A Bering low pushed a strong frontal system into Southwest Alaska between 2/2 and 2/4, resulting in widespread southeasterly winds and light falling snow as the front moved in. The preceding conditions were cold enough for the combination of falling snow and strong winds to produce blizzard conditions along the coastline from Dillingham west to the Kuskokwim Delta, mainly on 2/3.
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 AFC wrote it up.
A Bering low pushed a strong frontal system into Southwest Alaska between 2/2 and 2/4, resulting in widespread southeasterly winds and light falling snow as the front moved in. The preceding conditions were cold enough for the combination of falling snow and strong winds to produce blizzard conditions along the coastline from Dillingham west to the Kuskokwim Delta, mainly on 2/3.
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 Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 2, 5:40 AM AKST, 9 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 540 AM AKST Fri Feb 2 2024 .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... Another very cold morning across Southcentral as Arctic airmass remains entrenched over the region and clear skies have allowed for strong radiational cooling. Little in the way of low stratus and fog this morning with the exception of a few areas along the Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, and Kachemak Bay. Temperatures this morning are ranging from around 30 to 40 below in portions of the Mat-Su Valley and Copper River Basin, and 10 to 25 below for Eagle River, the Anchorage Bowl, and Kenai Peninsula. Even the coastal areas along the eastern Kenai and Prince William Sound have fallen into the single digits to lower teens as gap winds subsided some overnight. With surface high pressure in place, winds will remain light for all but the normal gap flow areas. A front will lift across the AKPen and Kodiak Island today. A surface low will develop just off the southern coast of Kodiak Island before moving eastwards into the Gulf. This system will bring a quick shot of snow to the island with higher amounts of up to several inches for the southern half of the island. The northern half will likely see only minor accumulations. The rest of Southcentral will remain dry today, though another system looks to bring another round of snowfall by this weekend. A low will lift north across the Central Aleutians into the Bering Sea tonight with the front pushing eastwards towards the AKPen and western Gulf. Another round of snow will spread across Kodiak but with warmer temperatures being dragged north with this system...should see a transition to rain by Saturday night as temperatures warm above freezing. Snow will continue to spread north across the Kenai Peninsula and up the Cook Inlet Saturday. Models are in good agreement with triple-point low developing near Kodiak and the Barren Islands Saturday night with gale force southerly winds developing down the Cook Inlet and along the eastern Kenai coast. With vertical temperature profiles still looking quite cold and saturation looking to occur over a decent depth within the dendritic growth zone, snow will be on the light and fluffy side. The greatest snowfall amounts should be confined to the southern end of the Cook Inlet and western Kenai. - PP && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3: Today through Monday)... Key Points: * A series of storms moves in through Monday, leading to active weather and a gradual warming trend. * A Winter Storm Watch for blizzard conditions is currently in effect for Nunivak Island and the Kuskokwim Delta coast from late Friday night through early Sunday morning. * We're monitoring the potential for moderate/heavy snow and significant visibility reductions due to blowing snow for Bristol Bay on Saturday. Discussion: With the jet stream/storm track extending northward towards the Bering Sea and Southern Alaska through Monday, expect active weather and a general warming trend as a series of warm and wet storm systems move in from the North Pacific Ocean. The first storm is a low currently in the Western Bering Sea with its front extending across the Northern Bering and Southwest Alaska coast. Gales and light rain/snow associated with this front will gradually subside through today as the low exits towards the Kamchatka Peninsula. The storm to watch will be one currently moving towards the Bering Sea from the North Pacific. This broad, upper level low with multiple embedded shortwaves will spawn multiple surface lows as it moves through the Bering Sea this weekend. The first surface low is currently pushing its front into the Western Aleutians. The plume of moisture associated with this front features precipitable water values of 0.75 inches and greater. As such, the front is expected to bring plenty of precipitation as it sweeps across the Aleutian Islands and Southwest Alaska. Areas along the Aleutian Chain may see precipitation amounts as high as 0.5 to 1 inch with this front. In particular, Unalaska could see over half an inch of precipitation in a 6-hour span as the front moves through. For Southwest Alaska, the approach of the front on Saturday will bring the potential for moderate/heavy snow and blowing snow. A Winter Storm Watch for blizzard conditions is currently in effect for Nunivak Island and the Kuskokwim Delta coast. While winds will be on the lower end of what's ideal for blizzard conditions, temperatures well below freezing should support lower density snow that's easier to loft and transport. As such, significant visibility reductions are possible even with relatively weaker winds. While no watches, warnings, or advisories are currently in effect for Bristol Bay, we're monitoring the potential for blowing snow and 6+ inch storm total snow amounts on Saturday. By Sunday morning, this second storm system follows the path of the first and exits towards Kamchatka Peninsula. A third low then moves towards the Central Aleutians from the North Pacific, bringing the next round of active weather. By Monday, the continued southerly flow and warm air advection associated with these three storms will bring maximum temperatures into the teens and 20s for Southwest Alaska and into the 30s for the Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea. -KC && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Monday through Thursday)... A broad upper level low center is pushing its way across the Bering towards the Eastern Aleutians through the forecast period. Several shortwaves of moderate amplitude rotate along its southern periphery, supporting surface features and periods of active weather through Thursday. Models remain consistent with the medium to large scale features, but lose their certainty with the transient events through the week. Dry Arctic air continues its spread over most of Interior Alaska with outflow into the Bering, driving gusty Easterly winds approaching gale force across the Northern Bering. Relatively warm, moist air rides over a North Pacific ridge across Southern Alaska. Local areas of gale force winds over the Western Aleutians diminish in areal size and overall strength as each trough moves Eastward, then into the Bering by Thursday. Precipitation starts as snow and changes to a rain-snow mix and then all rain over the Eastern Aleutians, Alaska Peninsula. Mixed precipitation moving into Southwest Alaska through midweek. Looks like the front splits over the AKPEN late Monday, sending rain into Kodiak Island and the Gulf of Alaska. Gusty Northwesterly winds move across the Shumagin Island Monday, and Southeasterly gap winds approaching gale force move over the Barren Islands Monday into Tuesday. Rain and snow mixed or rain will spread over the coastal portions and Prince William Sound through the end of the forecast. Inland areas remain under periods of snow. Kutz && .AVIATION... PANC... Areas of fog and low stratus may continue through this morning and visibilities may drop to IFR at times. &&
2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
The Toksook Bay AWOS began reporting blizzard conditions with 40 mph wind gusts and 1/4 mile visibility at 8:30 AM AKST 1/3. Conditions continued to meet blizzard criteria through 1 PM AKST 1/3.
Blizzard conditions occurred between Manokotak and Cape Newenham beginning around 1 PM AKST 2/3 and continuing through 6:30 PM. 1/4 mile visibility and winds gusting to around 30 mph were observed during this time for Manokotak, with even stronger winds gusting up to 60 mph observed at Cape Newenham.
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: 1163158, 1163162.