Winter Storm — Cape Fairweather To Lisianski Strait, Alaska

2024-01-12 to 2024-01-15 · Cape Fairweather To Lisianski Strait, Alaska

Event narrative

The Pelican COOP Observer measured 13.3 inches of snow had fallen by 8am on the 13th, another 14.5 inches by 8am on the 14th and another 4.7 inches on the 15th when it had changed to rain. A few more inches of additional snow fell on the 16th brining nearly 3 feet of snow to the community over the MLK long weekend event.

Wider weather episode

Over an extended long weekend event, a prefrontal trough followed by a stronger main system with attached moisture plume, delivered first a wave of dry powdery snow with very high snow rations (40:1 to 50:1 in many places). The next wave/front of snow was wetter and difficult to shovel, with some places seeing a period of freezing drizzle in between the two waves. As the 2nd front tracked southward on the 16th, bringing snow to those areas and extending the duration of the event.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1158359. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.