From January 23rd to January 26th, a cluster of low pressure systems with multiple separate centers moved into the Bering Sea. Parts of this cluster included a low with two centers that moved in from the west and a north Pacific Low that rose from the Southwest.
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 AFC wrote it up.
From January 23rd to January 26th, a cluster of low pressure systems with multiple separate centers moved into the Bering Sea. Parts of this cluster included a low with two centers that moved in from the west and a north Pacific Low that rose from the Southwest. As they approached the Southwestern Alaskan mainland, a frontal system set up and pressure gradients oriented in such a way that winds became gusty in the Alaska Peninsula during the afternoon hours of January 23rd. The lows combined and took a northerly turn on the 24th. The frontal system remained in place for the next two days and another north Pacific low rose from the south on January 25th. The low stalled out over the Alaska Peninsula and took advantage of an atmospheric river to drive heavy snowfall into Southwest and Southcentral Alaska through January 26th. A period of gusty winds were also felt in the Anchorage region on January 25th.
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 Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 22, 8:32 PM AKST, 7 hours 41 minutes earlier.
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 832 PM AKST Wed Jan 22 2025 .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3: Tonight through Saturday Night)... Scattered showers tonight, in addition to a rather quick-moving storm tomorrow, will bring the potential for additional precipitation accumulations. A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect for northern Susitna Valley as Thursday's storms will bring heavy snow to the region. Otherwise, this will truly be the calm before the storm as a warm and incredibly wet series of atmospheric rivers sets its sights on Southcentral. A Hydrologic Outlook is currently in effect for Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, and Mat-Su in anticipation that temperatures in the high 30s/low 40s and prolonged, moderate to heavy precipitation could lead to flooding. We will be closely monitoring this storm system, and we urge you to stay tuned to the forecast and prepare accordingly. Diving into the details... the forecast for tonight and tomorrow remains largely on track. Showers will gradually taper off, with the bulk of additional accumulations tonight focused along northern Susitna Valley, the Talkeetna Mountains, and Prince William Sound. A surge of cold air moving in tonight will help prime conditions for some rain/snow mix or even snow as a robust shortwave sweeps across Southcentral beginning late tonight/early tomorrow morning. However, temperatures tomorrow have trended warmer, making it more likely that most areas will see a rain/snow mix rather than all snow. This has decreased our concern for heavy snow in the Homer Bluffs, though temperatures will stay cool enough for the northern Susitna Valley to accumulate about 8-12 inches through the course of tomorrow. Looking ahead, Friday and Saturday continue to be when the most impactful weather is expected. As mentioned above, we're anticipating a trend towards warmer and much wetter conditions, with the potential for moderate to heavy precipitation to persist through most of the weekend. All but deep interior Copper River Basin will likely see precipitation at some point. It's a bit early right now to give detailed precipitation estimates, but liquid precipitation amounts from Friday through Saturday could be somewhere in the range of 1-3 inches, with the greatest amounts along Eastern Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound, northern Susitna Valley, and southern Kodiak Island. Most communities and areas along the road network will likely see this precipitation falling primarily as rain, with the exception of higher elevation locations like Broad Pass, Isabel Pass, and Thompson Pass. In addition, a tightening pressure gradient will lead to gusty southeasterly winds through Turnagain Arm/Anchorage, Palmer, and the Copper River Basin. Stay tuned for forecast updates as we could see fairly impactful weather from Friday into the weekend. -Chen && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... The active weather pattern continues for the southwest Mainland as a low pressure system over the Bering Sea sends a front overhead Wednesday evening. The front will bring a mix of rain and snow, with rain more likely toward coastal areas and better chances for snow inland. Gusty southerly winds will accompany the front with gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range for the Kuskokwim Delta behind the front late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. A coastal flood warning has been issued the the Kuskokwim Delta due to these conditions. While there will be an initial surge of water this evening around 3 feet above mean high high water, the bigger impact will likely Thursday evening into Friday morning with the next system. Quick on the heels of the first front, a second system pushes into the central Bering Sea. The front with this system has a much warmer air mass and a better chance for much of the Mainland to see rain as the predominant precipitation type. Southerly winds will be stronger as well, with gusts reaching as high as 50 mph. There are better chances for coastal flooding for this system as well as a surge of water up the Kuskokwim River making overflow conditions possible, see the special weather statement for more information. Looking farther ahead to the weekend, yet another disturbance and front impacts the area, this one brings the possibility of accumulating snowfall for the Kuskokwim Delta with rain for Bristol Bay and the Kuskokwim Valley. Stay tuned! MTL && .SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)... The prevailing storm track remains from the north Pacific into the Bering Sea through the weekend. The upcoming system on Thursday will bring storm-force winds to much of the central and eastern Bering Sea. There is a chance for some hurricane force gusts closer to the Fox Islands. Another front and low pressure system moves into the eastern Bering Sea on Saturday, this one with a weaker wind field, however, behind this system, arctic air will bring a much colder air mass to the area which will return freezing spray concerns for much of the Bering Sea as well as a possibility of a polar low with strong/compact winds on Saturday. MTL && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Sunday through Wednesday)... Key takeaways: - High southerly winds and heavy precipitation shifts away from the southern coast towards the Panhandle - Heavy snow totals across the Brooks Range, Kenai Peninsula and higher elevations of South Central will start to taper off - Significant pattern shift to bring much colder temperatures across the forecast area early in the work week. A strong northeast Pacific high coupled with a strong upper level shortwave trough and surface low will produce strong gradient winds across the Aleutians through the Alaskan and Kenai Peninsulas early in the period. The Pacific high pressure will start to retreat eastward allowing for an upper level long wave trough to migrate over much of the state on Monday through the end of the period as a moderately strong ridge of high pressure moves into the western Bering sea. The southerly winds and and heavy precipitation, across the mainland and AKPEN, will start to abate on Sunday evening as an arctic airmass moves over much of the state. This air mass will linger through the end of the forecast period bringing northerly winds and much colder, below normal temperatures across the state. -DD && .AVIATION... PANC... Scattered rain showers will diminish through this evening with primarily VFR ceilings lowering to MVFR ceilings overnight. Southerly to southwesterly winds prevail through Thursday evening. Wind gusts range from 20 to 30 knots later this evening into Thursday evening. Precipitation moves back into the area after 10Z and is expected to stay rain or a rain-snow mix through mid to late morning. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT National Weather Service ANCHORAGE AK 1147 PM AKST Wed Jan 22 2025 AKZ155-240200- Kuskokwim Delta- Including the cities of Bethel and Nunivak Island 1147 PM AKST Wed Jan 22 2025 ...STORM SURGE TO BRING POSSIBLE OVERFLOW TO LOWER KUSKOKWIM RIVER THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING... Southerly winds will ramp up this afternoon (Thursday) with gusts to 40 to 50 mph. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for storm surge for the Kuskokwim Delta. As the surge pushes into the mouth of the Kuskokwim River, there is the possibility for impacts up the river. Ice thickness is likely enough that flooding should not be a concern with this system, but any holes in the ice will be prone to overflow from underneath. Standing water on the ice will make travel difficult and mask ice conditions on the surface. Conditions will improve through day on Friday as gusty southerly winds diminish and turn southwesterly. Keep updated on ice conditions with local resources.
2 high wind, 2 heavy snow, 2 blizzard, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The False Pass ASOS station (PAKF) reported wind gusts over 60 mph from 11:40 AM AKST to 7:30 PM AKST on January 23rd. Gusts peaked at 75 mph at 2:55 PM and 2:56 PM AKST. Wind gusts reached 60 mph in Cold Bay and 67 mph in Akutan the same day.
A weather station in the Anchorage Hillside reported an extended period of gusty winds of over 50 mph that started January 24th and lasted until January 26th. The station reported a max wind gust for three consecutive observations from 3:11 PM AKST to 3:21 PM AKST on January 25th. Other weather stations in the area reported similarly high gusts of over 70 mph around the same timeframe. Wind gusts over the Anchorage International Airport exceeded 60 mph on January 25th.
The Emergency Manager from Unalaska Public safety reported that 1 to 2 feet of snowfall fell in a 24 hour period from January 25th to January 26th. He reported that snow drifts of over two and a half feet were forming. He mentioned that vehicles were getting stuck on roads and road crews were having difficulty keeping up with the snow. Visibilities were also low during this time.
The Mekoryuk ASOS Station (PAMY) reported heavy snow, gusty winds over 40 mph and visibility below one quarter of a mile from 10:44 AM AKST to past 2:30 PM AKST on January 26th. Webcams in the village confirmed this low visibility. Nunapitchuk Airport (PPIT) similarly reported blizzard conditions with winds gusting to 45 to 50 mph and quarter mile visibility from 9:20 PM AKST January 26 to 12:00 AM AKST January 27.
The Alaska Department of Transportation closed Thompson Pass from Milepost 12 to Milepost 46 at 8:00 AM AKST January 26th due to avalanche danger and inclement weather. The Department of Transportation 511 website reported Very Difficult road conditions the same day.
An Emergency Management reported that Valdez received 20 inches of snow in a 24 hour period from January 25th to January 26th. The EM reported that a couple of hours of sleet fell in the morning hours of January 26th and that snowfall was continuing to fall at 1:15 PM AKST the same day. The road through Thompson Pass from Mile-marker 12 to 46 at 8:00 PM AKST January 26th due to avalanche danger and inclement weather.
The False Pass ASOS Station (PAKF) had heavy snow, quarter mile visibility, and winds gusting to over 35 mph beginning 4:25 AM AKST on January 26th. The wind sensor stopped reporting at 7:00 AM AKST the same day, but quarter mile visibilities continued until 8:35 AM AKST. Webcams in False Pass confirmed this low visibility.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alaska in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, January 2025
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: 1241909, 1241910, 1241912, 1241914, 1241913, 1241915, 1241916.