Overrunning snow for the higher elevations of the Klondike Highway.
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.
Overrunning snow for the higher elevations of the Klondike Highway.
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 18, 3:01 PM AKST, 3 hours 59 minutes earlier.
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
301 PM AKST Tue Feb 18 2020
.SHORT TERM...Low pressure system currently located in the central
gulf will continue to strengthen as it moves northward Tuesday
night towards Prince William Sound. An upper level southern stream
shortwave driving the cyclogenesis will continue to lift
northward as well cross into southcentral AK early Wednesday. A
strong mid- level jet on the east side of the low will move across
the eastern gulf this evening and over the NE gulf coast tonight.
At the surface a storm force front will move from the central
gulf to the north and northeastern outer coastal waters Tuesday
evening before weakening as it moves eastward over the panhandle
tonight. As the wave rotates northward, PKZ043, PKZ051, and PKZ052
will all likely experience storm force winds around 50 kts
Tuesday evening through midnight.
Precipitation along the front is expected to fall as rain across
most of Southeast AK. The main exception will be along the Haines
and Klondike Highways. The inherited forecast remains on track
with no changes to the Winter Storm Warning that is in effect from
6 PM this evening until 9 AM Wednesday. Still expect 6 to 8 inches
of snow along the highways above 1000 feet. Haines itself may
start out as snow, or see a mix of rain and snow, before changing
over to rain tonight. But do not expect any significant snowfall
accumulations near sea level. Winds have already turned southerly
in Lynn Canal, and expect the light northerly winds in Haines and
Skagway to switch momentarily to east and south respectively. This
will allow temperatures, that have been hovering near or below
freezing today, to warm this evening. The band of precipitation
will spread eastward across the panhandle tonight through
Wednesday morning, likely lingering over the southern panhandle
through Wednesday evening. Southwesterly flow with slightly cooler
air wrapped in behind the system will allow showers to continue
across much of the panhandle Wednesday. With temperatures around
the mid-30s, could see a mix of rain and snow showers within the
northern inner channels.
The next system being driven by a strong upper jet will move
quickly into the Gulf by Thursday morning. The front will quickly
become occluded as it moves into the E gulf late Thursday morning.
Increased gulf wind speeds to maximum gales along the front, as
well as to strong SCA levels within the inner channels.
Precipitation will spread across the panhandle Thursday, possibly
heavy at times Thursday afternoon and evening. Most likely winds
will increase, mixing the boundary layer and warming temperatures
above freezing at sea level. The details still need to be worked
out where snowfall accumulation will likely occur. Although
current forecast shows accumulating snowfall in Juneau and Haines,
the thinking is these areas will see more rain than snow. But
snowfall along the Haines and Klondike highways will likely need
another winter storm warning Thursday. Opted not to put out a
watch though because of the winter storm tonight. Overall forecast
confidence is average through the short term period.
.LONG TERM...The progressive flow pattern will continue throughout
the remainder of the week, and as one system departs on Wednesday,
the next system will take shape in the Gulf and move towards the
panhandle. This system will be associated with an upper level
trof digging into the Gulf, and given the presence of abundant
moisture evident in many model runs, respectable precipitation
amounts are likely. While the bulk of the precipitation should
fall as rain throughout most of the panhandle, there does exist
the possibility of significant snow accumulations for the Haines
and Klondike Highways, especially during the overnight hours
Thursday and into Friday. Thickness levels are currently progged
to hover below or around 1290 in these locations and substantial
QPF should be present to assist in respectable snowfall rates.
Depending on the strength of the pre-existing cold pool, some
locations may start as a snow or rain snow mix before
transitioning to all rain as the warm air advection mixes out the
cooler air near the surface.
Looking beyond the Thursday system, ensembles are hinting at the
possibility of another system developing and impacting the
panhandle on Saturday, although there remains substantial
disagreement on whether or not this system will even develop, and
additional data will be needed before any firm conclusions can be
made. What can be said with some confidence though is that cooler
weather will arrive in the panhandle during the latter half of
the week, circulating in around a low in the Gulf. Beyond this,
guidance diverges substantially. Most of the changes made were
focused around introducing cooler temperatures throughout most of
the time period, and refining the wind forecast for the Thursday
system. Meaningful changes beyond the first half of Saturday were
challenging, given disagreements in ensembles and deterministic
products alike. Overall, forecaster confidence remains average
through the extended time range.
&&
.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...Strong Wind from late tonight through Wednesday morning for
AKZ027.
Strong Wind from 6 PM AKST this evening through late tonight for
AKZ023.
Strong Wind through late tonight for AKZ017-021.
Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to 9 AM AKST
Wednesday for AKZ018-019.
MARINE...Storm Warning for PKZ043-051-052.
Gale Warning for PKZ022-041-042-053.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-021-031>036.
&&
DDH/GFS
Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The Department of Transportation reported around 12 inches of snow near the pass around the morning of the 19th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alaska in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, February 2020
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: 873500.