Winter Storm — Misty Fjords, Alaska

2018-02-01 to 2018-02-03 · Misty Fjords, Alaska

Event narrative

Happy Ground Hog's Day. Storm total for Hyder was 9.3 inches in 12 hours ending at 1930 on 2/2. Impact was snow removal.

Wider weather episode

On the first day of February, a strong area of frontogenesis developed with the front moving north into the southern panhandle. N-NE-E outflow wind will kept temperatures cold enough on the north side of the front to allow snow to get up to southern Admiralty Island. Increases in 850mb temps above freezing late Thursday night into Friday morning made the rain/snow line critical and difficult to forecast. Significant snowfall occurred for Port Alexander, Petersburg, Wrangell, Point Baker and Coffman Cove. Ketchikan had wintry mix. No damage was reports and the impact was snow removal.

Some places could have had blizzard conditions with this event due to strong outflow. Port Alex had gusts of around 40kt during bands of snow. Highest snow falls extended a little farther south then expected. Petersburg, to Whale Pass to Thorne Bay, and Coffman Cove got buried. lighter amounts elsewhere. Snow changed to rain early in Ketchikan and overnight at Kasaan limited snow amounts to 1 to 2 inches there. Hyder still snowing as of 11 am 2/2 with 7 inches accumulated so far, and up to 9.3 inches as of 730 pm. Unknown about Port Alexander and Kake.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 738516. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.