Winter Storm — Municipality of Skagway, Alaska

2026-01-09 · Municipality of Skagway, Alaska

Event narrative

Snow became steady at the Skagway airport through the morning of the 9th while north wind was blowing 25-35mph with gusts of around 45mph. Visibility fell to a half mile at 935am, and briefly down to a quarter mile. Winds began to ease in the afternoon, then visibility improved above 1 mile after 7pm. A period of freezing rain occurred, then winds shifted sharply to the south at 940pm, gusting 30-40mph, the temperature spiking up 20 degrees and changing to rain. The SNOTEL site at Moore Creek rose above freezing closer to 11pm, so estimated that freezing rain continued up the Klondike Highway until then.

At 1013am on the 9th, the Skagway police shared that the Klondike Highway would remain closed due to low visibility. The police advised at 826pm to refrain from driving the Dyea Road unless an absolute emergency due to several slides covering the roadway. The police also noted that all roads in Skagway were experiencing heavy snow cover and should be avoided as well. The Skagway COOP measured 10 inches of snow the following morning, but likely saw significant melt/compaction.

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 1317666. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.