A very cold arctic air mass persisted across northwest Canada and southeast Alaska panhandle. An Arctic front on the 8th was positioned off shore of the panhandle.
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.
The episode as NWS AJK wrote it up.
A very cold arctic air mass persisted across northwest Canada and southeast Alaska panhandle. An Arctic front on the 8th was positioned off shore of the panhandle. A low moved across the gulf and into southeast Alaska on the 9th. A trailing low moved into southeast Alaska the 10th that continued with another overrunning snow event across the area as the arctic air in the panhandle was replaced with warmer air.
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 Jan 7, 1:29 PM AKST, 13 hours 31 minutes earlier.
SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
129 PM AKST WED JAN 7 2009
.SHORT TERM...COLD DAY ACROSS THE PANHANDLE TODAY. TEMPS RANGE
FROM BELOW ZERO IN THE NORTH TO THE 20S IN THE SOUTHERN ZONES.
THE COLD SPOT TODAY IS SKAGWAY WHICH IS SITTING AT MINUS 8 AT
NOON. TEMPS TODAY WILL NOT WARM UP MUCH THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL
AGAIN FALL TONIGHT AS THE ARCTIC AIR REMAINS ENTRENCHED. THE COLD
AIR IN COMBINATION WITH THE WARM WATER OF THE INNER CHANNELS IS
CREATING LOW CLOUD COVER AROUND CROSS SOUND/ICY STRAIT AND AROUND
THE PETERSBURG AREA AND IN SOME CASES CAUSING LIGHT SNOW
FLURRIES.
HELPING TO KEEP THE COLD AIR IN PLACE IS A 1024 MB HIGH THAT IS
CENTERED IN THE YUKON AND IS CAUSING A HIGH PRESSURE GRADIENT
ALONG THE COAST RANGES. STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS OUT OF INNER
PASSAGES ARE CONTINUING TO BLOW PROMPTING WIND ADVISORIES AND
VARIOUS GALE AND STORM WARNINGS FOR THE INNER CHANNELS. THE HIGH
WIND WITH COLD TEMPS IS ALSO CAUSING THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY IN SOME OF THE NORTHERN CHANNELS TODAY INTO
TONIGHT AS WELL AS DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS ALONG THE
KLONDIKE AND HAINES HIGHWAYS.
FOR TONIGHT THE AREA IS EXPECTED TO HAVE INCREASING CLOUDS AS WE
BEGIN TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THE NEXT SYSTEM COMING FROM THE WEST.
THE AREAS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SEEING OVERCAST SKIES WILL LIKELY
CONTINUE TO SEE OVERCAST SKIES AND MAYBE A FEW FLURRIES. THE MORE
STEADY PRECIP FROM THE APPROACHING SYSTEM IS NOT EXPECTED TO
START UNTIL AROUND MIDDAY TOMORROW AS SNOW FROM OVERRUNNING THE
ARCTIC AIR WILL START TO DEVELOP. DO NOT EXPECT ANY LARGE
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT AS THE MAIN BATCH OF PRECIP
WILL STILL BE OFFSHORE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
MODEL OF CHOICE TODAY WAS THE GEM MODEL AS IT DID THE BEST WITH
MODELING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ALONG THE COAST RANGES FOR TONIGHT
AND TOMORROW. THOUGHT THAT THE OTHER MODELS WERE WEAK ON THE
GRADIENTS. MODELS ARE STILL SOMEWHAT AT ODDS ON TRACK AND TIMING
OF THE FRIDAY STORM BUT ARE IN MUCH BETTER AGREEMENT THAN THEY
WERE EARLIER IN THE WEEK. THOUGHT GFS MODEL A LITTLE TOO FAST ON
MOVING THE CANADIAN HIGH TO THE EAST AND BRINGING THE LOW IN THE
GULF IN. GRIDS WERE UPDATED WITH A BLEND OF GEM/NAM/CURRENT GRIDS
WITH MORE WEIGHT ON THE GEM.
&&
.LONG TERM...FORECAST CONCERN REMAIN THE 994 MB LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM TRACKING ACROSS THE AK GULF INTO THE WEEKEND WITH THE
LEADING EDGE OF THE FRONT APPROACHING THE PANHANDLE COAST INTO
THURSDAY EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE YUKON REMAINS IN PLACE
THROUGH THE WEEKEND KEEPING PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE N PANHANDLE.
TRIPLE POINT LOCATION IS AN UNCERTAINTY WITH THE CURRENT
FORECAST LOCATION NEAR DIXON ENTRANCE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO
EVENING. SNOW AMOUNTS WERE INCREASED FROM PREVIOUS GRIDS BUT
BACKED OFF THE MODELS DOUBLING AMOUNTS OVER THE SOUTHERN ZONES.
TIMING, DURATION AND TRANSITION FROM SNOW TO RAIN ARE ALSO BIG
UNCERTAINTIES FOR THIS EVENT. ARCTIC AIR OVER THE REGION IS MOVED
OUT MUCH QUICKER WITH MANY MODELS. THE CANADIAN DID KEEP THE COLDER
AIR IN PLACE A BIT LONGER. SLOWED DOWN THE TIMING OVER THE SOUTHERN
ZONES AND SPED UP TIMING OVER THE NORTHERN ZONES FOR A THURSDAY
EVENING START TIME. ADDED ZONES 21, 22 AND 24 TO THE WS.A. WITH
THE LEADING OVERRUNNING EVENT AND COLD AIR IN PLACE SHOULD SEE
ENOUGH SNOW ACCUMULATION BEFORE TRANSITION TO RAIN FOR THE N
COAST AND S REGION. ZONE 17 IS CURRENTLY NOT LISTED AT THE TACK OF
THE LOW LOOKS TO BE FAR ENOUGH SOUTH TO LIMIT PRECIP IN PAYA. ZONE
27 IS STILL QUESTIONABLE FOR WARNING CRITERIA WITH ADVISORY LEVEL
SNOW MORE LIKELY BUT STILL WAITING TO SEE THE TIMING OF THE TEMP
INCREASE. FOR THE CENTRAL PANHANDLE EXPECTING THE SECONDARY WARP
TO BRING THE HIGHEST SNOW AMOUNTS FRIDAY.
MODELS DIVERGE SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEKEND WITH
THE GFS TRACKING A 972 MB SHORTWAVE INTO THE AK INTERIOR WITH EC
AND HPC GUIDANCE KEEPING A WEAKER LOW IN THE CENTRAL GULF. MODELS
ARE IN AGREEMENT OF A BLOCKING PATTERN FORMING WITH RIDGE BUILDING
THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH STRONG LOWS OVER THE TIP OF THE
ALEUTIANS AND EASTERN CANADA. USED A BLEND OF THE EC WITH
INHERITED GRIDS OUT TO DAY 4 THEN A BLEND OF INHERITED GRIDS, EC
AND HPC GUIDANCE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. FELT THE GFS
BROUGHT THE THURS-FRI LOW IN TOO QUICKLY.
WITH MODELS MOVING THE ARCTIC AIR OUT TOO QUICKLY AND DIFFERENCES IN
TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THE LOW FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS BELOW
AVERAGE FOR THE START OF THE LONG TERM. AS MODELS DIVERGE
SIGNIFICANTLY FORECAST CONFIDENCE THEN DROPS FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE PERIOD.
&&
.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY FOR AKZ020-025-026.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT FOR AKZ026>028.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING FOR AKZ022-024-029.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON FOR AKZ018>021-025.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM AKST THURSDAY FOR
AKZ018-019.
MARINE...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ011>013.
STORM WARNING FOR PKZ012-013.
GALE WARNING FOR PKZ011-021-022-031>036.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ041>043-051-052.
&&
EAL/PRB11 heavy snow, 4 winter storm, 1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. No hard data from coop's or spotters was available, but based on reports near the area an estimated 15 to 18 inches fell during the event.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. The coop in Hoonah reported 17.6 inches the morning of the 9th and a storm total for the event of 22.2 inches. Gusty winds with the system was also blowing snow around travel hazardous.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. Storm totals for the event in the area, ranged between 1 and 2 feet. The coop in Haines reported a daily snowfall of 16.8 inches the morning of the 9th and a storm total of 20.8 inches for the event. A spotter near Haines also reported 15 inches around 11 AM AKST.
Very cold temperatures combined with strong north winds of 35 to 40 mph and gusts to 50 mph created winds chill temperatures of 25 to 35 below. These temperatures would result in flesh being able to freeze in 30 min of exposure. Snow beginning to fall from an advancing system and blowing and drifting snow persisting into the evening.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. Heavy snow began falling in the late afternoon of the 8th through most of the 9th. The coop in Pelican reported 12 inches the morning of the 9th, with a storm total the morning of the 10th of 25 inches. Elfin Cove coop reported 17.5 inches by the afternoon of the 9th. 15 inches fell during a 24 hour period ending at 3 PM AKST Jan 9th.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. A spotter in Hyder reported 18 inches of snow in 24 hours. Hidden Inlet received 12.7 inches by 8 AM AKST the 9th and a storm total of 15.5 inches.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. The coop in Petersburg reported 7.1 inches in the morning of the 9th and the one in Wrangell reported a snowfall of 9.0 inches in a 12 hour period.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. There were no wpotter reports or coop reports that reported during this event. Based on the reports surrounding the area an estimated 6 to 9 inches of snow likely fell.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. A large band of moisture with the front overran the arctic air resulting in 1 to 2 feet of snow to fall across the area. The Juneau airport received 12.4 inches the up to midnight between the 8th and 9th and a storm total of 19.3 inches. In other reports: Annex Creek reported a storm total of 23.5 inches, Lena Loop coop reported 17.1 inches, Canyon Island coop got 22.8 inches, the water treatment plant in downtown Juneau received 13.9 inches, and Auke Bay 16.3 inches from this event.
Strong north winds (sustained 35 to 40 mph and gusts to 55 mph) combined with overrunning snow to create blizzard conditions for nearly 24 hours in Skagway. A report from the Canadian Highway Department of an avalanche closed White pass road overnight.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. The precipitation band was short but intense as the band moved across the island. Port Alexander coop reported a snow fall of 9.2 inches and a coop in Sitka reported 10.6 inches in a matter of a 5 hours.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. A spotter 12 miles north of Ketchikan received 7 inches of snow in 12 hours through 3 PM AKST from the front as it moved through the southern panhandle.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. A spotter near Haines reported 1 foot of snow from the 10th to the 11th. An estimated 8 inches of the foot of snow fell overnight.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. Several reports from coops and spotters around the city of Juneau reported 6 to 7.5 inches of snow in a 12 hour period. In a few of the more isolated reports in interior valleys received closer to 9 inches.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the Southeast Alaska panhandle. The coop in Hoonah reported 5.2 inches of snow overnight, however surrounding areas likely received 6 inches of snow.
A gale force low moved across the gulf with moisture overrunning arctic air over the southeast panhandle. The coop in Gustavus received 5.0 inches, however nearby surrounding areas likely received 6 inches or more of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alaska in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, January 2009
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: 152673, 152675, 152669, 152683, 152684, 152690, 152692, 152693, 152695, 152682, 152686, 152691, 152671, 152694, 152680, 152679.