Forecasters with the National Weather Service are warning that wind and snow from a powerful storm system moving out of the Pacific Ocean could make for difficult travel conditions south of Anchorage area by Saturday night. Little snow is being forecast for Anchorage.
The Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for blowing snow in Turnagain Arm and the eastern Kenai Peninsula from 5 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday, ahead of storm system expected to generate 4 to 9 inches of snow, wind gusts up to 35 mph, and visibility reduced to a half-mile at times. Portage and Whittier can expect wet snow, NWS meteorologist Perry Dehne said.
The storm was forecast to produce less than a half-inch of snow in Anchorage starting Sunday evening, the weather service said.
The same storm is expected to produce high wind gusts and blizzard conditions in the Aleutian Islands and Southwest Alaska.
NWS was forecasting high winds for the Aleutians followed by possible blizzard conditions for Southwest Alaska late Friday into Saturday, according to an alert issued Friday morning.
The weather service was forecasting snow and wind for the Kuskokwim Delta coastline Friday afternoon. Predictions were for strong southeast winds gusting to 35 mph, up to 4 inches of new snow and diminished visibility.
The strongest winds, up to 80 mph, were expected to start in the Aleutian Islands Friday night and spread to Dutch Harbor and the Alaska Peninsula through Saturday night, according to meteorologist Dave Kochevar. Blizzard conditions were possible inland north of King Salmon to the Kuskokwim Saturday.
A separate storm had left about a half inch of snow in Anchorage as of Friday morning without much more expected, Kochevar said.
Southcentral's snow totals this season are far below average. Since July, the Weather Service has recorded 3.4 inches compared to 18.2 inches average.