December 20 – Freezing rain is forecast to move through Anchorage this weekend, creating icy roads.
Storms moving into the Gulf of Alaska are expected to push a warm front into the coast, bringing periods of light rain and freezing rain Saturday through Monday, according to a National Weather Service warning on Friday.
Rain or freezing rain is most likely Saturday night through Sunday morning at sea level in Anchorage, especially on the east side of the city, on the western Kenai Peninsula east of Soldotna and near Palmer, forecasters said.
Surface temperatures in Anchorage are expected to be above freezing, ranging from 30 to 34 degrees. So rain is unlikely to freeze on power lines or trees, but could cause icy surfaces on roads or areas with snow, meteorologist Joshua Ribail said.
The precipitation marks the start of a weather pattern that could last until the end of the month, Ribail said. There’s a chance it could change to snow instead of rain next week, he said.
Anchorage has seen below-average snowfall this season, Ribail said. There has been 28 inches of snow so far this season, but by this time of year that total will be around 30 inches, he said. Anchorage has experienced record amounts of snow in recent years.
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
