The National Weather Service was predicting up to 4 inches of snow in parts of Anchorage Monday, along with mixed rain and snow in the city and north in the Mat-Su. "Significant travel impacts" could be possible Monday as a result, the agency reported.
With lows in the low- to mid-30s Sunday night, the Weather Service was calling for the most snow at higher elevations, including up to 2 inches of accumulation on the Anchorage Hillside into Monday morning, with the bulk of snowfall expected to occur between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday.
"Significant travel impacts in the form of slick roads and sidewalks are possible Monday across the Anchorage Bowl and Hillside as a strong cold front pushes north up Cook Inlet," the NWS reported in a special weather statement Sunday evening.
With temperatures Monday predicted to be in the low- to mid-40s, the snow may not stick around, though if it falls fast enough, it will begin piling up quickly, the NWS warned.
"Snowfall rates will have to exceed 1 inch per hour in order to overcome surface melting," the NWS said.
The agency reported that there is "lower confidence" about the amount of snow that could fall in the Matanuska Valley, and much depends on how the weather develops over Anchorage.
"The current thinking is that the Matanuska Valley will see snow amounts generally up to 1 inch," the NWS said, "while locations along the Susitna Valley may see accumulations up to 4 inches."
If the snow does indeed stick, it was expected to impact travel on roads and sidewalks in the area. "Travelers are encouraged to use extra caution," the NWS reported.
The forecast calls for potential snow and rain showers into Tuesday night in Anchorage.