Dec. 21 – 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, leading to periods of light rain and freezing rain beginning Saturday morning, according to a National Weather Service warning.
“Areas of light freezing rain are possible in the Anchorage Bowl and Matanuska Valley south and west of Wasilla (Saturday),” the weather service said. “Any freezing rain that falls in these areas will be very light in intensity but may result in a light glaze of ice on untreated surfaces and cold roads without snow cover.”
Light sleet could fall again Saturday afternoon and evening, the weather service 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.
