Winter Storm — Eastern Chichagof Island, Alaska

2017-12-31 · Eastern Chichagof Island, Alaska

Event narrative

Hoonah got 7.4 inches of new snow overnight. Impact was snow removal and rain on top of heavy snow.

Wider weather episode

The arctic front moved north overrunning a dense and very cold arctic airmass in place over SE AK characterized by surface temperatures in the teens and single digits. A low pressure system formed offshore along the front that enhanced the overrunning and snow across the northern panhandle while warm air advection may change the precip to rain over the southern panhandle.

Snow started up late Sun evening 12/31 and continued through early Monday morning on 1/1/18. Warming aloft changed snow to rain/freezing rain in the inner channels with ice accumulation on still cold roads and sidewalks from Juneau to Gustavus Monday 1/1 afternoon then further warming changed it to rain. Skagway and Haines stayed snow until Mon evening then strong southerly flow kicked in isolating the snow to the Haines Road and the Klondike highway for the rest of the night.

No significant damage was reported and the impact was snow removal.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 727406. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.