A major snowstorm buried SE Alaska from the night of 12/25 persisting to the early morning of 12/27. A secondary gale force low developed in the western Gulf of Alaska on the afternoon of 12/25, and it became the main surface low in the central Gulf on the morning of 12/26. This system caused a strong front to move over the Panhandle on the 12/26 with plenty of moisture where it stalled on the 27th and 28th. Storm total snwo accumulations ranged from one to two feet during this storm.

Heavy Snow in GLACIER BAY, ALASKA
From 25-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 26-DEC-08 15:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Glacier Bay cooperative observer measured 6.5 inches of new snow for 24 hours ending at 0800 AKST on 10/26. This snow fell the previous night. Glacier Bay had 10.0 inches new on 12/27 ending at 0800. Gustavus airport AWOS showed that the heaviest snow ended on the afternoon of 10/26.

Heavy Snow in EASTERN CHICHAGOF ISLAND, ALASKA
From 25-DEC-08 23:00:00 to 26-DEC-08 15:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hoonah did not get much snow during this storm. Tenakee Springs did not report. Hidden Falls hatchery to the south of the area got 13 inches of new snow in 24 hours ending at 1700 AKST on 12/26.

Heavy Snow in SALISBURY SOUND TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER COASTAL AREA, ALASKA
From 25-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 27-DEC-08 06:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The Gulf coast around Cross Sound got buried in snow with this storm. The cooperative observer at Pelican measured 7.0 inches of new snowfall for 24 hours ending at 0800 AKST 12/26, 9.0 inches new on 12/27. Additionally a snow advisory was issued for 12/28 and 10.0 inches new resulted. Storm total was 26 inches with 32 inches on the ground at the end of the storm.

Heavy Snow in EASTERN BARANOF ISLAND AND SOUTHERN ADMIRALTY ISLAND, ALASKA
From 26-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-08 15:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hidden Falls hatchery measured 13.0 inches of new snow in 24 hours ending at 1700 AKST on 12/26.

Heavy Snow in JUNEAU BOROUGH AND NORTHERN ADMIRALTY ISLAND, ALASKA
From 25-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 27-DEC-08 06:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Trained spotters ranged from storm totals of 8 to 19 inches new snow for 12/26 through 12/28. The airport measured 11.2 inches. The Forecast Office measured a storm total of 8.5 inches and Lemmon creek had 9.7 inches.

Heavy Snow in INNER CHANNELS FROM KUPREANOF ISLAND TO ETOLIN ISLAND, ALASKA
From 26-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-08 18:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured a storm total of 11.0 inches new snow for 24 hours ending at 0800 AKST on 12/27. Petersburg airport got 12.5 inches 12/26 through 12/28 from this storm. The heaviest snow occurred on Friday, 12/26. Wrangell measured 6.0 inches on 12/26.

Heavy Snow in MISTY FJORDS, ALASKA
From 26-DEC-08 03:00:00 to 26-DEC-08 21:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

The Hyder NWS cooperative observer was not available for December. Based on analyses and observations of heavy snow at Stewart, British Columbia, it was estimated that over a foot of new snow fell during this storm.

Heavy Snow in CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO CAPE SUCKLING COASTAL AREA, ALASKA
From 25-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 27-DEC-08 06:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Yakutat office measured 6.5 inches of new snow during the evening of 12/25, then 15.9 inches of new additional snow midnight to midnight on 12/26. During the early morning of 12/27, Yakutat measured an additional 1.7 inches of new snow. Outlying areas were estimated to have received even greater amounts.

Heavy Snow in TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY, ALASKA
From 26-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 27-DEC-08 06:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The Klondike Highway had heavy snow on 12/26 with near blizzard conditions with blowing and drifting snow. The snowfall had low liquid content which made measurements nearly impossible with wind gusts to 37 MPH. The customs tried to measure and got 4.2 inches new on 12/26. It was estimated that well over a foot fell in this storm. ASOS observations at the airport showed that the snow persisted into 12/27.

Heavy Snow in HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL, ALASKA
From 26-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 27-DEC-08 06:00:00 (AKST-9)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The town of Haines was buried in this event. The downtown cooperative observer measured 17.3 inches of new snowfall for 24 hours ending at 0800 on 12/26 and 12.7 inches of new snow on 12/27. Plows were busy with 30 inches of snow to remove.