Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, February 1 to 3, 2012

Name: Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, February 1 to 3, 2012
Start: 2012-02-01T16:00
End: 2012-02-03T15:00
Location: Alaska

February 1 to 3, 2012 · NWS AJK · 15 events in 12 counties and zones

1. This hurricane force low deepened to 944 MB off Sand Point early in the morning then continued north slightly weakening to 953 MB near Kodiak Wednesday evening.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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 monster storm developed in the western Gulf of Alaska on Wednesday 2.1. This hurricane force low deepened to 944 MB off Sand Point early in the morning then continued north slightly weakening to 953 MB near Kodiak Wednesday evening. A secondary low developed on the front well off Vancouver Island on Thu afternoon on 2.2 becoming 964 MB in the central Gulf of Alaska by early morning on 2.3. This storm brought hurricane force winds to all of SE Alaska and a few areas of heavy snow.

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 Feb 1, 6:12 AM AKST, 9 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 1, 6:12 AM AKST, 9 hours 48 minutes before

SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
612 AM AKST WED FEB 1 2012

.SHORT TERM...STONG FRONT WILL BRING STORM FORCE WINDS TO THE
COASTAL WATERS, GALE FORCE WINDS OVER THE INSIDE PASSAGES, HIGH
WINDS FOR THE WEST COAST OF THE PANHANDLE, HEAVY RAIN FOR THE
PANHANDLE TONIGHT AND HEAVY SNOW AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS OVER THE
NORTHERN PANHANDLE.

SATELLITE IMAGERY THIS MORNING SHOWING HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER
THE AK PANHANDLE MOVING EAST AND A 953 MB LOW 330 NM SOUTHWEST OF
KODIAK WITH A SECONDARY ROTATION TO THE SOUTH OF THE MAIN LOW.
VIGOROUS WEATHER FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW CURRENTLY IN THE
WESTERN GULF WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EAST THROUGH THE MORNING
REACHING THE AK PANHANDLE COAST EARLY THIS AFTERNOON 850 MB WINDS
UP TO 85 KITS WERE INDICATED BY MOST MODELS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE
EVENING. THE FRONT WILL PUSH OVER THE PANHANDLE THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING. WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING WITH MAX STORM
FORCE WINDS FOR THE NORTHERN AK GULF. COULD EVEN HURRICANE FORCE
WINDS JUST WEST OF CAPE SUCKLING. FOR THE INSIDE PASSAGE EAST WEST
ORIENTED CHANNELS WILL SEE STRONGEST WINDS THIS AFTERNOON WITH MAX
GALES OVER CROSS SOUND. THE FRONT STARTING TO SHOW A SPLIT FLOW
THIS AFTERNOON SO WHILE THE YAKUTAT AND PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND
WINDS WILL REACH WARNING LEVEL GUSTS OF AT LEAST 60 MPH EXPECT THE
CENTRAL COAST WINDS TO REMAIN JUST BELOW WARNING CRITERIA. AS THE
FRONT MOVES OVER THE PANHANDLE STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP FOR MOST
REGIONS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING BEFORE DIMINISHING LATE
TONIGHT.

ALONG WITH THE STRONG WINDS EXPECTING HEAVY PRECIPITATION FOR THE
ENTIRE PANHANDLE. PRECIPITATION WILL BE RAIN FOR MOST AREAS WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF THE HAINES AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAYS AND PORTIONS OF
WESTERN YAKUTAT. SSM/I TOTAL PERCEPTIBLE WATER SATELLITE IMAGERY
SHOWING A WELL DEFINED TONGUE OF MOISTURE FLOWING FROM THE TROPICS
WITH THIS FRONT. QPF VALUES NEARING 1 INCH EVERY 6 HOURS ARE
EXPECTED TONIGHT. 850 MB TEMPERATURES REACHING 2 C AND 500 MB
NEARING -20 C WITH THE FRONT SO DEEP WARM MOIST AIR SHOULD KEEP
ALL PRECIP AS SNOW. WHILE THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE HAINES AND
KLONDIKE HIGHWAYS SHOULD BE COLD ENOUGH TO KEEP PRECIP AS SNOW
COULD SEE SOME WARMER AIR PUSH FURTHER WEST AND NORTH AS SOUTHERLY
WINDS INCREASE. DECIDED TO ISSUE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE
HAINES HIGHWAYS AND ONLY WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE KLONDIKE
HIGHWAY AS STRONGER WINDS MAY LIMIT PRECIP FOR THE SKAGWAY AND
POSSIBLY HAINES AREAS. BEHIND THE WESTERN GULF LOW LOOKING AT
ANOTHER COLD AIR MASS WITH 850 TEMPS AROUND -10 C.

MODELS WERE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THIS MORNING. WHILE THE NAM AND EC
INITIALIZED BETTER WITH THE SURFACE FEATURES IN THE WESTERN AK
GULF THE GFS WAS STILL CLOSE AND PREFERRED THE STRONGER WINDS WITH
THE GFS THIS AFTERNOON. WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING FOR THE
NORTHERN REGIONS TONIGHT AND THE HIGH QPF VALUES SOME MODELS WERE
INDICATING SOME VERY HIGH SNOW TOTALS. FELT THAT THE SOUTHERLY
WINDS AND WARMING TEMPS WOULD LIMIT THESE EXCEPTIONS SNOW FALL
AMOUNTS. UPDATED GRIDS WITH THE 00Z GFS TWEAKING WINDS IN THE AK
GULF. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS WERE TO SNOW AMOUNTS BUT THESE WERE MAINLY
FINE TUNING THE AMOUNTS ALONG THE HIGHWAYS. FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS
ABOUT AVERAGE WITH MAIN CONCERNS BEING WINDS NEAR YAKUTAT AND SNOW
FALL AMOUNTS FOR THE NORTHERN REGIONS.
&&

.LONG TERM...FIRST STRONG FRONT SHOULD BE THROUGH THE PANHANDLE AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE LONG TERM WITH THE ASSOCIATED LOW SLOWLY
FILLING NEAR KODIAK. A LOW DEVELOPING ALONG THE TRAILING FRONT IN
THE NORTH PACIFIC...IS FORECAST TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY INTO A STORM
AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE EASTERN GULF THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY.
COLD UPPER TROUGH MOVES THROUGH FROM THE WEST FRIDAY NIGHT WITH A
SURFACE HIGH BUILDING ACROSS THE YUKON SATURDAY. THIS HIGH DRIFTS
EAST THROUGH MONDAY WITH A NEGATIVELY TILTED RIDGE ACROSS WESTERN
CANADA PERSISTING THROUGH THE END OF THE LONG TERM.

RAPIDLY DEVELOPING FRONTAL LOW HAS POTENTIAL TO BE STRONGER FOR
SOUTHEAST ALASKA THE FIRST ONE AS IT MOVES THROUGH EASTERN GULF
THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THIS WILL SPREAD STORM FORCE SE WINDS
TO THE EASTERN GULF AND PARTS OF COASTAL AND SOUTHERN THURSDAY
NIGHT. THERE IS A 75+ KT 850 MB LOW LEVEL JET LIFTS ACROSS
PANHANDLE AND WILL LIKELY NEED HHW FOR 23/27/28 AND STRONG WIND
ELSWR. AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND LOW...PRES FALLS TO SSW OF PANHANDLE
AND RIDGE AHEAD FRONT PRODUCES A BRIEF NEAR GALE NE GRADIENT ACROSS
THE NORTHERN HALF. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING SOME COLDER AIR
INTO NORTHERN AREAS THURSDAY NIGHT WITH SNOW FOR THE FAR NORTH. A
STRONG WARM FRONT PUSHES NORTH THROUGH SOUTHEAST ALASKA THURSDAY
NIGHT. BEHIND THIS AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT SWEEPING ACROSS
THE AREA ON FRIDAY BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND WARMER TEMPS TO THE AREA
THURSDAY EVENING WITH SNOW LEVEL RISING TO 2500 NORTH TO 5000 S.

AS UPPER TROUGH MOVES THROUGH AND CAA BEGINS HAVE TEMPERATURES
QUICKLY FALLING THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT AND PRECIP GOING
BACK TO SNOW SHOWERS IN WESTERLY FLOW. AMOUNTS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO
BE SIGNIFICANT AT THIS POINT.

HIGH BUILDING ACROSS CANADA AND NE FLOW ALOFT BY SATURDAY
AFTERNOON WILL LIKELY BRING PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES TO THE NORTH BY
SATURDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER WAVE OFFSHORE IN SE FLOW WILL KEEP SOME
CLOUDS FOR SOUTHERN.

EASTERLY FLOW WILL DOMINATE NEXT WEEK WITH DRIER
CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY FOR NORTHERN HALF. COLD AIR WILL MOVE BACK
INTO THE LOW LEVELS FROM NE BUT UPPER LEVELS REMAIN SOMEWHAT WARM
KEEPING ATMO QUITE STABLE AND MAY NEED TO DEAL WITH SEVERAL DAYS
OF FOG. STRONGER WINDS WITH NEXT WEEK SYSTEMS STAY IN COASTAL AND
OFFSHORE WATERS WITH NE GAP FLOW FOR INNER CHANNELS.

LIKED THE WAY THE GFS WAS HANDLING THE RAPIDLY DEEPENING LOW IN
SE GULF AND USED FOR GRIDS THROUGH 12Z SAT. FROM 18Z SAT TIL 12Z
SUN USED A GFS/EC BLEND AND ENDED WITH AN EC/HPC BLEND OUT TO DAY
8.

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...STRONG WIND FROM 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING
     FOR AKZ021-024-026-028.
         HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT AKST
     TONIGHT FOR AKZ027.
         STRONG WIND FROM 4 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING
     FOR AKZ025.
         STRONG WIND FROM NOON AKST TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR AKZ022.
         STRONG WIND FROM 9 AM AKST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
     AKZ023.
         STRONG WIND FROM NOON AKST TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR AKZ020.
         STRONG WIND FROM 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
     FOR AKZ029.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM AKST
     THURSDAY FOR AKZ019.
         WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM AKST
     THURSDAY FOR AKZ018.
         HIGH WIND WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING FOR
     AKZ017.
MARINE...STORM WARNING FOR PKZ041>043-051-052.
         GALE WARNING FOR PKZ021-022-032>036-053.
         SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ011>013-031.

&&

PRB/MM

Event by event

13 high wind, 2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area

When: February 1, 4:00 PM AKST to 11:59 PM AKST
Where: Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area forecast zone
Measured: 80 kt (92 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Cape Decision light had gusts to 69 KT during the afternoon of 2.2. Hydaburg only had gusts to 43 KT but then lost the sensor due to a power outage before the peak of the storm. NCEP surface analyses showed extreme surface pressure gradients across the area on the evening of 2.1.

Winter Storm, Haines Borough and Lynn Canal

When: February 1, 4:00 PM AKST to February 2, 9:00 AM AKST
Where: Haines Borough and Lynn Canal forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Haines Customs measured 8.0 inches of new snow on the morning of 2.2. That evening a trained spotter on the Chilkat Peninsula measured 4.8 inches of new snow. Snow changed to rain on 2.2 for the lower elevations, but Haines Customs got another 6 inches.

Winter Storm, Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway

When: February 1, 9:49 PM AKST to February 2, 9:00 AM AKST
Where: Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Skagway Customs measured 16.0 inches of new snow on the morning of 2.2. Klondike Highway was closed, with a truck stuck near the pass on the afternoon of 2.1.

High Wind, Southern Inner Channels

When: February 2, 8:00 AM AKST to 10:00 AM AKST
Where: Southern Inner Channels forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Gusts to 60 KT 12 miles north of Ketchikan during the morning of 2.2.

High Wind, Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island to Etolin Island

When: February 2, 2:36 PM AKST to February 3, 9:00 AM AKST
Where: Inner Channels From Kupreanof Island to Etolin Island forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Peak wind at Wrangell was 38 KT and Petersburg 39 KT early in the morning of 2.3. Kake had peak gusts of 55 MPH also 0316 AKDT on 2.3. NCEP analyses showed extrme surface pressure gradients over the area during the warning. Five Finger Light had gusts to 67 MPH. No reports of damage or power outages.

High Wind, Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area

When: February 2, 4:00 PM AKST to February 3, 9:00 AM AKST
Where: Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer

Edna Bay estimated 60 MPH gusts during the night of 2.2-2.3. Cape Decision had peak winds of 89 MPH although a marine wind at a particularly windy place. NCEP surface analyses showed extreme surface pressure gradients across the area on the evening of 2.2 and the morning of 2.3. There were no reports of damage.

High Wind, Eastern Baranof Island and Southern Admiralty Island

When: February 2, 10:05 PM AKST to February 3, 9:00 AM AKST
Where: Eastern Baranof Island and Southern Admiralty Island forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS

Measured gust 49 MPH at 0356 AKST at the Angoon Sea Plane Base. This is a very high measurement for this particular sensor. Outlying areas easily were in excess of 60 MPH like Five Finger Light that had a peak of 67 MPH. NCEP surface analyses showed extreme surface pressure gradients over the area during the time of the warning. No reports of damage.

High Wind, Glacier Bay

When: February 3, 6:00 AM AKST to 12:00 PM AKST
Where: Glacier Bay forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS

Gustavus airport measured gust 47 mph at 0500 AKST 2.3. NCEP surface analysis showed extreme pressure gradients across the area at that time and estimated gusts at the state pier were estimated at over 60 MPH. No reports of damage.

High Wind, Eastern Chichagof Island

When: February 3, 6:00 AM AKST to 12:00 PM AKST
Where: Eastern Chichagof Island forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS

Hoonah seaplane base measured 59 MPH at 0456 AKST 2.3. Gusts were in the 60s near Icy Strait and Port Frederick.

High Wind, Salisbury Sound to Cape Fairweather Coastal Area

When: February 3, 6:00 AM AKST to 12:00 PM AKST
Where: Salisbury Sound to Cape Fairweather Coastal Area forecast zone
Measured: 80 kt (92 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown

No observations for this event were available. NCEP analyses showed extreme surface pressure gradients at the time of the warnings. Gusts would have easily been in excess of 80 MPH near Cross Sound and for the land areas near Pelican and Elfin Cove. There were no damage reports.

High Wind, Cape Decision to Salisbury Sound Coastal Area

When: February 3, 6:00 AM AKST to 12:00 PM AKST
Where: Cape Decision to Salisbury Sound Coastal Area forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: ASOS

Measured gust 63 MPH at 0530 AKST at the Rocky Gutierrez (Sitka) Airport. Gusts near 60 MPH occurred around Sitka all morning. No reports of damage.

High Wind, Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway

When: February 3, 6:46 AM AKST to 2:00 PM AKST
Where: Taiya Inlet and Klondike Highway forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

Gusts to 70 MPH were measured at Skagway at 0630 AKST on 2.3. Gusts continued in the 60s for a few hours.

High Wind, Haines Borough and Lynn Canal

When: February 3, 6:46 AM AKST to 2:00 PM AKST
Where: Haines Borough and Lynn Canal forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

Measured gust 64 MPH at 0854 AKST 2.3. No damage reported.

High Wind, Cape Fairweather to Cape Suckling Coastal Area

When: February 3, 9:00 AM AKST to 3:00 PM AKST
Where: Cape Fairweather to Cape Suckling Coastal Area forecast zone
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: ASOS

Yakutat had a measured gust of 81 MPH at 0630 AKST on 2.3. The VHF antenna was blown down at the WSO. Trees were downed with power outages on 2.3. Reports of gusts to 100 MPH unofficial. Luggage carts were blown over at Alaska Airlines. A porch was blown off a house and several roofs were damaged.

High Wind, Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island

When: February 3, 9:00 AM AKST to 12:00 PM AKST
Where: Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island forecast zone
Measured: 81 kt (93 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Douglas Harbor profiler measured 93 MPH around 0500 AKST 2.3. Pederson Hill had 60 MPH, the Tram 78 MPH, and Eagelcrest a mere 134 MPH. It was amazing that there were no damage reports.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
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

Every storm in Alaska in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, February 2012

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: 367642, 368356, 368360, 368349, 367641, 367643, 367639, 367632, 367633, 367634, 367637, 367630, 367631, 367629, 367640.