Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 25 to 27, 2008

Name: Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 25 to 27, 2008
Start: 2008-12-25T19:00
End: 2008-12-27T06:00
Location: Alaska

December 25 to 27, 2008 · NWS AJK · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

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.

A major snowstorm buried SE Alaska from the night of 12/25 persisting to the early morning of 12/27. A secondary gale force low developed in the western Gulf of Alaska on the afternoon of 12/25, and it became the main surface low in the central Gulf on the morning of 12/26. This system caused a strong front to move over the Panhandle on the 12/26 with plenty of moisture where it stalled on the 27th and 28th. Storm total snwo accumulations ranged from one to two feet during this storm.

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 Dec 25, 12:43 PM AKST, 6 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 25, 12:43 PM AKST, 6 hours 17 minutes before

SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1243 PM AKST THU DEC 25 2008

.SHORT TERM...CHRISTMAS MORNING SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS INCREASING
CLOUDS ACROSS THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE
RIDING OVER THE TOP OF A WEAKENING RIDGE IN THE CENTRAL GULF.
WINDS ARE GENERALLY LIGHT ACROSS THE LOCAL REGION WITH
UNRESTRICTED VISIBILITIES. BIORKA RADAR WORKS FINE BUT NO SIGN OF
SANTAS COMING FROM THE NORTH. MODELS ARE IN FAIR AGREEMENT WITH
AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE MOVES INTO THE NORTHERN GULF TONIGHT AND
ENHANCES A SURFACE GALE FORCE LOW...PUSHING ASSOCIATED FRONT
ACROSS THE EASTERN GULF AND SOUTHEAST ALASKA THROUGH FRIDAY. THE
NAM HAS A BETTER INITIALIZATION AND THE AFTERNOON SHORT TERM
FORECAST PACKAGE WILL LEAN OVER THE NAM SOLUTIONS WITH A FEW
COSMETIC TOUCHES TO THE INHERITED GRIDS.

 THE INCOMING FRONTAL BOUNDARY WITH MARITIME AIR MASS WILL RIDE
OVER THE EXISTING COLD AIR ACROSS THE PANHANDLE. THIS ISENTROPIC
LIFTING...OR OVERRUNNING...WILL BEGIN WEST OF YAKUTAT EARLY THIS
EVENING...THEN SPREAD SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE BOXING DAY. WILL
KEEP THE HEAVY SNOW SCENARIO FOR MOST ZONES AS INHERITED. THE LOW
IN THE NORTHERN GULF SEEMS LIKE TO STALL OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL
GULF FOR A WHILE BUT THE ASSOCIATED FRONT HAS RATHER FAST
FORWARDING SPEED. ALONG THE FRONT...A TRIPLE POINT WILL MOVE EAST
ACROSS THE EASTERN GULF LATE TONIGHT THEN THE PANHANDLE ON
FRIDAY. THIS SYNOPTIC CONDITION WILL ENHANCE THE LOW TO MID LEVEL
WIND FIELDS WITH NEAR ADVISORY LEVEL GUSTS ALONG THE COASTAL
SECTIONS. TO SIMPLIFY THE HAZARD GRIDS...HOWEVER...WILL INCLUDE
WIND INFORMATION TO THE WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS WITH REDUCED
VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW.

 LIGHT SNOW HAS BEGUN IN YAKUTAT AREA AROUND 12 NOON. CONDITIONS
WILL RAPIDLY CHANGE BY EARLY THIS EVENING WITH THE FAST MOVING
FRONT ENTERING THE YAKUTAT ZONE WITH INCREASING SNOW. AS THE
FRONTAL BOUNDARY MOVES FARTHER EAST...PRESSURE GRADIENT BECOMES
TIGHTER AND WEST TO EAST ORIENTED INNER CHANNELS WILL EXPERIENCE
A RAPID INCREASE OF OFFSHORE FLOW TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
FOR HEAVY SNOW EVENT...THE VARIATION OF SNOWFALL AMOUNTS IS
LARGE. EXPECT 4 TO 7 INCHES TONIGHT FOR YAKUTAT WITH ADDITIONAL
5 TO 9 INCHES ON FRIDAY MORNING. OTHER ZONES WILL RECEIVE 3 TO
6 INCHES TONIGHT AND 4 TO 8 INCHES FRIDAY...EXCEPT SOUTHERN
COASTAL ZONES WHERE 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY
BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO RAIN MIX IN THE AFTERNOON. THE NAM AND
GFS HINT A WARM AIR ADVECTION BEGINS LATE THIS EVENING FROM THE
WEST. TEMPERATURES WILL STEADILY RISING OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE
LOCAL REGION.

 &&

.LONG TERM...LONG WAVE TROUGH REMAINS OVER THE CENTRAL GULF
THROUGH LATE NEXT WEEK WHILE THE WINTER STORM LOW WILL WEAKEN AND
SLOWLY DRIFT DRIFT SOUTHEAST PARALLELING THE SHORE. THE ASSOCIATED
FRONT WILL HAVE CROSSED MOST OF THE PANHANDLE WITH REMNANTS NEAR
HYDER KEEPING THE WINTER STORM WARNING INTO THE START OF THE LONG
TERM. EXPECTING SNOW SHOWERS TO CONTINUE OVER THE PANHANDLE WITH
RESIDUAL MOISTURE AND ON SHORE FLOW THROUGH THE WEEKEND. BUILDING
HIGH OVER THE YUKON AND SOUTHEASTERLY TRACKING LOW WILL RESULT IN
INCREASED PRESSURE GRADIENT AND OFF SHORE FLOW. RESULTING IN BREEZY
CONDITIONS OVER THE N PANHANDLE, INTERIOR GAPS AND GALE FORCE
WINDS IN THE NORTHERN INSIDE CHANNELS. MARINE WATERS CONTINUE WITH
SMCR ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH NEXT WEEK AS THE LOW TRACKS SE.

WITH THE STABLE SYNOPTIC PATTERN FORMING MODELS ARE IN GOOD
AGREEMENT THROUGH MOST OF THE LONG TERM. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
DIVERGENCE AT THE END WITH THE GFS SHOWING A STRONG LOW
UNDERCUTTING THE LONG WAVE TROUGH AND REACHING THE SOUTHERN
PANHANDLE. USED A 60/30 BLEND OF INHERITED GRIDS AND THE 12Z GFS
OUT TO DAY 4 THEN A 60/30 BLEND OF INHERITED GRIDS WITH HPC
GUIDANCE FOR THE REMAINDER. NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES RESULTED.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE REMAINS ABOVE AVERAGE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK
THEN DROPS AS MODELS BEGIN THE DIVERGE.

&&

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 3 PM AKST
     FRIDAY FOR AKZ018>021-024>026.
         WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 12 PM AKST

     FRIDAY FOR AKZ023-027-028.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 12 PM AKST
     FRIDAY FOR AKZ022.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 PM AKST FRIDAY FOR
     AKZ029.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM AKST
     FRIDAY FOR AKZ017.
MARINE...GALE WARNING FOR PKZ022-033-035-036-041>043-051-052.
         SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ011>013-021-031-032-034.

&&

SJA/PRB

Event by event

10 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Cape Fairweather to Cape Suckling Coastal Area

When: December 25, 7:00 PM AKST to December 27, 6:00 AM AKST
Where: Cape Fairweather to Cape Suckling Coastal Area forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS

The Yakutat office measured 6.5 inches of new snow during the evening of 12/25, then 15.9 inches of new additional snow midnight to midnight on 12/26. During the early morning of 12/27, Yakutat measured an additional 1.7 inches of new snow. Outlying areas were estimated to have received even greater amounts.

Heavy Snow, Glacier Bay

When: December 25, 9:00 PM AKST to December 26, 3:00 PM AKST
Where: Glacier Bay forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Glacier Bay cooperative observer measured 6.5 inches of new snow for 24 hours ending at 0800 AKST on 10/26. This snow fell the previous night. Glacier Bay had 10.0 inches new on 12/27 ending at 0800. Gustavus airport AWOS showed that the heaviest snow ended on the afternoon of 10/26.

Heavy Snow, Salisbury Sound to Cape Fairweather Coastal Area

When: December 25, 9:00 PM AKST to December 27, 6:00 AM AKST
Where: Salisbury Sound to Cape Fairweather Coastal Area forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The Gulf coast around Cross Sound got buried in snow with this storm. The cooperative observer at Pelican measured 7.0 inches of new snowfall for 24 hours ending at 0800 AKST 12/26, 9.0 inches new on 12/27. Additionally a snow advisory was issued for 12/28 and 10.0 inches new resulted. Storm total was 26 inches with 32 inches on the ground at the end of the storm.

Heavy Snow, Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island

When: December 25, 9:00 PM AKST to December 27, 6:00 AM AKST
Where: Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

Trained spotters ranged from storm totals of 8 to 19 inches new snow for 12/26 through 12/28. The airport measured 11.2 inches. The Forecast Office measured a storm total of 8.5 inches and Lemmon creek had 9.7 inches.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Chichagof Island

When: December 25, 11:00 PM AKST to December 26, 3:00 PM AKST
Where: Eastern Chichagof Island forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hoonah did not get much snow during this storm. Tenakee Springs did not report. Hidden Falls hatchery to the south of the area got 13 inches of new snow in 24 hours ending at 1700 AKST on 12/26.

Heavy Snow, Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway

When: December 26, 12:00 AM AKST to December 27, 6:00 AM AKST
Where: Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The Klondike Highway had heavy snow on 12/26 with near blizzard conditions with blowing and drifting snow. The snowfall had low liquid content which made measurements nearly impossible with wind gusts to 37 MPH. The customs tried to measure and got 4.2 inches new on 12/26. It was estimated that well over a foot fell in this storm. ASOS observations at the airport showed that the snow persisted into 12/27.

Heavy Snow, Haines Borough and Lynn Canal

When: December 26, 12:00 AM AKST to December 27, 6:00 AM AKST
Where: Haines Borough and Lynn Canal forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The town of Haines was buried in this event. The downtown cooperative observer measured 17.3 inches of new snowfall for 24 hours ending at 0800 on 12/26 and 12.7 inches of new snow on 12/27. Plows were busy with 30 inches of snow to remove.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Baranof Island and Southern Admiralty Island

When: December 26, 12:00 AM AKST to 3:00 PM AKST
Where: Eastern Baranof Island and Southern Admiralty Island forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hidden Falls hatchery measured 13.0 inches of new snow in 24 hours ending at 1700 AKST on 12/26.

Heavy Snow, Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island to Etolin Island

When: December 26, 12:00 AM AKST to 6:00 PM AKST
Where: Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island to Etolin Island forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured a storm total of 11.0 inches new snow for 24 hours ending at 0800 AKST on 12/27. Petersburg airport got 12.5 inches 12/26 through 12/28 from this storm. The heaviest snow occurred on Friday, 12/26. Wrangell measured 6.0 inches on 12/26.

Heavy Snow, Misty Fjords

When: December 26, 3:00 AM AKST to 9:00 PM AKST
Where: Misty Fjords forecast zone
Reported by: Unknown

The Hyder NWS cooperative observer was not available for December. Based on analyses and observations of heavy snow at Stewart, British Columbia, it was estimated that over a foot of new snow fell during this storm.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alaska in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, December 2008

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: 145532, 145535, 145537, 145550, 145536, 145533, 145534, 145542, 145551, 145552.