A second powerful and fast moving low pressure system moved across the West Coast of Alaska and into the Interior, causing strong winds in excess of 60 mph, blizzard conditions, and heavy snowfall with accumulations of greater than a foot in some locations.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 second powerful and fast moving low pressure system moved across the West Coast of Alaska and into the Interior, causing strong winds in excess of 60 mph, blizzard conditions, and heavy snowfall with accumulations of greater than a foot in some locations.
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 Nov 12, 4:53 AM AKST, 3 hours 17 minutes earlier.
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
453 AM AKST Sun Nov 12 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong front will impact the west coast Sunday morning into
Monday. Snow and blowing snow begins Sunday morning for the West
Coast and western Interior, with strong southeast winds likely
near Point Hope and Wales. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect
for the West Coast and West Interior. The East Interior is
expected to also see 2 to 5 inches of snowfall on Monday, with a
few zones in Warnings for heavier snow in the Central Interior.
Minor coastal erosion and flooding is possible beginning Sunday
night and lasting into Monday night for Norton Sound and the Yukon
Delta, where a Coast Flood advisories is now in effect. The next
winter weather system moves in late Tuesday night into Southwest
Alaska and brings possible heavy snowfall again Wednesday into
Thursday, then pushing into the Interior on Friday.
.DISCUSSION...
Upper levels, analysis and model discussion...
Models in better agreement in the short term with a deep trough
setting up over the west coast that will push a front across
the west coast Sunday into Monday. This shortwave will move
across the Interior Monday into Tuesday. Troughing and unsettled
weather will remain over the west coast on Tuesday. An upper level
low will move across Bristol Bay on Wednesday and into the
Interior on Thursday and Friday.
Central and Eastern Interior...
A strong frontal boundary is expected to bring snowy conditions
for most of the Interior Sunday night and into Monday. Widespread
snowfall of 2 to 5 inches possible with locally heavier amounts
of 5 to 7 inches west of Fairbanks through Tuesday. Gusty west
winds along snow and blowing snow will reduce visibility over
higher terrain north of Fairbanks and along the Dalton Highway.
Winter weather advisories are in effect for the road system.
The potential for gusty winds develops in the eastern alaska
Range Sunday night into Monday morning with gusts to 60 mph
possible.
A secondary storm is then expected to track into the Interior
on Wednesday resulting in renewed potential for additional
accumulating snowfall Thursday and Friday, then turning colder
over the weekend.
West Coast and Western Interior...
A strong front will impact the west coast Sunday morning into
Monday. A mix of rain/snow near the coast, mainly south of Norton
Sound along with snow and blowing snow for the West Coast inland
areas and Western Interior. Strong southeast winds likely near
Point Hope and Wales with gusts to 60 mph possible. Winter Storm
Warnings remain in effect for the West Coast and West Interior.
Blizzard conditions from the combination of heavy snowfall and
winds gusting to 60 mph remain over the Baldwin Peninsula, with
the city of Kotzebue, and near Kivalina on the northern shores of
Kotzebue Sound. 6 to 10 inches of snow expected over the Seward
Penn, with highest amounts north of Nome. Nulato Hills 6 to 12
inches as well as Noatak and Kobuk Valleys. Snow showers will
linger into Tuesday over Northwest Alaska. Another strong low
pressure system will move into the southern Bering Sea and a front
will spread more snow across much of the west coast and western
interior on Wednesday.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
Snow and winds increase over the western Arctic Coast Sunday late
afternoon near Point Hope and Cape Lisburne and then spreading
northeastward tomorrow evening. Wind gusts to 65 mph are expected
at coastline locations in this area through Monday morning.
Blizzard conditions expected for the western north slope. Winter
Weather Advisories are in effect for the Wainwright and Utqiagvik
zones into early Monday morning for blowing snow and low
visibility. Strong southerly gap winds will ramp up in the
central Brooks Range late Sunday night and early Monday morning.
Another Winter Weather Advisory for blowing snow and wind gusts to
55 mph was issued for that zone as travel along the Dalton
Highway through the Range could be hazardous and have very limited
visibility.
Extended Forecast Days 4-7...
Another low pressure center moves into the southern Bering Sea
late Tuesday evening. This second system quickly builds
widespread snowfall chances again from southwest to northeast
Wednesday into Friday. Expect another round of moderate snowfall
potential for southwest Alaska, into the much of the Interior for
Thursday and Friday. After this system much colder temperatures at
850 mb around -20 to -25C expected for the weekend. Very cold
surface temperatures as well depending on cloud cover.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...Strong winds will create elevated
waters of 2 to 4 feet above the normal high tide line Sunday
evening build to be 4 to 7 feet on Monday and Monday night for the
entire Yukon Delta and Norton Sound as southwest winds and a
strong low move inland. Coastal flood advisories and high surf
advisories are in effect for much of the west coast. Winds will
ramp up again out of the north Wednesday into Thursday over the
Bering Strait and Norton Sound and along the Yukon Delta coast.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Blizzard Warning for AKZ801-817.
High Surf Advisory for AKZ801-815>818.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ802-803.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ813-819-828>830.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ814.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ815.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ816.
High Surf Advisory for AKZ820.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ821-822.
Coastal Flood Advisory for AKZ821-822-825.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ823.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ824.
Coastal Flood Advisory for AKZ824.
High Surf Advisory for AKZ827.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ831-846.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ809-832.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ834.
Wind Advisory for AKZ847-848.
Wind Advisory for AKZ849.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ851-852.
PK...Gale Warning for PKZ801-802.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ802-805>807.
Gale Warning for PKZ803.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ804-857.
Gale Warning for PKZ804-808-809-855.
Gale Warning for PKZ805-852.
Gale Warning for PKZ806.
Gale Warning for PKZ807.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ808.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ810-811-855.
Storm Warning for PKZ810-811-856-857.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ812-813-815-858-859.
Gale Warning for PKZ812.
Gale Warning for PKZ813-860.
Gale Warning for PKZ814-861.
Gale Warning for PKZ815.
Gale Warning for PKZ816-850-851-854.
Gale Warning for PKZ817-853.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ852-856.
Gale Warning for PKZ858.
Gale Warning for PKZ859.
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 252 AM AKST Sun Nov 12 2023 AKZ802-803-130200- Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast- Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, and Utqiagvik 252 AM AKST Sun Nov 12 2023 ...Elevated Water Levels Expected Monday Through Tuesday... A strong storm moving through the Chukchi Sea Sunday into Monday will push a surge of water into the northwest Arctic Coast. Persistent south to southwest winds 20 to 30 mph will develop across the Chukchi Sea and result in elevated water levels 1 to 2 feet above the normal high tide line Monday through Tuesday. The combination of elevated water levels and wave runup may result in an increased risk of shoreline erosion. Residents are urged to move items on the beach to higher ground.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 254 AM AKST Sun Nov 12 2023 AKZ834-837>845-130200- White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River- Delta Junction-Upper Chena River Valley-Tanana Flats- Eielson AFB and Salcha-Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills- Chatanika River Valley-Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana- Including Livengood, Circle Hot Springs, Eagle Summit, Twelvemile Summit, The Steese Highway from MP 85 to MP 124, The Elliott Highway from MP 32 to MP 134, The Dalton Highway from MP 0 to MP 38, Delta Junction, Fort Greely, Deltana, Chena Hot Springs, Chena Hot Springs Road east of MP 34, Birch Lake, The Richardson Highway from MP 295 to MP 317, Eielson AFB, Salcha, Moose Creek, Harding Lake, The Richardson Highway from MP 317 to MP 346, Ester Dome, Murphy Dome, The Parks Highway from MP 325 to MP 342, Haystack, The Elliott Highway from MP 1 to MP 32, The Steese Highway from MP 12 to MP 85, Two Rivers, Chena Hot Springs Road from MP 12 to MP 34, Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, Ester, North Pole, Fox, Nenana, and The Parks Highway from MP 290 to 325 254 AM AKST Sun Nov 12 2023 ...Confidence Continues to Increase for Snowfall Sunday Night through Thursday... A strong frontal boundary is expected to bring snowy conditions for most of the Interior Sunday night and into Monday. Widespread snowfall of 2 to 5 inches possible with locally heavier amounts of 5 to 7 inches west of Fairbanks through Tuesday. Gusty west winds along snow and blowing snow will reduce visibility over higher terrain north of Fairbanks. A secondary storm is then expected to track into the Interior on Wednesday resulting in renewed potential for additional accumulating snowfall through Thursday.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heavy snow, 3 blizzard, 2 winter storm, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions were observed at the Wales (PAIW) AWOS. Wind gusts of 60 mph began at 06:13 and continued through 12:52, with a peak wind gusts of 73 mph. |These winds were accompanied by visibility of 1/4 mile or less in blowing snow.
Blizzard conditions were observed at the Kotzebue (PAOT) ASOS. Wind gusts up to 64 mph were reported and were accompanied by visibility of 1/4 mile or less in blowing snow.
Wind gusts of up to 69 mph were observed at the Point Hope (PAPO) AWOS. Visibility was reduced to 1 mile or less at times in blowing snow.
Wind gusts of up to 87 mph were observed at the Cape Lisburne (PALU) AWOS. Visibility was reduced to 1/4 mile or less at times in blowing snow.
Blizzard conditions were observed at the Kivalina (PAVL) ASOS. Wind gusts up to 59 mph were reported and were accompanied by visibility of 1/4 mile or less in blowing snow.
The McGrath (PAMC) ASOS reported 0.74 inches of precipitation, using a 10:1 snow ratio, an estimated 7.0 inches of snow fell in 24 hours.
The Rocky Point (RPTA2) SNOTEL reported 13 inches of snowfall in 24 hours.
Tanana AP (COOP) reported 7.0 of snowfall in a 6 hour period.
Wind gusts up to 75 mph were reported at the Farewell (L20KX) USARRAY site.
The Dahl Creek (DHLA2) SNOTEL reported 0.80 inches of precipitation, using a 10:1 snow ratio, an estimated 8 inches of snow fell in 24 hours.
The Kaltag ASOS reported 0.79 inches of precipitation, using a 10:1 snow ratio, an estimated 7.9 inches of snow fell in less than 2 hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alaska in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, November 2023
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: 1148188, 1148182, 1148171, 1148173, 1148178, 1148202, 1148192, 1148196, 1148199, 1148184, 1149358.