Alaska, 2007

Blizzard and Winter Storm in Alaska, March 1 to 2, 2007

March 1 to 2, 2007 · NWS AJK · 10 events in 8 counties and zones

Arctic High pressure over the Northern Yukon Territory gradually weakened from 2/28 to 3/3, but maintained enough strength to cause a strong arctic front to remain stationary over Central SE Alaska through the weekend. Another Gale Force Low developed from 2/28 to 3/2 over the Eastern Gulf to 995 MB which caused some wind and plenty of moisture to move over the arctic air from the south.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AJK wrote it up.

Arctic High pressure over the Northern Yukon Territory gradually weakened from 2/28 to 3/3, but maintained enough strength to cause a strong arctic front to remain stationary over Central SE Alaska through the weekend. Another Gale Force Low developed from 2/28 to 3/2 over the Eastern Gulf to 995 MB which caused some wind and plenty of moisture to move over the arctic air from the south. This storm affected every zone in the WFO Juneau area of responsibility for three days.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 1, 1:30 AM AKST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 1:30 AM AKST, 2 hours 30 minutes before
SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
630 AM AST THU MAR 1 2007

.SYNOPSIS...
.SHORT RANGE...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE
PANHANDLE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH A SECONDARY SYSTEM
BEGINNING TO SPREAD INTO THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE LATE THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY.

FIRST SYSTEM EXPECTED TO DUMP BETWEEN 10 TO 18 INCHES SNOW ACROSS
THE NORTH CENTRAL PANHANDLE AS THE MAIN BAND WITH LESSER AMOUNTS
TO THE SOUTH ACROSS THE CENTRAL. TO ADD TO THE FUN THE CONTINUED
STRONG GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE SOME DURING THE DAY AND
INTO TONIGHT. THIS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO BRING VISIBILITIES TO NEAR
ZERO FOR THE GUSTAVUS-HOONAH-JUNEAU REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY PART OF TONIGHT SO ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING.  WINTER STORM
WARNINGS FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES DUE
BLOWING SNOW OR COLD WIND CHILLS TO 40 BELOW (MAINLY ALONG THE
KLONDIKE HIGHWAY) FOR THE ZONES SURROUNDING IT.

THE STRONG GUSTY WIND THROUGH THE INTERIOR PASSES OF THE YAKUTAT
ZONE HAS PROMPTED A WIND WARNING FOR THE AREAS NEAR THE INTERIOR
PASSES. YAKUTAT ITSELF WILL PROBABLY NOT SEE THESE STRONG WINDS
BUT GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE AROUND THE CITY.

ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE SNOW TONIGHT WILL PUT DOWN AROUND 6
INCHES OR A LITTLE MORE AND WITH SOME GUSTY WINDS WILL ALSO BE
REDUCING THE VISIBILITY THERE AS WELL THROUGH TONIGHT.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SNOW FALL FOR THE
INTERIOR VALLEYS OF MISTY FJORDS WITH POTENTIAL STORM
ACCUMULATIONS THERE UP TO NEARLY 2 FEET.

THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND STRONG WINDS ALSO HAS STORM AND GALE
FORCE WINDS ACROSS THE ENTIRE MARINE WATERS... ALONG WITH
FREEZING SPRAY AND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SEAS OF UP TO 10 FEET
ACROSS SOME OF THE NORTHERN INNER WATERS ARE LIKELY TO FOUND
THROUGH TONIGHT.

.LONG RANGE...LOTS OF WX TO WORRY ABOUT...EVEN IN THE LONGER
RANGE. LOOKS LIKE A STRONG RIDGE WILL REMAIN OVER THE BERING SEA
THRU THE PERIOD...WITH A DEEP TROF OVER THE GULF OF AK. ONLY
QUESTION WILL BE TIMING ANY SYSTEM DEVELOPING IN THE TROF...AND
HOW WELL THE ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL REMAIN ENTRENCHED. MODELS DIFFER
ON THE DETAILS OF COURSE...BUT THE OVERALL TREND IS FOR A HIGHER
THREAT FOR SEVERAL PERIODS OF SIGNIFICANT SNOW ESPECIALLY OVER
THE N AND CENTRAL AREAS. ENDED UP USING THE 06Z NAM FRI NIGHT
THRU SAT EVENING...THEN BLENDED TOWARD THE 00Z GFS40 LATER SAT
NIGHT AND EARLY SUN...THEN WENT ALL GFS40 FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE PERIOD. ALL IN ALL...AN ACTIVE WX PERIOD LOOKS LIKELY FOR
MUCH OF THE AREA.

.AJK...WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
PUBLIC...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM AST FRIDAY
           AKZ026.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT AST
           TONIGHT FOR AKZ027-028.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 PM AST FRIDAY
           FOR AKZ022>024.
         BLIZZARD WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM AST FRIDAY FOR
           AKZ025.
         BLIZZARD WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM AST FRIDAY FOR
           AKZ020-021.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM
           AST FRIDAY FOR AKZ029.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM
           AST FRIDAY FOR AKZ018-019.
         HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 PM AST FRIDAY FOR AKZ017.
         WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY FOR AKZ018-019
         WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY FOR AKZ018

MARINE...STORM WARNING PKZ011>013-022-043-051
      ...GALE WARNING PKZ021-031>036-041-042-052-053
      ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING
            PKZ011>013-021-031-032-043-051

BMB/RWT

Event by event

6 heavy snow, 2 blizzard, 1 high wind, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Cape Fairweather to Cape Suckling Coastal Area

When
March 1, 4:00 AM AKST to 6:00 PM AKST
Where
Cape Fairweather to Cape Suckling Coastal Area forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Unknown

A High Wind Warning was issued for the Yakutat area for very stong wind out of the interior passes. Although no meaurements were made of the intensity of the outflow wind, surface pressure gradients from NCEP analyses were extreme during the period which would have readily caused gusts in excess of 65 KT.

Blizzard, Eastern Chichagof Island

When
March 1, 4:52 AM AKST to March 2, 3:00 PM AKST
Where
Eastern Chichagof Island forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer

The Hoonah CO-OP observer measured 26.0 inches of new snowfall as of 0800 AKST on 3/2. Frequent wind gusts over 35 MPH were observed on the afternoon of 3/1 when the visibility sensor on the PAOH AWOS failed. Visibility was readily below 1/4 mile in snow and blowing snow for several hours. Blizzards are rare in SE Alaska.

Blizzard, Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island

When
March 1, 4:52 AM AKST to March 2, 3:00 PM AKST
Where
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS

Downtown was struck by a rare SE Alaska Blizzard on 3/1. A peak wind of 44 KT was measured in Downtown Juneau with numerous reports of white out conditions. 4 to 6 inches of new snow fell during the second phase of this storm with 6 inches new snow measued by the Auke Bay CO-OP observer in the 12 hours prior to 0800 AKST 3/3.

Heavy Snow, Salisbury Sound to Cape Fairweather Coastal Area

When
March 1, 12:00 PM AKST to March 2, 6:00 PM AKST
Where
Salisbury Sound to Cape Fairweather Coastal Area forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer

The Pelican CO-OP observer measured 12 inches new snow for the 24 hours neding at 0700 AKST 3/2. Pelican got an additional 3.5 inches for 24 hours neding at 0800 3/3. Elfin Cove CO-OP got 20.3 inches on 3/1. They were buried in heavy, wet snow.

Heavy Snow, Cape Decision to Salisbury Sound Coastal Area

When
March 1, 12:00 PM AKST to March 2, 3:00 PM AKST
Where
Cape Decision to Salisbury Sound Coastal Area forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer

Port Alexander got 8.6 inches of new snow on 3/1 and 9.0 inches on 3/2. |The maximum wind gust was 25 MPH at Port Alexander over those two days and Sitka (PASI ASOS) had a peak wind of 47 MPH on 3/1.

Heavy Snow, Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island to Etolin Island

When
March 1, 12:00 PM AKST to March 2, 6:00 PM AKST
Where
Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island to Etolin Island forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS

A CO-OP observer near Petersburg measured 11 inches of new snow in 9 hours ending at 0730 AKST 3/2 with snowfall continuing. PAPG AWOS/CO-OP had the following 24 hour new snow totals: 5 inches on 3/1, 21.0 inches on 3/2, 7.5 inches on 3/3, and finally 8.0 inches on 3/4. Also Point Baker CO-OP measured 8.5 inches for a 24 hour total on the morning of 3/3.

Winter Storm, Southern Inner Channels

When
March 1, 12:00 PM AKST to March 2, 12:00 AM AKST
Where
Southern Inner Channels forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS

Near Saxman on 3/1 at 1935 AKST, a trained spotter reported near Blizzard conditions of 1/4 mile visibility and 25 MPH ENE wind. On 3/2 at 0845 AKST, another trained spotter north of Ketchikan measured 10.0 inches of new snowfall for a period of less than 12 hours overnight. Another trained spotter north of Ketchikan on 3/2 at 0530 AKST measuered 6 inches of snow in 10 hours.

Heavy Snow, Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island

When
March 1, 3:00 PM AKST to March 2, 3:00 PM AKST
Where
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer

Downtown was struck by a rare SE Alaska Blizzard on 3/1. A peak wind of 44 KT was measured in Downtown Juneau with numerous reports of white out conditions. 4 to 6 inches of new snow fell during the first phase of this storm with 6 inches new snow measued by the Auke Bay CO-OP observer in the 12 hours prior to 1700 AKST 3/2 and another 6 inches into Friday night 3/2. Snow continued to fall on 3/3, but at advisory amounts.

Heavy Snow, Misty Fjords

When
March 1, 4:00 PM AKST to March 2, 4:00 PM AKST
Where
Misty Fjords forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer

The NWS CO-OP observer measured a 24 hour snowfall of 10 inches at Hyder ending a 0700 AKST 3/2 and 12 inches new snow at 0700 3/3.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Chichagof Island

When
March 1, 4:00 PM AKST to March 2, 6:00 PM AKST
Where
Eastern Chichagof Island forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer

The Tenakee Springs trained spotter had 16 inches new snow in 21 hours ending 0438 AKST 3/2. Hoonah CO-OP 24 hour totals were 26 inches on 3/2 and 28 inches on 3/3. Zone 21 had one of the heaviest snowfalls for this storm.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Alaska in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, March 2007

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 17593, 17596, 17597, 17600, 17601, 17604, 17614, 19001, 17615, 19010.