Winter Storm — Haines Borough and Klukwan, Alaska

2024-03-13 to 2024-03-14 · Haines Borough and Klukwan, Alaska

Event narrative

A burst of heavy wet snow along the Chilkat Peninsula resulted in around 5 inches of snow between 5pm and 11pm on the 13th, then an additional 9 inches by 245am on the 14th as it changed to rain. On the north side of Haines, a measurement of 6.7 inches of snow was reported to have fallen between 9pm and 1250am with snow continuing to fall and a power outage. Haines Customs COOP measured 6 inches of snow by 7am on the 14th and snow had stopped.

Wider weather episode

A weak to moderate strength atmospheric river impacted the panhandle, but temperatures remained cool enough at elevation to enable accumulating snow above sea level. Snow melt cooling quickly brought temperatures down enough for accumulating snow to reach sea level in Haines and Skagway, before stronger southerly winds saw snow change to rain.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1165220. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.