Anchorage, Alaska – Icy roads and possible power disruptions could begin within hours Monday as freezing rain spreads across western and southwestern Alaska, coating surfaces with up to one tenth of an inch of ice.
According to the National Weather Service in Anchorage, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. Monday to 3 a.m. Tuesday for Bristol Bay Borough, including Naknek and King Salmon, as well as Lake Iliamna and the Northern Alaska Peninsula. Farther west, including Bethel, Aniak, Kipnuk, Toksook Bay, Goodnews Bay and Platinum, advisories run from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday.
Warm onshore flow will push temperatures into the low to mid 30s by Monday, allowing freezing rain to develop early in the day. Ice accumulations up to 0.10 inches are expected, with up to 1 inch of snow mixing in at times. By Monday night, winds will shift northerly, pulling colder air back into the region and changing precipitation to snow.
Even a light glaze can make untreated roads, boardwalks and airstrips extremely slick. Rural travel routes and community access roads across the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay may become hazardous quickly.
Residents should delay non-essential travel, secure backup heat sources and prepare for isolated outages. Conditions should gradually improve after early Tuesday as colder air settles in, though slick spots may linger.
