Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, January 4 to 6, 2026

Light, dry, fluffy snow fell during the afternoon and evening of the 4th with east winds gusting 20-25mph at the airport (strong for this sheltered location). Snowfall rates increased through the morning of the 5th with visibility falling to a quarter to a half mile for a couple hours. The Hoonah COOP measured 5 inches of snow by their 8am measurement on the 5th with heavy snow falling at the time. Social media reports in the afternoon between 240 and 350pm estimated up to 8 inches of accumulation and a transition to rain. The airport began reporting rain in the 1pm hour.

After significant snowfall in December and this additional snow, plus a transition to rain adding to the weight, damage to roofs and outbuildings were reported in January. Total value of property damage from just this January storm is unknown, however the combined damage to 36 homes from the late December through early January is estimated to be $250K. A State disaster declaration was approved for the City of Hoonah on January 6th.

Light, dry, fluffy snow fell during the afternoon and evening of the 4th based on spotter reports with over 5 inches of accumulation already by 8pm. The COOP at the Glacier Bay National Park measured 9.5 inches of new snow at their 8am observation on the 5th. Other trained spotters in town measured 6-8.5 inches that morning. Snow continued into the afternoon with variable rates reported including 6.5 inches between 930am and 345pm and a total of 13.5 inches by 7pm when a transition to rain was noted. The Gustavus Airport AWOS was down during this time, but other stations in the area saw periodic wind gusts of around 20mph during this time.

After significant snowfall in December and this additional snow, plus a transition to rain adding to the weight, damage to roofs and outbuildings likely occurred, but none were reported to the NWS.

The observer in Elfin Cove recorded light snow beginning around 5pm on the 4th. The Marine Exchange sensor at Pelican measured wind gusts of 20-25mph out of the south through the evening of the 4th and the morning of the 5th, which is strong for this observation point, likely causing blowing snow. Visibility was below a half mile through the morning of the 5th at Elfin Cove and vertical visibility was down to 300ft. Temperatures rose through the day with a change to rain by 3pm. Snow had accumulated 10 inches by that time at the Elfin Cove COOP site. There were no reports from Pelican for this event.

Light, dry, fluffy snow fell through the evening of the 4th with social media reports of around 5 inches between Lena Point and the Mendenhall Valley by 8-930pm. Periods of moderate to heavy snow fell through the night and east winds increased after midnight, gusting 20-30mph at the airport. By 730am around 7 inches of snow was reported out the road and other reports from around the area ranged from 4-7 inches. Snowfall rates increased through the morning of the 5th with visibility falling to a half mile at the airport and sustained winds of 20-30mph with gusts of around 40mph. This caused blowing and drifting snow, which hampered accumulation measurements at the airport. At 1130am, reports from Douglas Island were 9 inches and counting, then at noon a measurement from downtown Juneau had reached 11-12 inches. A large tree was reported across Glacier Highway out the road at 1250pm and brief power outages were also noted during the day. Temperatures steadily warmed through the event with continued wind and a transition to rain occurred in the evening between 6-10pm. Final snowfall reports from Douglas reached 12-15 inches in the evening. The NWS office in the Mendenhall Valley measured 7.1 inches out of this event and the Lena Point COOP measured 6.9 inches, both with some compaction due to the change to rain.

Monday the 5th was set to be the first day back to school after winter break, but the district opted to close schools the evening of the 4th based on anticipated heavy snowfall rates during the middle of the day Monday, tall snow banks, and unsafe walking conditions. Similarly, after the significant snowfall in December and this additional snow, plus the expected transition to rain adding to the weight, closures to borough facilities and other businesses were made for the 5th and 6th while inspections could be made along with roof clearing. An avalanche advisory was issued by CBJ on the 5th due to elevated risk for the downtown and Thane areas. Numerous small avalanches were noted over the subsequent days, but did not reach any structures. Damage to roofs, outbuildings, and a vehicle were reported via social media on the 6th and two additional boats sunk in Juneau harbors. Total value of property damage from just this January storm is unknown. The State approved a joint disaster declaration for the City and Borough of Juneau and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on January 6th for the culmination of December and January snows, plus the added snow weight with rain.

Light snow began to fall in the Yakutat area during the evening of the 4th with rates picking up after midnight. Visibility fell to a quarter mile at times through the morning of the 5th with sustained E-NE winds increasing to 20mph. An NWS Employee measured 9.2 inches of snow at 920am and another 2.6 inches 4 hours later. As temperatures steadily rose through the day, a period of freezing rain was observed at the airport in the evening followed by a wind shift to the SW and a change to rain for a short period of time.

Start and end times are estimated based on surrounding observations and measurements from Kake, Hoonah, and Juneau since the Angoon Seaplane Base AWOS was down at the time. The Hidden Falls Hatchery COOP on Baranof Island, across Chatham Strait from Angoon (not in the same zone but another reference station), measured 12 inches of new snow at their 5pm report on the 5th. At 425pm on the 5th Angoon School District announced on social media that a delayed start was planned for the following day due to weather. At 908am on the 6th the decision was made to shift to remote learning due to hazardous icy road conditions.

Light, dry, fluffy snow began to fall during the late evening and overnight of the 4th with temperatures in the single digits. Trained spotters and public reports from the Chilkat Peninsula and Mud Bay areas reported around 7 inches of new snow between 7-8am on the 5th. The COOP in town also measured 7 inches at 8am with moderate snow at the time. Shortly after that the ASOS at the airport had visibility fall to a quarter mile which lasted through the noon hour. Winds throughout this period were out of the NW and sustained at around 20mph, causing blowing and drifting snow. The Haines Police sent out a notice asking the public to stay off the roads due to the low visibility. By 1030pm, a trained spotter in town measured an additional 14 inches of snow since their 8am morning report and another 4 inches the following morning for a storm total of 26 inches over the day and a half long event. The same spotter noted significant warming through the morning of the 6th and the airport temperature spiked up 18 degrees when winds shifted to the E-SE around 10am. Brief mixing and rain occurred before ending around noon. The COOP in town measured a new 24hr accumulation of 17 inches on the 6th, for a storm total of 24 inches. Haines Customs COOP had much less snowfall from this event, totaling 7 inches over 3 daily measurements.

After significant snowfall in late December and this additional 2 feet of snow, damage to out buildings and other public facilities occurred, however a total monetary value is unknown. A well built timber frame carport collapsed due to the weight of the snow at around noon on the 6th, crushing a full size vehicle. The Haines Borough was added to the State disaster declaration for the winter storms on January 10th.

Light pre-frontal snow was falling in Kake during the evening of the 4th, but steady snow did not begin until around 4am on the 5th based on the Kake Airport AWOS. Snowfall rates increased through the morning with visibility dropping to a quarter mile and sustained winds of around 20mph out of the E-SE. Temperatures warmed through the day and a transition to rain happened around 1pm. A trained spotter estimated that around 12 inches of snow had fallen since the night before.

Light snow began to fall in the Petersburg area shortly after midnight with rates increasing through the early morning hours of the 5th. Visibility fell to a quarter mile in the 9am hour and a social media comment reported that 6 inches of snow had already fallen by 10am. Snow continued through the day, with some reports of mixing, then rates let up in the evening. A social media report near Scow Bay already had 9.5 inches of snow by 6pm. The COOP station at the Petersburg Airport measured 9.5 inches of new snow at their 10pm report. The airport AWOS saw a change to rain shortly after this measurement.

Light snow was falling in Hyder during the morning of the 5th with drifting noted by a spotter at 8am. By late morning 2.5 inches had accumulated, then rates increased as indicated by the METAR in the neighboring town of Stewart B.C., dropping below a quarter mile for several hours in the afternoon. By 320pm AKST new snow accumulation in Hyder had reached over 6 inches in just the previous 4 hours. After heavy snow in December and this new accumulation, it was reported that a few sheds in town had their roof collapse due to the weight on the 5th. The same spotter measured 17 inches of total snow by 1015pm AKST that night. Light snow continued into the middle of the next day, but no new measurements were reported.