A strong warm front associated with a strong low near the Pribilof Island in conjunction with high pressure over the Chukotsk Peninsula and the Chukchi Sea produced a tight pressure gradient through the Bering Strait. As the front lifted north, strong winds developed across the Bering Strait Coast and St Lawrence Island.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 strong warm front associated with a strong low near the Pribilof Island in conjunction with high pressure over the Chukotsk Peninsula and the Chukchi Sea produced a tight pressure gradient through the Bering Strait. As the front lifted north, strong winds developed across the Bering Strait Coast and St Lawrence Island. The combination of the strong winds and falling snow produced blizzard conditions St Lawrence Island to the Bering Strait.
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 Mar 23, 12:39 PM AKST, 3 hours 56 minutes earlier.
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
139 PM AKDT Sat Mar 23 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
An active weather pattern will persist into the weekend for the
west coast of Alaska as another front will bring strong winds,
snow and blowing snow. Southern areas could see freezing rain
mixed in as well. Elsewhere, mostly dry conditions with above
normal temperatures for the Interior. Occassional gusty winds in
the Alaska Range through the weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Analysis and Model Discussion...
Ridging will slide to the east over the weekend. Troughing will
dig south over the Bering on Sunday and a closed upper level low
will develop over the Bering on Sunday around 500 dm and persist
through at least Tuesday. Weak southerly flow and warm 850 temps
will persist over the Interior through early next week. On
Saturday afternoon, precipitation from the next frontal system
will reach the Yukon Delta, and then the Seward Peninsula
overnight Saturday night into Sunday. Snow and blowing snow and
also mixed precipitation is possible. A stronger low is progged to
develop over the Southern Bering late next week, the track and
timing still uncertain, will continue to monitor.
Central and Eastern Interior...
Above normal high temps continue into the weekend and into
early next week. Highs near 50 are possible over the Central
Interior through Tuesday. 30s above over the Northern Interior.
Morning lows in the upper teens to low 20s. Winds will be 15 mph
or less with the exception of Alaska Range passes, where southerly
gap winds gusting to 45 mph this afternoon. Gap winds will remain
gusty through Sunday.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
Snow and local blizzard conditions will develop over the Bering
Strait, then spread north to Point Hope and the Western North
Slope Sunday afternoon and then continue into Monday. The
pressure gradient will tighten late Saturday night into Sunday
from Point Lay west and continue into Monday. The Winter Storm
Watch has been upgraded to a Warning for the Western North slope.
Snow showers will also develop over much of the north slope on
Sunday then spread over the eastern north slope on Monday.
West Coast and Western Interior...
On Saturday afternoon, precipitation from the next frontal system
will reach the Yukon Delta, and then the Seward Peninsula
overnight Saturday night into Sunday. Winter Weather advisories
and warnings are in effect for much of the west coast through
Sunday. By Sunday morning, expect Gale force winds through the
Bering Strait and at St. Lawrence Island along with blizzard
conditions. The strongest winds will be along the Bering Strait
and along the Yukon Delta Coast. Snow showers from this system
will continue through Tuesday morning.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...Gale Force northerly winds
over the Bering Strait on Sunday along with snow and blowing snow.
Extended Forecast For Days 4 Through 7...
Troughing will dig south over the Bering on Sunday and a closed
upper level low will develop over the Bering on Sunday around 500
dm and persist through at least Tuesday. A stronger low is progged to
develop over the Southern Bering late next week, the track and
timing still uncertain, will continue to monitor.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Storm Warning for AKZ801.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ814-815.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ820-821-827.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ822-824.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ823.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ825.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ826-830.
PK...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ801-802.
Gale Warning for PKZ801.
Gale Warning for PKZ802.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ803-852.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ804.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ805.
Gale Warning for PKZ806-807-856.
Gale Warning for PKZ810-811-857.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812-858.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ815-861.
Gale Warning for PKZ816.
Gale Warning for PKZ817-853-854.
Gale Warning for PKZ850.
Gale Warning for PKZ851.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions developed during the afternoon hours on March 23rd at Chevak (PAVA). Northeast winds with gusts to 41 mph were reported, accompanied by heavy snow, resulted in blizzard conditions developing. Conditions improved after noon on March 24th.
Blizzard conditions developed during the morning hours on March 24th at Brevig Mission (PFKT) and Tin City (PATC). Strong northeast winds with gusts to 60 mph were reported, accompanied by heavy snow. This resulted in blizzard conditions developing. Conditions improved during the late evening at Brevig Mission and during the afternoon hours of March 25th 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, March 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: 1167960, 1167959.