Fairbanks, AK – A strong cold front in the Bering Sea is bringing snow and blowing winds to St. Lawrence Island this afternoon, with near-whiteout conditions reported in Gambell, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fairbanks.
Behind the main cold front, a surface trough is expected to push through tonight, bringing additional rounds of snow and gusty winds. The NWS noted that moist and cold Arctic air is wrapping into a low-pressure system west of the island, setting up conditions favorable for convective snow showers.
The agency explained that the process mirrors how summer thunderstorms form — except this time, warm sea water beneath cold air aloft is triggering bursts of snow instead of rain. This contrast between sea and air temperatures is causing localized snow squalls and rapid drops in visibility over the northern Bering Sea region.
Residents and mariners near St. Lawrence Island are urged to use caution, as blowing snow may reduce visibility to near zero at times, especially this evening and overnight. The FAA also released images showing limited visibility at Gambell Airport due to the ongoing storm.
More snow and wind are expected through tonight before conditions slowly improve into Sunday.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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