Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Winter Storm Warning issued December 30 at 12:15AM AKST until December 31 at 12:00PM AKST by NWS Juneau AK

...SNOW CONTINUES FOR THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE INTO MID WEEK... .Snowfall and periods of freezing rain continue for much of the northern half of the panhandle from Juneau and Icy Strait corridor area northward. The rain/snow line has moved southward, sitting just south of Tenakee Springs and Elfin Cove Monday evening. Snow totals have so far been around 15 to 47 inches across the northern panhandle. A low in the gulf is continuing to send surges of moisture into the panhandle with another surge expected to arrive for the northern inner channels late Monday night, bringing more renewed snowfall rates with it. Following this will be a slight decrease in snow rates Tuesday before a second wave of moisture is expected for late Tuesday night. Into Wednesday precip rates should then start to diminish. The rain/snow line will be wavering south of the Icy Strait area through this entire time period. Please stay tuned to future updates on this impactful storm. Strong winds for Skagway and along the Klondike Highway will bring areas of blowing and drifting snow, with significant reductions in visibility down to a half mile or less through Tuesday morning. * WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 15 to 21 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph for Haines and as high as 55 mph for Skagway through Tuesday morning, leading to areas of blowing and drifting snow and and greatly reducing visibility. * WHERE...Municipality of Skagway, Haines Borough and Klukwan. * WHEN...Until noon AKST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult. The cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Areas of blowing and drifting snow will lead to greatly reduced visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow will be dry and fluffy in nature. Snowfall rates will pick up again late Monday night, diminish on Tuesday, then pick back up again Tuesday night as a series of waves moves through, though these will be weaker than previous waves.