A frontal system moving into the Southwest Alaska coast produced areas of snow and blowing snow as it moved across the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay on February 21st. The worst conditions were focused over Nunivak Island, where several hours of blizzard conditions were observed on the early morning of 2/21.
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 frontal system moving into the Southwest Alaska coast produced areas of snow and blowing snow as it moved across the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay on February 21st. The worst conditions were focused over Nunivak Island, where several hours of blizzard conditions were observed on the early morning of 2/21. Conditions nearly as severe were observed with gusty southeast winds ahead of the front along with falling and blowing snow across Bristol Bay, mainly out in Koliganek.
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 20, 4:40 PM AKST, 12 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 440 PM AKST Tue Feb 20 2024 .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... As a weakening low pressure system continues to make it's way inland, gusty winds continue across many areas of Southcentral. The low pressure system also brought a frontal boundary bringing a wave a moisture into coastal Southcentral. Along with this moisture, gusty southeasterly flow continues, with much of Southcentral is seeing unseasonably warm temperatures. As such, coastal locations experiencing precipitation are seeing largely rainfall from this current system. Most active areas currently will begin to see conditions diminish throughout the overnight period tonight. Late tonight into early Wednesday morning, a band of moisture on the backside of this system is expected to wrap around, bringing a wave of precipitation to the Kenai Peninsula, and to the Anchorage and Mat-Su valleys. As this wave moves through, precipitation is expected to be a rain/snow mix due to the near-freezing temperatures at sea-level with a wet snow more-so at higher elevations. However, this wave is expected to be fairly transient with accumulations from Kenai to Palmer expected to be 0.1 to 0.5 inches of a rain/snow mix, coming to an end by the morning commute hours. By the late morning Wednesday and into the early afternoon, much of Southcentral will have a lull in winds and precipitation, but may be soon to change. As we approach the latter half of Wednesday into Thursday, a large and robust upper low over the Bering Sea will push another system into Southcentral, bringing a period of widespread precipitation. This system will be notably colder aloft, so the threat of moderate to heavy snow returns across portions of Southcentral. This system is expected to bring another round of gusty air to many of the same areas as are gusty currently. Anchorage and the Mat Valley will see some gusty winds from Turnagain Arm and Knik River Valley respectively. With gusty winds coming out of these areas, there is the chance for them to bring in warmer air. However a similarly cold push of air will be coming up Cook Inlet at the same time. This is complicating the precipitation type forecast for Anchorage, if snow will prevail or if it will remain a rain/snow mix. For now, light accumulations are expected in the Anchorage Bowl, with slightly higher amounts up on the Hillside. The highest amounts will be in and near the Chugach Range, with 1 to 2 feet of heavy wet snow possible in Valdez and up to 2 to 3 feet in Thompson Pass late Wednesday into Thursday. The Sutton area and northern Susitna Valley could also receive upwards of 6 inches. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)... Key Messages: Snow for Southwest * Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Kuskokwim Delta, including Bethel and Nunivak Island, from 3am tonight through Wednesday afternoon. Expect winds gusting as high as 50 mph, visibility reduced to one-half mile at times, and total snow accumulations of up to 2-3" inches. High Winds for the Aleutians * High Wind Warning is in effect for the Western Aleutians, including Attu, Shemya, and Amchitka, from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. Anticipate southwest winds 50 to 70 mph with gusts up to 80 mph possible. * High Wind Watch remains in effect for the Central Aleutians, including Amchitka, Adak, and Atka, from Wednesday afternoon through early Thursday morning. Expect southwest winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 70-80 mph possible. Discussion: Active weather remains on tap for Southwest Alaska out to the Aleutians through the rest of the work week. Out west, a deepening Kamchatka low starts to develop and shifts eastward. Expecting this low to approach the Western Aleutians with increased winds starting tomorrow mid-afternoon. Highest winds are expected by late night into tomorrow morning for the Western Aleutians, with gusts up to 80 mph possible. As the low progresses eastward, there remains the potential for the central Aleutians to see sustained west to southwest winds up to 40-60mph with gusts up to 70-80 mph gusts. However, the location and timing for when those winds decrease is playing a factor in where the strongest winds relative the Aleutians will be located, and if the High Wind Watch in the central Aleutians will be upgraded to a High Wind Warning. An approaching front from the aforementioned low will bring snow and increased winds across the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay areas late tonight through Wednesday afternoon. As a result, expecting this front to reach Southwest Alaska coast by tomorrow morning, bringing yet another round of snow for much of Southwest. The heaviest snow expected around Dillingham, Aleknagik, west to Togiak, the windward side of the Kuskokwim mountains, and along the Kuskokwim coast. Highest snow accumulations for the Lower Kuskokwim Delta around 2-3" expected near Toksook Bay and Nunivak Island. Less snow is expected inland near Bethel, but higher winds in combination with blowing snow may cause significantly reduce visibility down to around one- half mile at times. Given increased winds and resulting reduced visibilities, a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Kuskokwim Delta for tonight through Wednesday afternoon. Not anticipating a long duration event as snow will gradually taper off through the evening on Wednesday. -VR/NM && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Friday through Monday)... A complex low over the Bering will send a series of shortwave troughs across the Aleutians and into the mainland Alaska through Saturday. Quasi-zonal flow late in the week will begin to transition to more meridional as a low deepens over the Gulf and trough starts to dig into the western Bering. In between these systems, ridging will become more amplified as it moves over the Aleutian Chain before dampening out once it translates into the Gulf. These disturbances will bring locally heavy precipitation to much of the Aleutian Chain, AKPen, Southwest and portions of Southcentral. Warmer temperatures on the Pacific side should allow for more rain or a rain/snow mix with rain/snow to all snow to be found on the Bering side where much colder temperatures will reside. As these colder temperatures continue to push across south and east, more areas will see precipitation change over from rain or a rain/snow mix to all snow as the weekend progresses. && .AVIATION... PANC...The gusty southeast winds are expected to diminish later this evening, but then return again Wednesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday evening. Light rain will mix with snow at times later this evening and then continue into Wednesday afternoon. No snow accumulation is expected tonight or Wednesday with temperatures mainly at or slightly above freezing near PANC. With the persistent southeast winds, ceilings and visibilities are expected to remain VFR through Wednesday. There is a chance for a brief dip to MVFR conditions overnight as precipitation moves through the area. -CC &&
1 blizzard, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The Mekoryuk AWOS recorded over 3 hours of winds gusting between 35 and 40 mph and 1/4 mile visibility in snow/blowing snow between 9:30 AM and 1:20 PM AKST 2/21. Low visibility down to 1/2 mile also pushed inland to Bethel for a short time as the frontal system producing the more severe conditions along the coast moved inland later in the day on 2/21.
The Koliganek AWOS recorded 1/2 mile or lower visibility with 25 to 30 mph winds in snow and blowing snow between 9:30 AM and 1:20 PM AKST 2/21. Temperatures warmed to or above 32 degrees Fahrenheit later in the afternoon, allowing blowing snow to end.
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: 1163429, 1165523.