High Wind — Prince of Wales Island, Alaska

2026-01-13 · Prince of Wales Island, Alaska

Event narrative

The Klawock Water Treatment Plant COOP station reported damaging wind at their 10am report on the 13th and their 7am report the following morning. Strongest winds across Prince of Wales Island from this event occurred in Hydaburg, however the AWOS was down at the time, so timing is estimated based on peak winds elsewhere. A trained spotter's home weather station in Hydaburg measured a peak gust of 77mph at around 5pm. Other peak wind at stations across the island included: 42mph at the NWS station in Craig at 4pm, Klawock Airport ASOS peak gust of 54mph at 435pm, Thorne Bay river gauge peak of 40mph at 354pm, and a Craig home weather station peak gust of 45.6mph at 830pm.

Wider weather episode

After an active period of multiple systems moving through the area bringing periods of high winds to the southern panhandle, a stronger system arrived bringing high winds to majority of the Panhandle on the 13th into the 14th. This low center tracked northward through the eastern gulf, while deepening, along with a storm force front. The low center moved onshore along the NE Gulf Coast in vicinity of Yakutat overnight Tuesday the 13th. As the low jumped inland, winds spiked up through the inner channels, lasting longest for the Skagway area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1316709. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.