezing rain will extend east to
Deadhorse with mainly snow from Point Tompson east and just a
slight chance of freezing rain. Strong winds developing as a low
moves north of the coast and winds increase to 35 mph gusting to
50 mph west of Kaktovik, while winds at Kaktovik will increase to
45 mph gusting around 60 mph Friday afternoon and evening. Winds
south 45 mph gust to 60 mph west of Point Lay will weaken and turn
from the southwest as some stronger winds to 35 mph gusting to 50
mph spread to Utqiagvik late Friday morning. Winds will diminish
at Utqiagvik as the stronger winds spread east to the Beaufort Sea
with winds at Kaktovik increasing to 45 mph gusting around 60 mph
late Friday. Winds around Deadhorse will be southwest 30 mph
gusting around 40 mph. Winds from Deadhorse west will turn from
the north and diminish to 5 to 15 mph by Saturday morning. Low
temperatures tonight will range from single digits above to the
mid 20s above on the northwest coast, with lows Friday night in
the teens and 20s above. High temperatures Friday will range from
20s to upper 30s above.
West Coast and Western Interior...A weather front will bring a mix
of precipitation to the area with mainly freezing rain and rain
along the coast north to Point Hope, with a mix as you move
further inland. Heavy snow is expected along the south slopes of
the Brooks Range. Heaviest ice accumulation along the coast with
up to one quarter inch. See Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories
for details. Strong south winds from the Bering Strait to Point
Hope at 30 mph gusting around 60 mph will diminish overnight to 25
mph gusting around 40 mph and continue to diminish slowly Friday.
The remainder of the coastal areas will see south winds to 25 mph,
while inland winds will be south at 5 to 15 mph. Low temperatures
tonight will range from around zero in the Middle Yukon Valley to
the mid 30s above in the Bering Strait and on St Lawrence Island,
while Friday night they will range from the mid teens to around 30
above. High temperatures Friday will range from mid 20s to mid 30s
above for most of the area.
Central and Eastern Interior...Partly cloudy south of the Yukon
River with increasing clouds overnight to the north. Clouds will
spread south across the remainder of the area Friday morning.
Light snow spreading east along the south slopes of the Brooks
Range tonight and into the Upper Yukon Flats Friday morning. A
chance of freezing rain north of Yukon but west of Arctic
Village, Fort Yukon, and Fairbanks to the south of the River. A
slight chance of freezing rain around Fairbanks Friday night
through Saturday afternoon. or flurries linger across the area
into the afternoon tapering off from the west as high pressure
builds across the area. Additional snowfall up to 1 inch. Winds
variable to around 5 mph except north winds gusting to 25 mph
south of Trims Camp. High temperatures today will range from 15
above to 10 below, while Monday they will range from around zero
to around 20 below. Low temperatures tonight will range from
around 30 below in the Yukon Flats north to the teens and 20s
below around Fairbanks, and single digits below in the Alaska
Range.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.
Extended forecast for days 4 to 7...A decaying weather front will
bring some snow across the Interior Monday with periods of snow
continuing into Wednesday. A front moves to the West Coast Monday
night spreads freezing rain north to Point Hope and East to
Galena, then east across the state as precipitation turns to all
snow. Periods of snow will continue through Thursday, then
clearing across much of the forecast area.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Storm Warning for AKZ201-207.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ202-203.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ208-209-211-217.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ212.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ213.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ216.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ219.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ221.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ227.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ204-206.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ210.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ201.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210.
Gale Warning for PKZ220.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ225.
Gale Warning for PKZ225.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ230.
Gale Warning for PKZ230.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ235.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ240-245.
&&
SDB NOV 22PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1244 PM AKST THU DEC 1 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1242 PM SNOW 2 SW KALTAG 64.32N 158.73W
12/01/2022 E2.0 INCH YUKON-KOYUKUK AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
EVENT TOTAL OF 2.0 INCHES OF ESTIMATED
MEASUREMENT SNOW BETWEEN 5 AM AND 1 PM
NOVEMBER 30.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1248 PM AKST THU DEC 1 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1247 PM SNOW NENANA 64.55N 149.09W
12/01/2022 E5.0 INCH YUKON-KOYUKUK AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
EVENT TOTAL OF 5 INCHES OF ESTIMATED
SNOWFALL BETWEEN 1 PM NOVEMBER 30 TO 3 AM
DECEMBER 1.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1257 PM AKST THU DEC 1 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1252 PM SNOW 1 N TANANA 65.17N 152.11W
12/01/2022 E3.0 INCH YUKON-KOYUKUK AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
EVENT TOTAL OF 3.0 INCHES ESTIMATED BETWEEN
11 AM TO 11 PM NOVEMBER 30.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1259 PM AKST THU DEC 1 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1257 PM SNOW 2 E PLEASANT VALLEY 64.89N 146.80W
12/01/2022 E3.0 INCH FAIRBANKS NORTH STAAK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
EVENT TOTAL OF 3.0 INCHES OF SNOW ESTIMATED
BETWEEN 7 AM NOVEMBER 29 AND 7 AM DECEMBER
1.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
128 PM AKST THU DEC 1 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0127 PM SNOW 4 NNW MOOSE CREEK 64.76N 147.22W
12/01/2022 E3.0 INCH FAIRBANKS NORTH STAAK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
EVENT TOTAL OF 3.0 INCHES OF ESTIMATED
SNOWFALL FROM 6 PM NOVEMBER 30 TO 2 AM
DECEMBER 1.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
132 PM AKST THU DEC 1 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0131 PM SNOW 2 E COLLEGE 64.87N 147.74W
12/01/2022 E3.0 INCH FAIRBANKS NORTH STAAK PUBLIC
EVENT TOTAL OF 3.0 ESTIMATED SNOWFALL FROM 4
AM NOVEMBER 30 TO 4 AM DECEMBER 1.
&&5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Red Dog Mine began to report freezing drizzle Thursday afternoon and had a peak intensity of 3 statue miles and freezing rain on Saturday.
Shishmaref reported Unknown Precipitation that transitioned into rain by Thursday evening. Total precipitation was 0.04. The rain froze on cold surfaces.
An automated sensor near Kiana reported 10 inches of snow within 24 hours.
A quarter inch of freezing rain fell in Nome. Photos show over a quarter inch of ice on branches in Dexter (north of Nome).
Point Lay began reporting freezing rain early in the morning of the 1st with a mixture of rain and freezing rain continuing into morning of the 2nd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alaska in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, December 2022
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: 1070309, 1070297, 1070310, 1070311, 1070312.