Winter Storm — Haines Borough and Klukwan, Alaska

2023-12-03 to 2023-12-05 · Haines Borough and Klukwan, Alaska

Event narrative

Light snow fell through the night of the 3rd into the 4th with just over 5 inches by morning COOP reports from Haines town area and at the customs station. Snowfall rates significantly increased through mid day, causing Haines Police to send a notice that road conditions were very poor and travel was not advised. Snow continued into the evening, totaling 8 to 10 inches in town before changing to rain with a short period of freezing rain. Near the border, another round of heavy snow lasted through the morning of the 5th, giving the COOP station there another 24 hour total of 17 inches of snow.

Wider weather episode

A low moved through the gulf slowed down and began to weaken, sending a front northward through the panhandle as it did so. Cold air was confined to the northern panhandle along with northerly winds, which resulted in parts of the Haines Highway receiving significant snow accumulation.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1150877. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.