Winter Storm — City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska

2023-02-24 to 2023-02-25 · City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska

Event narrative

At 1:20PM on the 25th, the Sitka Airport FAA Flight Service Station estimated 6 to 7 inches of storm total snow accumulation. Between 2pm and 11pm on the 24th, the Sitka ASOS measured frequent sustained winds of 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph and visibility between 0.25 and 1 mile.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure lingered over the NE gulf with an associated front causing very light, dry snow to fall for over 12 hours. A wave formed along the front causing rates to pick up to warning level rates for another 12 or more hours, particularly on the northeast side of the low as it started tracking SE along the outer coast late on the 24th and into the 25th. The dry consistency of the snow lead to blowing snow and drifting as the front moved across the southern panhandle.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1080424. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.