High pressure over the Arctic and North Slope tightened the pressure gradient along the coast. The combination of strong east winds and falling snow resulted in blizzard conditions developing at Point Lay.
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The episode as NWS AFG wrote it up.
High pressure over the Arctic and North Slope tightened the pressure gradient along the coast. The combination of strong east winds and falling snow resulted in blizzard conditions developing at Point Lay.
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 4, 5:02 AM AKST, 6 hours 53 minutes earlier.
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
502 AM AKST Mon Mar 4 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Warmer temperatures for most areas across the Interior again
today. Cloud cover and widespread precipitation has filtered
across most areas as upper level ridging continues as eastward
trek. A front currently over the west coast exits to the north and
a second front moves in today, keeping most of the west coast and
western Interior in unsettled weather. High pressure over the
Arctic nudges against the shortwaves moving along the coast,
tightening the pressure gradient along the northwest coast, from
Wainwright west. Higher winds and falling snow may promote blowing
snow or blizzard like conditions near Point Lay tomorrow evening.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Upper Level...
Ridging moves east over the Interior through today and troughing
deepens over the Bering Sea. The west coast will stay unsettled
with snow showers. Upper level troughing returns this week and
colder air will filter back in over the Interior late week into
this weekend.
Central and Eastern Interior...
Warmer temperatures will continue through at least mid week for
much of the Interior and colder temperatures will return late
week/this weekend as upper level troughing settles back in over
the region. Precipitation will spread into the Interior starting
today and will last through Wednesday. Most areas can expect to
see snow accumulations of 2 or 3 inches.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
Winds along the northern coast will remain gusty today and some
areas of blowing/drifting snow may result in lower visibilities at
times. High pressure resides over the Arctic and is extending
over the North Slope, keeping temperatures on the colder side. The
gradient tightens along the northwestern coast, primarily near
Point Lay, that, when coupled with incoming snowfall, may promote
blizzard conditions by this evening between Point Lay and Point
Hope. A Blizzard Watch is out to highlight this potential.
West Coast and Western Interior...
A front is moving across the West Coast today bringing snow and
blowing snow and low visibility to many areas along the immediate
coast. Snow spreads inland as well, though most of the winds
should remain confined to the coast. An average of 2 to 4 inches
of snow accumulation is expected across the West Coast and Western
Interior over the next couple of days.
Extended Forecast For Days 4 Through 7...
Upper level troughing will set up again over the Northern
Interior Wed through Friday and colder air will filter back in
over the Interior later in the week. Multiple shortwaves will
allow for periods of widespread light snowfall.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Storm Watch for AKZ801.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ822-824.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ825-827.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ804.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ805-806.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ807-808.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ809-810-853-855-856.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811.
Gale Warning for PKZ812-858.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ813-851-859.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ814.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ815.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ816-817.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ850.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ854.
Gale Warning for PKZ857.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ860.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions developed during the afternoon hours of March 4th at Point Lay (PPIZ). Strong east winds with gusts to 48 mph were reported accompanied by visibility in blowing snow of less than a quarter of a mile. Conditions improved late March 5th.
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: 1167925.