Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, January 8 to 10, 2026

Name: Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, January 8 to 10, 2026
Start: 2026-01-08T15:13
End: 2026-01-10T01:20
Location: Alaska

January 8 to 10, 2026 · NWS AJK · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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.

An atmospheric river brought snow followed by high winds, warming temperatures and heavy rain to the panhandle January 8th and 9th. A low pressure center developed along a triple point front as it tracked NE across the western Gulf of Alaska on the 9th. The low center deepened to 960mb as it approached the northern Gulf and the frontal system brought a period of high winds to the central and southern panhandle. This system brought with it heavy snow across the north, followed by a significant warm-up, heavy rain, localized flooding due to previous heavy snow blocking drainages, and avalanches. The flooding falls into the advisory level, but the rain was an additional impact due to the added weight of the snow on structures. Disaster declarations were expanded to more communities across the northern panhandle after this storm.

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 Jan 8, 9:16 AM AKST, 5 hours 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 8, 9:16 AM AKST, 5 hours 57 minutes before

Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Juneau AK
916 AM AKST Thu Jan 8 2026

.UPDATE...Aviation section updated for 18z taf issuance.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Key Messages:
   - Strong weather system incoming for late Thursday night into
     Friday with multiple hazards possible.

   - Moderate to Heavy rainfall possible the the panhandle Friday
     timeframe. Flood Watch issued for most of the panhandle.

   - High wind possible for the south. High Wind Watch issued for
     the south.

   - More snow possible for the north. Winter Storm Watch issued
     for the Haines and Skagway areas.

.SHORT TERM.../ Through Thursday night / Snow showers today
tapering off in the evening with minor accumulations. The next
system will be moving northeast into the southeast gulf and
southern panhandle overnight, and moving north through the
central panhandle. Should see precipitation start out as snow, and
transfer over to rain, then progress northward. Anticipate that
rain/snow line will be a little south of the Icy Strait corridor /
Cross Sound East towards Juneau / by Friday Morning. The snow
accumulation around the Icy Strait corridor for Thursday night
are varying amounts but up to 3 to 5 inches give or take are
possible. Northern Lynn Canal region may see more, and a Winter
Storm Watch is out for the area.

As the system continues to move towards through the panhandle, the
moisture plume increases leading to heavier rates and this leads
to the Flood Watch that is out.

.LONG TERM.../Friday through Wednesday/ Major storm incoming for
Friday into Friday night that has a minor to moderate atmospheric
river associated with it. The main forecast challenges with it
are three fold. First is how much snow various area are going to
get before the southerly flow warms places enough to change snow
to rain. Currently it is looking like the timing for change over
will be late Thursday night for the south, early Friday for the
central panhandle, and Friday morning for the Icy Strait, Juneau
area. Snowfall amounts will vary depending on when the timing of
the warm up occurs for various areas. Current thinking has a few
inches of snow for the south before change over, increasing
amounts (3 to 6 inches) into the central panhandle, Icy Strait
area, and Juneau. Haines and Skagway areas are the exception as
they could stay snow for most of the event. Current thinking has
them staying snow until Friday evening when stronger southerly
winds start to work into there, and even then the inland areas and
upper elevations along the highways could not see a change over
to rain at all. Winter storm watches have been issued for that
area as a result.

Second, once an area changes over to rain, the concern becomes
more on flooding from the 1 to 4 inches of rain that is expected
to possibly fall through Friday night. Southern panhandle does not
have as much snowpack as the north so the concern there is just
on the amount of rain and the possibly of isolated landslides due
to the rainfall and the gusty winds expected with this front.
Farther north, the concern is more on the rain on the frankly
deep snow pack around Icy Strait and Juneau and how any melt and
runoff does not really have anywhere to go. A lot of storm drains
and ditches are full of snow and ice right now so many areas may
see ponding of water in areas that normally do not see this. A
flood watch has been issued for most of the panhandle for Friday
into Saturday as a result of these expectations. Yakutat has been
left out as we are not expecting quite as much rain there, and
Haines and Skagway were also left out as they will mostly be snow
during the event (though even they could see some ponding of water
if/when the they actually warm above freezing).

Third, this is a windy front and strong southerly winds are
expected to impact the southern panhandle Friday. 850 to 950 mb
winds above the southern panhandle are pushing 70 to 80 kt Friday
mainly at southern Clarence Strait. This translates to near 60 mph
gusts at the surface so a high wind watch has also been issued
for the southern panhandle on Friday.

Farther out into the weekend and next week, SW flow and a possible
series of systems will keep the panhandle mostly warm and wet
through early to mid next week. Not a lot of confidence on exactly
when and where the individual systems will impact the area, but
the general trend is warm (temps mostly remaining above freezing
for many sea level areas and snow levels around 1500 to 3000 ft
panhandle wide), and wet (potential for upwards of a few inches of
rain late weekend into mid next week for low elevations). Highest
rainfall amounts will likely be over the south during this period.

.AVIATION...Snow showers occasionally dropping vis and ceilings
down to IFR or lower at times is the main rule for today.
Otherwise mostly VFR conditions for Thursday. This is expected to
change for the worst as a strong wet front moves in from the south
tonight bringing precipitation and wind to the area. Precip is
expected to spread from S to N tonight with most areas starting as
snow (likely MVFR or IFR conditions). That will steadily change
to rain from S to N tonight into tomorrow with visibility
slightly improving after change over, but will go back to lower
conditions as heavier rainfall moves in. Skagway and Haines will
likely stay snow with lower conditions through Friday before a
southerly wind starts up Friday evening and changes them to rain
as well with the accompanying changing vis and ceiling conditions.
In the southern panhandle winds will also become an issue with
gusty ground level winds accompanied by winds at 2000 ft
increasing to 45 to 50 kt out of the SE at times by friday
afternoon. So low level wind shear and possible turbulence will
become an issue for Friday mainly across the southern half of the
panhandle.

.MARINE...
Outer Coastal Waters: Near gale to gale force west to
southwesterlies continue to move into the area, but are expected
to diminish as the low in the NE gulf coast fills. Strong SW swell
from 18-22 ft look to diminish steadily over the next 48 hours.
Wave heights of 20-25 ft. look to following in kind, dropping down
to 8-10 ft.

Inner channels: South to southwesterly winds remain mostly
stagnant, hovering around a moderate to fresh breeze through
Thursday morning. Winds are expected to decline briefly going
into Thursday afternoon as the next system comes in from the
south. Lynn Canal is expected to switch out of the north
Wednesday night as the incoming warm front moves northward.

.HYDROLOGY...
Off and on showers will continue through mid week as a low in the
NE Gulf sends waves of precipitation across the area. Looking
towards the end of the week, the next organized system will push
an atmospheric river into the panhandle late Thursday night
through Friday. This system will bringing rounds of moderate to
heavy rainfall and rapidly rising freezing levels for communities
across the panhandle.

For the northern panhandle, current forecast rainfall amounts are
around 1 to 2 inches, with locally higher amounts approaching 3
inches at higher terrain. This rainfall in combination with rapidly
rising freezing levels around 2000 to 3000ft by Friday afternoon
into the weekend. This rainfall in combination with rapidly rising
freezing levels around 2000 to 3000ft through Friday afternoon will
lead to localized flooding concerns like ponding on road ways and
poor drainage due to snow blocking drains along and north of the Icy
Strait Corridor, including but not limited to Juneau, Gustavus,
Hoonah, Yakutat, Haines, and Skagway.

For the central and southern panhandle, current forecast rainfall
amounts are around 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts
approaching 5 inches at higher terrain. This rainfall in combination
with rapidly rising freezing levels around 3000 to 5000ft will lead
to localized flooding concerns like rapid river rises on small
streams, ponding on road ways and poor drainage due to snow blocking
drains along and south of a line from Sitka to Angoon to Petersburg.

For all of the panhandle, any existing snowpack will become more
dense and hard to move by Friday. Additionally, hard pack snow on
driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks will become very icy.
Preparations should begin for an expected rain on snow event going
into the weekend. Stay tuned for further forecast updates on this
system moving through the week.

&&

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...Winter Storm Watch from Friday morning through Saturday morning
     for AKZ318-319.
     Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM AKST
     Friday for AKZ320>322-325.
     Flood Watch from Friday morning through Saturday evening for
     AKZ320>332.
     High Wind Watch from Friday afternoon through late Friday night
     for AKZ328-330-332.
MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ036-641-642-644-651-652-662>664-671-672.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ022-034-053-643-661.

&&

SHORT TERM...Bezenek
LONG TERM...EAL
AVIATION...EAL
MARINE...Bezenek
HYDRO...EAL

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 8, 11:11 AM AKST, 4 hours 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Juneau AK
1111 AM AKST Thu Jan 8 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1025 AM     Snow             1 NE Gustavus           58.42N 135.72W
01/08/2026  E6.0 Inch        Hoonah-Angoon      AK   Dept of Highways

            DOT in Gustavus reported heavy snow showers
            with 2-3 inches between 6and 8am and up to 6
            inches at 1025am.

&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter storm, 4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, City of Hyder

When: January 8, 3:13 PM AKST to January 9, 4:00 PM AKST
Where: City of Hyder forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 55.597, -132.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intermittent light snow fell on the 8th, becoming steady with visibility falling to 2 miles at the Stewart B.C. weather station at 413pm local time. Snow continued to fall through the night with visibility below a quarter mile around 9am local time. A trained spotter reported 12 inches of snow had fallen in Hyder by 11am AKST on the 9th with snow continuing to fall. The Stewart B.C. weather station reported freezing rain for several hours in the afternoon as temperatures were trending up.

Winter Storm, City and Borough of Juneau

When: January 8, 8:20 PM AKST to January 9, 4:50 PM AKST
Where: City and Borough of Juneau forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 58.417, -134.333 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intermittent light snow fell on the 8th, becoming steady late with winds turning out of the north. Visibility fell to a half mile in the 6am hour on the 9th at the airport. A trained spotter measured 5.8 inches of snow by 7am out the road near Cohen Drive and another spotter measured 7.5 inches just before 8am. The Juneau Airport began mixing with rain around 8am while temperatures were still 30F, then fully transitioned to rain over the next 2 hours. The DOT RWIS station near Cohen Drive continued to see snow or a mix into the afternoon, then temperatures warmed above 32F at 5pm. Freezing levels rose steadily through the event, rising to around 4kft by 6pm based on the South Douglas JAWS profiler.

During the evening of the 8th, the City and Borough of Juneau announced public facilities and schools would be closed the following day due to ongoing hazardous road and weather conditions. Several small avalanches were reported during the the 9th off of Mt. Juneau, Mt. Roberts and the Thane area. No damage was reported from the avalanches and evacuation advisories and road closures were already in place. As rain fell on deep snowpack, localized flooding reports came in through the evening of the 9th particularly in Douglas, downtown Juneau, along Egan Drive, and in the Mendenhall Valley. The additional weight of snow and rain caused a vessel to sink in Douglas Harbor. This was the 11th vessel to sink in Juneau since the December record snow began. Other small out buildings and sheds succumbed to the added weight of rain on snow as well. A disaster declaration was in effect during this time.

Winter Storm, Glacier Bay

When: January 8, 10:55 PM AKST to January 9, 1:30 PM AKST
Where: Glacier Bay forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 57.948, -134.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intermittent light snow fell on the 8th, becoming steady late with winds turning out of the north. Visibility fell to 1 mile in the 5am hour on the 9th with greater wet snowfall rates reported. The Glacier Bay NPS COOP station measured 14.5 inches of snow at 8am on the 9th, potentially a 48hr measurement, but most of that falling in the previous 12 hours. A trained spotter in town measured 6.25 inches of snow by 915am since the evening before with heavy rates continuing. DOT also reported 6 inches about an hour later, 2-3 inches of that falling between 6-8am. The Gustavus ferry dock area saw a change over to rain by around midday while Bartlett Cove reported a period of sleet and the airport AWOS had unknown precip, indicating a mix or freezing rain. At least one tree came down across Mountain View Rd. as snow changed to rain in the afternoon. Localized flooding and ponding on roads was reported later.

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 Chatham Regional Education Attendance Area (including Gustavus) was added to the State disaster declaration for the winter storms on January 10th to aid in snow removal.

Winter Storm, Haines Borough and Klukwan

When: January 8, 11:40 PM AKST to January 10, 1:20 AM AKST
Where: Haines Borough and Klukwan forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 59.251, -135.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intermittent light snow fell on the 8th, becoming steady through early morning of the 9th. At 8am the Haines COOP measured 4 inches of snow, some of that from the previous day's pre-frontal snow showers. Visibility fell to a quarter mile at 9am at the Haines airport ASOS and stayed that low, or less, with whiteout conditions reported until about 5pm. A trained spotter in front of town measured 5.25 inches of snow at 1107am, then at 1pm reported that wind had picked up with drifting snow, limiting ability for further accurate measurements. At 1149am DOT estimated 6-12 inches of snow along the Haines Highway. A spotter at 26 mile reported light snow on the 8th starting around 2pm with rates picking up significantly on the 9th with around 6 inches falling between 11am-130pm and a total of 12.25 inches by 530pm with heavy snow letting up shortly after report time. At 630pm the Haines airport began reporting freezing rain, until temperatures rose above freezing over the next 2 hours. Out the road, the DOT RWIS sensor at 36 mile rose above freezing after midnight. The following morning the Haines COOP in town measured a 24 hour snowfall of 12 inches (16 inches including snowfall from the previous day) and Haines Customs measured a 24 hour total of 13 inches.

An avalanche was reported between 16-17 mile of the Haines Highway at 826am on the 9th with the road impassible, but cleared a couple hours later. At 1130am the Haines Police advised Mud Bay residents to avoid non-essential travel due to poor road conditions and low visibility. The police shared several additional safety messages with the community throughout the day including using headlights with whiteout conditions. At 226pm DOT closed Haines Highway between 4-21 mile and Lutak Rd. beyond the ferry terminal and advised that plowing would resume the following day.

Winter Storm, Municipality of Skagway

When: January 9, 8:25 AM AKST to 11:00 PM AKST
Where: Municipality of Skagway forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 59.469, -135.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow became steady at the Skagway airport through the morning of the 9th while north wind was blowing 25-35mph with gusts of around 45mph. Visibility fell to a half mile at 935am, and briefly down to a quarter mile. Winds began to ease in the afternoon, then visibility improved above 1 mile after 7pm. A period of freezing rain occurred, then winds shifted sharply to the south at 940pm, gusting 30-40mph, the temperature spiking up 20 degrees and changing to rain. The SNOTEL site at Moore Creek rose above freezing closer to 11pm, so estimated that freezing rain continued up the Klondike Highway until then.

At 1013am on the 9th, the Skagway police shared that the Klondike Highway would remain closed due to low visibility. The police advised at 826pm to refrain from driving the Dyea Road unless an absolute emergency due to several slides covering the roadway. The police also noted that all roads in Skagway were experiencing heavy snow cover and should be avoided as well. The Skagway COOP measured 10 inches of snow the following morning, but likely saw significant melt/compaction.

High Wind, Prince of Wales Island

When: January 9, 10:00 AM AKST to 8:00 PM AKST
Where: Prince of Wales Island forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 55.597, -132.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter's home weather station in Hydaburg measured a peak gust of 65.9mph on the 9th. Times are estimated based on other locations on Prince of Wales and Annette Island. The Hydaburg AWOS was down at the time. Peak wind at the Klawock Airport (39mph) was measured at 551pm. The highest sustained wind measured by the Kasaan FAA webcam was 31mph at 10am.

High Wind, Annette Island

When: January 9, 12:00 PM AKST to 9:10 PM AKST
Where: Annette Island forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 55.597, -132.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The mesonet station at the Annette Island Packing Company measured high winds during the afternoon and early evening of the 9th, including peak gusts of 68mph at 410pm. Other peak gusts across the island included 60mph at the Weather Service Office at 502pm, 86mph at the elevation site of Yellow Hill, 109mph at the elevation site of Chester Lake, and 63mph at the Walden Point mesonet station near the ferry terminal at 910pm.

High Wind, City and Borough of Sitka

When: January 9, 2:55 PM AKST to 6:08 PM AKST
Where: City and Borough of Sitka forecast zone
Measured: 66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 57.083, -135.269 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Sitka Airport ASOS measured high winds out of the east to southeast through the afternoon of the 9th along with moderate rain. The peak wind gust of 66kt (76mph) happened at 255pm followed by high sustained winds of around 40mph with a wind shift to the south around 5-6pm. The Sitka AML dock measured a peak gust of 50.2kt (58mph) at 551pm.

High Wind, Ketchikan Gateway Borough

When: January 9, 3:11 PM AKST to 9:30 PM AKST
Where: Ketchikan Gateway Borough forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 55.501, -131.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds were measured across the Ketchikan area through the afternoon and early evening of the 9th during a period of heavy rain. All of the Marine Exchange stations in Ketchikan reached high wind, first at the station across from the airport at 311pm and last at the Saxman location. The highest gust of 59.5kt (68mph) occurred at Ward Cove at 407pm. The Ketchikan Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 60mph at 631pm and a peak roof wind of 60kt. A power outage was reported in Saxman at 805pm.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alaska in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, January 2026

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: 1317546, 1317558, 1317547, 1317665, 1317666, 1317505, 1317486, 1317545, 1317504.