Winter Storm Warning Issued for Haines and Haines Highway; Up to 8 Inches of Snow Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Juneau has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the northern inner channels of Alaska. The alert is effective starting at midnight tonight and remains in place until 3:00 PM AKST on Thursday, February 12.

Affected Areas

The warning primary impacts Haines Borough and Klukwan, specifically focusing on Haines and the Haines Highway. While the Klondike Highway and Skagway are mentioned as seeing lesser rates, the primary warning area remains the Haines Highway corridor.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to prepare their property before the onset of winter weather. If travel is necessary, the National Weather Service advises keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. For the latest road conditions, residents can call 511 or visit 511.alaska.gov.

Expected Conditions

A storm force system moving into the panhandle is expected to bring heavy snow. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are forecast. Precipitation may begin as rain or a rain/snow mix before transitioning to all snow as precipitation rates increase. There is a 30-50% chance that snow rates will exceed one inch per hour during the early morning hours of Thursday for Haines and the Haines Highway. Travel is expected to be very difficult due to these conditions.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from midnight tonight, February 12, through 3:00 PM AKST Thursday. The heaviest snow rates are anticipated during the early morning hours of Thursday.