Winter Storm — Cape Fairweather To Lisianski Strait, Alaska

2026-01-04 to 2026-01-05 · Cape Fairweather To Lisianski Strait, Alaska

Event narrative

The observer in Elfin Cove recorded light snow beginning around 5pm on the 4th. The Marine Exchange sensor at Pelican measured wind gusts of 20-25mph out of the south through the evening of the 4th and the morning of the 5th, which is strong for this observation point, likely causing blowing snow. Visibility was below a half mile through the morning of the 5th at Elfin Cove and vertical visibility was down to 300ft. Temperatures rose through the day with a change to rain by 3pm. Snow had accumulated 10 inches by that time at the Elfin Cove COOP site. There were no reports from Pelican for this event.

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 1316031. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.