Blizzard — Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway, Alaska

2020-11-01 to 2020-11-02 · Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway, Alaska

Event narrative

The Skagway ASOS reported heavy snow and visibility quickly falling to 1/4 mile at the beginning of the event. Meanwhile the DOT RWIS sensor at White Pass was already measuring wind gusts out of the north of around 35 mph. These conditions continued into the morning of the 2nd. By 630 AM DOT reported the road closed and of 12 to 15 inches of snow near sea level. Later in the morning Skagway Customs reported 2 to 3 foot drifts.

Wider weather episode

Deep low pressure tracked northward along the outer coast causing impacts across Southeast Alaska beginning Halloween night through November 2nd. High Winds were felt over the outer coast and heavy rain caused rivers to rise out of their banks across the southern half of Southeast Alaska with minor impacts. The ground was already saturated by moderate to heavy rain leading up to November 1 and 2 with amounts ranging from 5 to 9 inches. Multiple mudslides occurred near steep terrain after rain amount of 3.5 inches over 36 hrs along with wet antecedent soil conditions. Tight pressure gradient along the Coast Mountains resulted in strong northerly outflow winds and cold air to push southward through the northern inner channels resulting in heavy snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 926265. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.