Winter Storm in Prince of Wales Island, Alaska

Snow began across Prince of Wales Island around 7am on the 15th based on a CoCoRaHS report from Edna Bay and DOT RWIS webcams showing accumulation on the highways. The wind was already picking up at observation points on the SW side of the island including peak gusts of 50-56mph in the late afternoon between Craig and Hydaburg. The wind caused temperatures to steadily rise across the south with an early change over to rain and snowfall amounts near sea level of less than 2 inches. However, the snowfall was able to accumulate more across the north and at elevation. The CoCoRaHS report from Edna Bay at 7am the following morning measured 6 inches of snow and based on nearby temperatures, likely changed to rain around 7pm the night before, making this a 12 hour snowfall measurement.

A low pressure tracked northward across the panhandle starting the morning of Sunday the 15th and continuing through Monday. Steady snowfall fell across the area, with strong winds and a change over to rain across the far south in the evening, and heaviest rates in Hyder and portions of the northern panhandle.