Blizzard conditions possible near Utqiagvik under Arctic Coast advisory through Wednesday

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks says snow, blowing snow and gusts to 50 mph will continue on the Northern and Western Arctic Coast until 4 pm AKST Wednesday. Forecasters last updated the Winter Weather Advisory at 6:18 pm Tuesday. They said periods of blizzard conditions will be intermittently possible, especially near Utqiagvik.

The advisory covers Point Hope, Cape Lisburne, Point Lay, Wainwright, Atqasuk and Utqiagvik. Forecasters call for 1 to 3 more inches of snow. Snow and blowing snow could cut visibility below one-half mile at times. The weather service told travelers to slow down and use caution.

The coast is under an advisory, not a blizzard warning. Under the weather service's blizzard criteria, a blizzard means sustained winds or frequent gusts of at least 35 mph with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below one-quarter mile. Those conditions must be the main condition for at least three hours.

Farther east, the weather service replaced its blizzard warning for the Central and Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast with an advisory Tuesday evening. That advisory covers Kuparuk, Kaktovik, Alpine, Prudhoe Bay, Nuiqsut and Deadhorse until 4 pm Wednesday. It calls for up to 1 more inch of snow and gusts to 50 mph. Forecasters said blizzard conditions remain possible there but would come less often from Tuesday night through Wednesday.

A preliminary storm report logged blizzard conditions near Deadhorse from 3:50 am to 2:36 pm Tuesday, with gusts near 50 mph. Visibility there improved to one-half mile afterward.

Last week, an advisory for the Northern Arctic Coast and the Beaufort Sea Coast that ran through Nov. 6 forecast gusts up to 45 mph from Utqiagvik to Kaktovik. Its final update raised that to 50 mph.

The weather service said areas of blowing snow may continue through the end of the week as gusty wind and some falling snow continue.