Anchorage, Alaska – Travel across Southcentral Alaska is becoming increasingly difficult as a prolonged winter weather event brings snow, blowing snow, and sharply reduced visibility from the Kenai Peninsula through Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valleys, with impacts lasting into midweek.
According to the National Weather Service in Anchorage, Winter Weather Advisories are in effect across much of the region beginning late Sunday night. On the Kenai Peninsula, 4 to 10 inches of snow is expected overnight into Monday morning, with northerly winds gusting 20 to 30 mph causing blowing and drifting snow. The worst conditions are expected along Cook Inlet coastal areas, including the Sterling Highway from Anchor Point to Clam Gulch, Kalifornsky Beach Road, and areas from Kenai to Nikiski, where visibility may drop to a half mile or less.
Farther north, Anchorage, Eagle River, the Matanuska Valley, and the Susitna Valley are entering a multi-day snow event. Two rounds of snowfall are expected, with light snow overnight into Monday morning followed by a second, longer-lasting round that persists through Wednesday morning. Total accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are likely, with higher amounts near Hatcher Pass and the Anchorage Hillside. Gusty winds will loft light, powdery snow, creating sudden whiteout conditions on area roads.
Additional advisories are posted for Turnagain Pass, Portage, Thompson Pass, and Cordova, where blowing snow and wind gusts up to 40 to 45 mph will further complicate travel. Officials urge delaying non-essential travel, especially during the Monday morning commute. Snowfall may briefly ease Monday afternoon, but hazardous conditions are expected to redevelop and linger through Wednesday as additional snow moves back into the region.
