On October 23, 2023 a 996 mb area of low pressure moved northward over the Chukotsk Peninsula of eastern Russia. A series of fronts associated with this low traveled north along the west coast of Alaska bringing a combination of strong winds, heavy snow and elevated surf.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
On October 23, 2023 a 996 mb area of low pressure moved northward over the Chukotsk Peninsula of eastern Russia. A series of fronts associated with this low traveled north along the west coast of Alaska bringing a combination of strong winds, heavy snow and elevated surf.
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 Oct 23, 2:19 AM AKST, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind, 1 heavy snow, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow fell across the Noatak Valley as the fronts moved northward over the area. The Kelly Station reported 7 inches of snow in a 24 hour period beginning at 4 AM on the 23rd.
Heavy snow fell across the upper Kobuk Valley as the fronts moved across. The Dahl Creek Snotel station reported 7 inches of snow in the 24 hour period beginning at 5 AM on October 23rd.
High winds developed over the Bering Strait Coast as a front moved to the north over the area. Wales reported a gust to 63 mph, while Tin City reported a gust to 59 mph and Teller reported a gust to 54 mph.
As the front moved over the western Arctic Coast, it brought a mixture of rain and snow as well as high winds. Cape Lisburne saw gusts as high as 93 mph.
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, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1145883, 1145880, 1145882, 1145881.