Winter Storm — Eastern Chichagof Island, Alaska

2026-01-04 to 2026-01-05 · Eastern Chichagof Island, Alaska

Event narrative

Light, dry, fluffy snow fell during the afternoon and evening of the 4th with east winds gusting 20-25mph at the airport (strong for this sheltered location). Snowfall rates increased through the morning of the 5th with visibility falling to a quarter to a half mile for a couple hours. The Hoonah COOP measured 5 inches of snow by their 8am measurement on the 5th with heavy snow falling at the time. Social media reports in the afternoon between 240 and 350pm estimated up to 8 inches of accumulation and a transition to rain. The airport began reporting rain in the 1pm hour.

After significant snowfall in December and this additional snow, plus a transition to rain adding to the weight, damage to roofs and outbuildings were reported in January. Total value of property damage from just this January storm is unknown, however the combined damage to 36 homes from the late December through early January is estimated to be $250K. A State disaster declaration was approved for the City of Hoonah on January 6th.

Wider weather episode

Temperatures cooled across SE Alaska along with outflow winds during the first couple days of January after December's big snow dump. This allowed the next system that moved in from the west on the 4th and 5th to start out as snow. Prefrontal snow showers during the evening of the 4th added to the storm total snow for parts of the northern and central panhandle, then the main system moved in overnight with heavy snow on Monday the 5th (set to be the first day back at school after Winter Break for most locations). The southern panhandle saw a change over to rain during the day on the 5th, then the rain/snow line pushed northward through the night and into the morning of the 6th. Some strong winds accompanied the front, starting out of the north then shifting to the south with the front and causing temperatures to rise.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1315004. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.