Anchorage, AK – Snow and 50 mph wind gusts will slam Whittier by 7 p.m. Wednesday, reducing visibility to as low as one-half mile and making travel difficult through Thursday afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service in Anchorage, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 7 p.m. tonight until 4 p.m. Thursday for Whittier and western Prince William Sound. Snowfall totals between 2 and 5 inches combined with strong westerly winds will create blowing snow and hazardous driving conditions, especially along the Seward Highway corridor into Whittier.
Across western Alaska, including Kotzebue, Nome-region communities, and the Yukon Delta Coast, lighter snowfall under 1 inch is expected, but wind gusts between 40 and 45 mph will create widespread blowing snow through early Thursday or Friday. Visibility may drop below one-half mile at times, impacting rural travel routes and air transport.
In Southeast Alaska, a prolonged stretch of snow showers is producing significantly higher totals. Communities including Juneau, Sitka, and Petersburg could see 6 to 13 inches through early Friday, with localized totals up to 16 inches. Snowfall rates may reach 1 inch per hour in heavier bands, briefly cutting visibility to near zero.
Travel by road, air, and ferry routes may face disruptions statewide. Residents are urged to delay non-essential travel, carry emergency supplies, and check Alaska 511 for real-time road updates.
Conditions may briefly ease Friday before another round of snow moves into the Panhandle this weekend, with additional advisories or warnings possible.
