Freezing rain is causing dangerous driving conditions, and prompted the Anchorage School District to cancel Thursday's after-school activities because of "deteriorating weather and road conditions."
"The Seward Highway is EXTREMELY slick around the Potter Scales. Please take it slow while driving," the Anchorage Police Department said in an alert.
"Very difficult driving conditions" were also reported on the Seward Highway from Rabbit Creek Road to Ingra Street on Thursday afternoon, with mixed rain and snow and slick roadway surfaces.
A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service is in effect in Anchorage until 1 a.m. Friday. Additional ice accumulation of about one-tenth of an inch is expected.
Travel was expected to be especially difficult during the evening commute, the weather service said.
As of 7 p.m. Thursday, the Anchorage Police Department had received reports of three crashes with injuries, seven non-injury crashes and 18 vehicles in distress, according to spokeswoman Renee Oistad.
The freezing rain is expected to be intermittent. Some areas of the Anchorage Bowl will be above freezing and may see rain, not sleet.
"However, rain on top of icy local roads will make for hazardous driving conditions," the weather service said.
For the latest on road conditions, call 511 or visit 511.alaska.gov.
The Anchorage Daily News' Laurel Andrews contributed to this report.