Anchorage Daily News

Whittier has gotten more than three feet of snow since 8 a.m. Wednesday, the Weather Service reported, and as much as four feet could be on the ground by Friday.

"We're inundated again this year," said city manager Mark Earnest. "We're running our road equipment -- it's been out since 5 o'clock this morning."

Snowfall the past couple of years has been above normal, he said.

Portage Valley got about three feet through this morning, and the top of the Alyeska Resort ski area got 32 inches of fresh powder, bringing snow depth to 18 feet, according to the service.

About 50 inches of snow has dropped on the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center at Mile 79 Seward Highway, according to director Mike Miller.

By midafternoon, snowfall had slowed in Whittier and Portage, but forecasters were expecting it to pick back up, with snow showers lingering through the night and into Friday.

"We still see more snow showers downstream, so it could pick back up at any time," said Neil Murakami, a Weather Service forecaster in Anchorage. "We are probably expecting snow showers through tonight."

Despite that, residents in Whittier were continuing life as usual, though the plows have been working overtime to keep up, Earnest said.

As much as six more inches could be in store for Whittier, he said.

"That we can deal with," Earnest said. "It's the two or three feet that's the problem."

The Weather Service is forecasting possible snow showers in Anchorage tonight.

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