Winter Storm — Municipality of Skagway, Alaska

2024-03-13 to 2024-03-14 · Municipality of Skagway, Alaska

Event narrative

DOT closed Klondike Highway due to poor conditions expected to get worse at 548pm on the 13th. The road remained closed due to avalanches on both sides of the border through the following day. Approximately 8 inches of snow was reported via SNOTEL sites at elevation and around 5 inches of snow was reported in town. The transition from snow back to rain was accompanied by a short period of freezing rain in Skagway which was followed by a surge of warm southerly wind and a peak wind gust of 61 mph at the Skagway Airport at 546 AM AKDT.

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 1165222. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.