Wildfire — Northern Lynn Canal, Alaska

2003-05-01 · near Countywide, Northern Lynn Canal, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A near record dry April and below normal winter snowfall resulted in unusually high fire danger in the Northern Panhandle. Several small (under 10 acres) wildfires were reported from late April through mid May by the Tongass National Forest and the State of Alaska Division of Wildlife and Forestry. On May 1, red flag warning conditions developed in our northern inner channel zones (Gustavus, Skagway and Juneau). Breezy northerly winds combined with relative humidities in the single digits (a very rare occurrence in the rain forest of Southeast Alaska). Local officials reported at least one small (under 2 acres) brush fire "took off" in the Juneau area on that Thursday.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5358022. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.