A strong warm front moved onto the southern Panhandle coast during the afternoon of 12/31. There were several observations of southeast wind to 50 mph.
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 strong warm front moved onto the southern Panhandle coast during the afternoon of 12/31. There were several observations of southeast wind to 50 mph. Salmon Landing had gusts to 61 mph. No damage was reported.
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 31, 5:20 AM AKST, 6 hours 1 minute earlier.
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
Issued by National Weather Service Anchorage AK
520 AM AKST Mon Dec 31 2018
.SHORT TERM.../Through Tuesday night/ Active weather continues
through New Years as two strong fronts plow through the area. The
first of which is already here and has spread precip and wind
across much of the panhandle this morning. Highest gust at a land
site has been Skagway with a gust to 36 kt around 2 am. As for
marine winds, gales are the rule of the day in the gulf with 20 to
25 kt winds in the inner channels. These winds will continue for
most of the day before diminishing late in the afternoon as the
front moves through.
As expected this front was rather warm. Most areas have warmed up
overnight with temps many places approaching 40 degrees this
morning. As a result, rain is the ptype of choice this morning.
the exceptions are the Haines (due to cold air damming) and
Klondike Highways (due to elevation). Winter weather advisories
remain up for both areas. However, decided to extend the one for
the Haines Road into mid day as persistent cold air in the
Chilkat Valley has kept temps colder then expected thus keeping
snow going there through mid day.
Not much of a break before the next front comes roaring across the
gulf for late Monday night. This front looks to be a little
stronger and wetter then the first one. Wide spread gales are
expected in the gulf with a small area of storm force near Cape
Suckling due to barrier jet influences. The front reaches the
panhandle by Tue spreading more wind there. Some areas may see
gusts to 40 mph or more out of this. This front is also another
warm and wet one with temps remaining well above freezing as it
moves through. Rain will remain the main ptype as a result. Few
changes to the forecast for these systems except for some local
effects as needed.
.LONG TERM.../Wed through Mon night/ Guidance continues to point
toward a more zonal flow pattern for the latter half of the week.
Some colder air will also be pushed into the area from the Bering
Sea area causing temperatures and snow levels to drop. Confidence
is average as most guidance has a good handle on the overall
pattern. However, there is a series of strong lows that the models
are insisting on bringing N toward Haida Gwaii (one on Thu
followed by one on Sat, through that timing is rather vague).
Confidence is rather low as successive model runs have kept
pushing the systems further and further S. Also confidence on
timing is rather lacking as well.
As such, the main changes in the long range focused on the
cooling of temperatures across the area as the cooler air mass
moves in. Highs for late week now may not get above freezing in
some northern areas. Showers are also expected to remain in the
area due to persistent onshore flow, but precip chances remain in
the 30 to 50 percent range due to lack of any confidence on any
strong storms moving in. Wpc used for most changes in the
extended.
&&
.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...Winter Weather Advisory until noon AKST today for AKZ019.
Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM AKST this afternoon for
AKZ018.
Strong Wind until 9 AM AKST this morning for AKZ017-018.
MARINE...Storm Warning for PKZ052.
Gale Warning for PKZ041>043-051.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-021-022-031>036-053.
&&
EAL
Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A strong warm front moved onto the southern Panhandle coast during the afternoon of 12/31. There were several observations of southeast wind to 50 mph. Salmon Landing had gusts to 61 mph at 1125 local time. No damage was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alaska in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, December 2018
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: 791462.