High Wind — Annette Island, Alaska

2026-01-09 · Annette Island, Alaska

Event narrative

The mesonet station at the Annette Island Packing Company measured high winds during the afternoon and early evening of the 9th, including peak gusts of 68mph at 410pm. Other peak gusts across the island included 60mph at the Weather Service Office at 502pm, 86mph at the elevation site of Yellow Hill, 109mph at the elevation site of Chester Lake, and 63mph at the Walden Point mesonet station near the ferry terminal at 910pm.

Wider weather episode

An atmospheric river brought snow followed by high winds, warming temperatures and heavy rain to the panhandle January 8th and 9th. A low pressure center developed along a triple point front as it tracked NE across the western Gulf of Alaska on the 9th. The low center deepened to 960mb as it approached the northern Gulf and the frontal system brought a period of high winds to the central and southern panhandle. This system brought with it heavy snow across the north, followed by a significant warm-up, heavy rain, localized flooding due to previous heavy snow blocking drainages, and avalanches. The flooding falls into the advisory level, but the rain was an additional impact due to the added weight of the snow on structures. Disaster declarations were expanded to more communities across the northern panhandle after this storm.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1317486. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.