ANCHORAGE; LOWER MATANUSKA VALLEY — * WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations up to 2 inches. Ice accumulations of a light glaze to a few hundredths of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph across parts of the Matanuska Valley.
* WHERE...Richardson Highway from mile marker 60 and south.
* WHEN...From noon today to 3 PM AKST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes. Across the Matanuska Valley, gusty winds could bring down a few tree branches. Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong storm system moving across the Gulf of Alaska will bring a mix of snow, freezing rain and rain to much of the Anchorage Bowl and Matanuska Valley between this afternoon and early Tuesday afternoon. Precipitation will likely start as all snow this afternoon, then begin mixing with freezing rain between Monday evening and early Tuesday morning. A transition to plain rain is possible by Tuesday morning as temperatures warm above freezing. Uncertainty for the timing of precipitation type transition remains high regarding a later transition to rain and freezing rain possibly leading to higher snowfall totals. However, if warmer air moves in quicker, there will be less in the way of snow and ice accumulations.
Winter weather in Anchorage; Lower Matanuska Valley makes roads dangerous, increases the risk of power loss, and can cause cold-related injury during outages. Stranded vehicles are a common hazard.
This report is based on information from NWS, monitored by Alert USA's verified emergency feed.
Expect a high chance of travel disruptions, elevated power-outage risk, and heating stress during any extended loss of service.
Recommended steps: avoid non-essential travel; keep heat sources clear and ventilated; have blankets and a way to charge a phone; check on family and neighbors.
Alert USA is tracking this winter storm and will update this report as verified information becomes available.
Verified by Alert USA • NWS