Arctic High pressure remained over the eastern Yukon on the night of 12/8 which supported a stationary arctic front over the northern Panhandle. This combined with a 958 MB storm force low that moved into the western Gulf of Alaska on on the evening of 12/8 to cause both high wind and heavy snow for much of SE Alaska. Rare blizzard conditions persisted during the nighttime hours into 12/9 over the Klondike Highway and Haines areas during this storm. Storm totals of snow ranged from around 9 inches to 18 inches. The highest wind estimate was around 75 MPH.

High Wind in CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO CAPE SUCKLING COASTAL AREA, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 15:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 00:00:00 (AKST-9)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Buoy

In the middle of a significant snow storm, the Cape Suckling buoy indicated a strong east wind for the western part of the area starting around 1500 AKST on 12/8. Several gusts to 52 KT were observed there and the NCEP analysis at 2100 AKST showed that strong winds did occur over land west of Icy Bay.

Heavy Snow in HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 18:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Haines Customs had 18.0 inches of new snow for 24 hours ending at 0800 on 12/9 and 7.0 inches ending at at 0800 on 12/10. This storm was also a blizzard with white out conditions, plus blowing and drifting snow in 35 MPH winds.

Blizzard in HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL, ALASKA
From 09-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 18:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Haines Customs had 18.0 inches of new snow for 24 hours ending at 0800 on 12/9 and 7.0 inches ending at at 0800 on 12/10. This storm was also a blizzard with white out conditions, plus blowing and drifting snow in 35 MPH winds.

Heavy Snow in EASTERN CHICHAGOF ISLAND, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 12:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Hoonah measured 9.8 inches of new snow between 0200 and 0800 AKST 12/9.

High Wind in CAPE DECISION TO SALISBURY SOUND COASTAL AREA, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 12:00:00 (AKST-9)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The outer coast had winds around 60 MPH late on the night of 12/8 and during the early morning hours of 12/9. Although the Sitka airport only had 47 MPH, NCEP analysis showed strong surface pressure gradients which certainly caused headland winds to 60 MPH ahead of the front.

Heavy Snow in CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO CAPE SUCKLING COASTAL AREA, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 06:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The NWS office in Yakutat measured 5.2 inches of new snowfall during the evening of 12/8 and 4.0 inches of new snow between 0000 and 0600 AKST on 12/9 for a storm total of 9.2 inches in 12 hours.

Blizzard in TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY, ALASKA
From 09-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 18:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

In the early morning hours of 12/9, the Klondike Highway had blizzard conditions as extrapolated from the observations at the Skagway Airport. 4 inches of new snow fell on 12/9 at the power plant while frequent winds to 35 MPH occurred toward the pass. By the persistent visibility of 1 mile in snow and blowing snow in town, the Klondike Highway certainly had white out conditions throughout the day on 12/9.

Heavy Snow in JUNEAU BOROUGH AND NORTHERN ADMIRALTY ISLAND, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 09-DEC-08 18:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Juneau had one of the worst snowstorms of the season on 12/9. The cooperative observer at mile 17 measured 17.8 inches of new snowfall at 0700 AKST on 12/9. Snow did not begin until the evening of 12/8 and heavy snow was not observed at the airport until late. A peak wind of 30 MPH was observed at the airport on 12/9 which had 10.7 inches of new snow. Most recorded amounts were in the 10 to 15 inches range.

High Wind in DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION COASTAL AREA, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 22:36:00 to 09-DEC-08 03:00:00 (AKST-9)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The Hydaburg seaplane base observed gusts to 51 KT at 2236 AKST on 12/9. Coastal headlands probably had wind speeds to 75 MPH at that time.

High Wind in SALISBURY SOUND TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER COASTAL AREA, ALASKA
From 08-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 10-DEC-08 09:00:00 (AKST-9)
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

The automated observation at Cape Spencer indicated that quite a wind storm persisted along the outer coast from the night of 12/8 well into 12/10. E wind with gusts estimated at 65 KT shifted to SW then W that Tuesday.