Winter Storm — Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island To Etolin Island, Alaska

2019-01-10 to 2019-01-11 · Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island To Etolin Island, Alaska

Event narrative

Petersburg had a storm total 12 inches. Wrangell had a storm total 7 inches then turned to rain. Impact was intense snow removal and poor travel conditions.

Wider weather episode

Modified arctic air had moved over the Panhandle on 1/9 and 1/10 due to offshore flow from colder regions in Canada. Some temperatures had lowered to zero to +10F. On 1/10 there was a burst of warm moist air that moved over the Panhandle from the south causing numerous winter weather advisories to be issued. Warnings were issued for both the Juneau and Hyder areas due to heavy snow. Impacts: intense snow removal, poor driving conditions, and travel disrupted. The Juneau School District closed schools.

Details: Bands of snow set up over the central panhandle with the core over Juneau over an extended period of time. Outside of Juneau bands caused heavy snow in Gustavus, Hoonah, Tenakee Springs and Angoon. Prior to the snow reaching the central panhandle, snow fell across the south, changing to rain in Ketchikan and Hydaburg on time, but lasting longer over from Coffman Cove to Edna Bay north. The main low center remained over the far SE gulf/SW of Sitka. This caused NELY flow through inside passages including Klawock/Angoon and down Chatham Strait which kept surface temperatures colder longer, even through temperatures aloft were warming. The prolonged NE flow kept Angoon as below freezing until about noon Friday the 11th, at this time the low was moving inland and weakening. The wind shifted for Angoon enough to change to rain, but remained cold enough for snow to continue in the Juneau area through 4pm Friday. However, during the day Friday the flakes became more icy or pellets, which caused the light fluffy snow that had fallen all day Thursday to compact down significantly and limit additional depth - altough observers in Angoon and Hoonah noting still needing to clear a lot of snow off their vehicles multiple times.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 793111. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.