A strong area of high pressure over the southern Chukchi Sea combined with an area of low pressure in the southern Bering Sea brought strong winds and blizzard conditions to the Bering Strait on February 16th.
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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 strong area of high pressure over the southern Chukchi Sea combined with an area of low pressure in the southern Bering Sea brought strong winds and blizzard conditions to the Bering Strait on February 16th.
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 16, 4:13 AM AKST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
413 AM AKST Fri Feb 16 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
A series of shortwaves moving over the West Coast is producing
continued active weather for the area. Meanwhile, drier and warmer
conditions persist for the Interior as upper level ridging
remains in place. The bulk of the precipitation is expected to
move offshore late this morning/early afternoon and will be
confined to areas along the immediate coast, including the
western/northern coast of the Seward Peninsula and between Point
Lay and Point Hope, as well as Saint Lawrence Island and Diomede.
High pressure collides with the shortwaves, resulting in stronger
north- northeasterly winds filtering from the Chukchi Sea through
the Bering Strait.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Analysis and Model Discussion...
Model guidance continues to be in fairly good agreement both
aloft and at the surface levels through the weekend. Upper level
ridging holds in place over much of the State, bringing mild
conditions to most of the Interior and northern Regions. The
weakening cross barrier flow and diminishing pressure gradient
will bring winds down through the passes along the Alaska Range.
We will, however, keep the southerly flow pattern in place and
continue to see above normal temperatures through this weekend.
The exception will be areas north of the Brooks Range, who will
see near normal temperatures due to high pressure centered north
of eastern Siberia extending into the Beaufort Sea.
Active weather will continue over the western Coast for at least
another day. The bombardment of shortwaves moving over the area
will keep a band of snow centered over the Seward Peninsula down
to the Yukon Delta through this morning before shifting offshore
this afternoon.
Central and Eastern Interior...
The pattern continues for the Central and Eastern Interior. Mild
conditions under the influence of the upper level ridge, keeping
above normal temperatures in place through this weekend. Large
temperature gradients will still exist between valleys and areas
at higher elevation with low temperatures falling near zero in
valleys and remaining much warmer aloft. This is particularly
valid along the Yukon Flats. Southerly winds will remain elevated
through the passes of the Alaska Range, although they have mostly
dropped below advisory criteria. Areas near Delta Junction will
remain within advisory criteria through this morning before coming
down.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
A ridge of high pressure centered north of eastern Siberia
extends eastward into the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas and along the
North Slope. Conditions are expected to be mostly dry with
temperatures around normal. Most of the active weather for the
region resides from Point Lay to Point Hope, where elevated winds
are expected to produce areas of blowing snow and significantly
reduced visibilities starting this evening. This is likely to be a
long duration event, persisting through the weekend. While there
will be periods of snowfall, significant accumulation is not
expected.
West Coast and Western Interior...
The West Coast holds most of the active weather with a series of
shortwaves spreading a band of precipitation from the Yukon Delta
north across the Seward Peninsula. These shortwaves pushing
against high pressure over the Chukchi Sea will produce increased
wind speeds through the Bering Strait. Blizzard conditions are
expected across Saint Lawrence Island, primarily for Gambell,
Diomede, and the western edge of the Seward Peninsula, namely
Wales and Tin City, and a Blizzard Warning has been issued.
Extended Forecast For Days 4 Through 7...
The upper level ridge begins weakening and slowly pushing
eastward next week, and with it, temperatures will begin a
downward trend. The most active weather will remain along the West
Coast and Southwest Alaska as numerous frontal boundaries push in
from the west. Areas where the ridge resides should prevent
precipitation from making much progress inland, keeping the
majority of the interior dry.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ801.
Blizzard Warning for AKZ820-821-827.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ822-824.
Blizzard Warning for AKZ825.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ826-830.
Wind Advisory for AKZ837-849.
PK...Gale Warning for PKZ801-802.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ803-804.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ805-852.
Gale Warning for PKZ806-807-854-856.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810.
Gale Warning for PKZ811-857.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812-858.
Gale Warning for PKZ816-817.
Gale Warning for PKZ850.
Gale Warning for PKZ851.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ853.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions developed at Tin City the morning of the 16th, with blizzard conditions persisting though late afternoon. Wind gusts as high as 54 mph were reported at Tin City.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alaska in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, February 2024
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: 1161850.