Alaska’s Kuskokwim Delta is bracing for a slick and icy start to the workweek as freezing rain moves in by 5 a.m. Monday. Roads, boardwalks, and village airstrips around Bethel could glaze quickly as temperatures hover in the low to mid-30s. Even a thin layer of ice can turn routine travel into a serious hazard.
The National Weather Service in Anchorage has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday for the Kuskokwim Delta Coast, Nunivak Island, and Kuskokwim Valley West. Forecasters expect up to 1 inch of snow and as much as one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation. That amount of freezing rain is enough to coat untreated surfaces and make travel very difficult.
Warm onshore flow will push temperatures slightly above freezing during the day Monday. Freezing rain is expected early, then mix with snow by evening. As winds shift northerly Monday night, colder air returns and precipitation transitions to all snow into Tuesday.
Communities including Bethel, Kasigluk, Aniak, Kwethluk, Kipnuk, Mekoryuk, and Toksook Bay should prepare for slippery conditions on runways and village roads. Slow down. Allow extra time. Check on elders who may need assistance navigating icy walkways.
Conditions improve as colder air settles in Tuesday, but icy buildup may linger. Additional advisories could be issued if ice amounts trend higher.
