A strong upper-level trough originating in the Arctic dove southwestward across Southcentral Alaska on the evening of December 22 through December 23, bringing a reinforcing shot of cold, dense Arctic air into an already cold environment. This combined with a pre-existing strong pressure gradient between strong surface high pressure in Interior Alaska and low pressure over the Gulf of Alaska to produce strong winds through gaps and passes across southern mainland Alaska. Blizzard conditions were seen in the Matanuska Valley, where 65 to 83 mph winds lofted snow and reduced visibility. Winds knocked out power to 7000 residents in the Matanuska Valley and the Anchorage Bowl. Blowing and drifting snow, as well as wind chills as low as 55 degrees below zero were also observed in other portions of Southcentral Alaska.
The trough closed off into a low pressure system aloft late on December 23 as it began to track westward across Southwest Alaska and into the Eastern Bering Sea, allowing conditions to gradually improve over Southcentral Alaska. The upper level low began to interact with a weak surface low crossing the Alaska Peninsula into Bristol Bay on December 24, dropping snow in both regions. Combined with gusty winds, blowing snow affected portions of Bristol Bay and the Pribilof Islands on the evening of December 24 into the morning of December 25 as the system continued into the eastern Bering Sea. Active weather diminished as the low tracked further west into the Bering Sea over the following days.

Cold/Wind Chill in COPPER RIVER BASIN, ALASKA
From 22-DEC-22 21:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 12:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Wind chills below -40F were observed through passes around the periphery of the Copper River Basin, where cold, dense air from the Interior became channeled and increased winds. Within the basin itself, winds remained much calmer. An Alaska Department of Transportation observing station in Mentasta Pass reported persistent gusting above 15 mph with wind chills as low as -55F beginning late on December 22. By the afternoon of December 23, winds became sustained at 15 mph or greater, with wind chills remaining below -40F into the morning of December 24. Wind chills below -40F were also recorded at an observation site in Chickaloon. Wind chills below -40F were most widespread from the evening of December 23 into the morning hours of December 24. Winds diminished by midday on December 24, allowing the cold wind chills to end.

Cold/Wind Chill in NERN P.W. SND, ALASKA
From 23-DEC-22 01:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 22:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Temperatures initially rose with the arrival of a cold, dense airmass during the early morning hours of December 23 as northeasterly winds vertically mixed warmer air aloft down to the surface across Northeastern Prince William Sound. However, colder air gradually worked in throughout the day, allowing temperatures to fall. The Alaska Department of Transportation reported 25 to 45 mph winds through Thompson Pass, causing wind chills below -40F by December 24. Winds diminished late on December 24, ending the cold wind chills.

Blizzard in MATANUSKA VALLEY, ALASKA
From 23-DEC-22 10:49:00 to 23-DEC-22 16:20:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Surface observations indicated blowing snow began around midnight on December 23 as northeasterly gap winds rapidly developed and conditions worsened through the day. Winds were sustained at around 40 knots (46 mph) at both the Palmer and Wasilla surface observing sites for nearly 21 hours from the early morning through nearly midnight. Wind gusts reached 71 knots (82 mph) at the peak of the event (405 PM December 23) as observed by the Palmer ASOS. Blizzard conditions were most widespread and were recorded at both the ASOS in Palmer and the AWOS in Wasilla around midday December 23. The Wasilla AWOS stopped reporting any data during the peak of the event.
This wind event was exacerbated by the amount of snow on the ground; snow that had fallen earlier in the month. Ground blizzard conditions were noted at several area weather stations as snow and blowing snow, as well as visibilities reduced
to a quarter mile at times over the period. At least 2000 residents lost power in the Matanuska Valley as a result of the winds.
While winds were less notable across the Anchorage Bowl during this event (with gusts reaching into the 60 mph range), these gusts did cause blowing and drifting snow impacts along the Knik Arm, affecting the northern portion of town and leading to power loss across portions of Anchorage as well.

Blizzard in NERN P.W. SND, ALASKA
From 23-DEC-22 04:15:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Blowing snow was observed on the Valdez Airport FAA webcam during the morning hours of December 23, suggesting that strong winds through Thompson Pass were also lofting snow. Later reports from the Alaska Department of Transportation indicated that road conditions were rated difficult along the Richardson Highway through Thompson Pass.

Winter Weather in PRIBILOF ISLANDS, ALASKA
From 24-DEC-22 22:27:00 to 25-DEC-22 02:26:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observations from both the Saint Paul ASOS and Saint George ASOS recorded reductions in visibility to 1/2 mile at times due to blowing snow. Winds gusted to around 40 knots (46 mph) at the onset of the heaviest snow late on December 24 and gradually diminished through the following day. Low visibility continued through the afternoon of December 25 before improving rapidly as snow ended.

Winter Storm in BRISTOL BAY, ALASKA
From 24-DEC-22 08:18:00 to 24-DEC-22 19:31:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A band of snow developed across the Alaska Peninsula and the Bristol Bay region on the morning of December 24. Several surface observing stations recorded sustained winds of 20 to 30 knots (23 to 35 mph) and visibility at or below 1/2 mile with blowing snow for several hours from Pilot Point to King Salmon along the Alaska Peninsula and from the Dillingham area north to Koliganek in the Bristol Bay region. The worst conditions were seen at locations along the coast, with a brief period of blizzard-like conditions observed by the Clarks Point AWOS during the afternoon. By early evening on December 24, winds diminished, resulting in improved conditions area-wide, though light snow would continue into the overnight hours.