Alaska News

Weekend forecast calls for snow — at least in the mountains

It may be summer in Alaska, but winter is making a brief return, at least to the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

"After a stretch of summerlike heat and dry days over much of Southcentral Alaska this month... a powerful blast of cold arctic air will move over Southcentral Alaska tomorrow," the weather service said in a Friday morning forecast. A low pressure system is sweeping in cold air from the west.

Beginning Friday evening and into Saturday morning, the agency said, snowlines could drop to 2,500 or even 2,000 feet in mountains and ranging from the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys to the Kenai Peninsula.

Until now, the remnants of winter snow had been melting slowly but surely from the mountains.

"Basically, it's all gonna take a little bit more time," said Michael Kutz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Anchorage.

With snow possible in popular hiking and recreation areas Saturday, forecasters warned against an increased risk of hypothermia and urged outdoor travelers to prepare.

Keep tabs on weather conditions at www.weather.gov/anchorage and www.weather.gov/anchorage/mobile.

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