Alaska News

Looks like a white -- and windy -- Christmas in parts of Alaska

Parts of Alaska could see some heavy snow and winter storms over Christmas weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Portage Valley and Turnagain Pass, with forecast 13 to 26 inches of snow forecast. The highest accumulation will likely fall in the Turnagain Pass and Girdwood areas.

In some areas, visibility could be less than a half-mile with heavy and blowing snow.

The warning is in effect from 9 a.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday, the weather service said.

The Anchorage Bowl can expect flurries gusts up to 50 miles per hour at higher elevations and along Turnagain Arm. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 15 degrees and isolated snow showers are expected in the evening.

A blizzard warning for the Bethel area, which was in effect Thursday morning, was canceled by NWS in the afternoon, although strong wind was forecast through Friday afternoon.

A storm warning for the Yukon Delta was still valid Thursday evening. Gusts blowing up to 40 miles per hour are forecast until Friday.

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NWS also issued a high wind warning for the Bristol Bay region from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Winds could reach up to 75 miles per hour, NWS said.

Winter storm watches are also in effect for much of Southeast.

Near Juneau and Haines, four to 10 inches of snow will start piling up Friday evening and intensify overnight, according to the weather service. The snowfall will relent Saturday morning, it said.

See all the current Alaska weather warnings and advisories here.

Megan Edge

Megan Edge is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News.

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