High Wind — Southern Inner Channels, Alaska

2020-01-28 to 2020-01-29 · Southern Inner Channels, Alaska

Event narrative

Thorne Bay had damage to their dock ramp, trees down on houses, and tree branches of 1 inch in diameter blown down. Thorne River RAWS had a peak gusts of 69mph. Numerous gusts over 60mph were measured by Marine Exchange stations in the Ketchikan area for over 12 hours, including a peak gust of 79mph at the Ketchikan Harbor. Kasaan FAA webcam observation measured a sustained wind of 48kt.

Wider weather episode

Rapidly deepening low pressure system with an occluding front caused high winds with damage over the southern inner channels and outer coast. As it moved northward overrunning heavy snow fell over the northern panhandle. This was the first of two strong storms back to back.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 871951. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.