Schools in Anchorage and Mat-Su closed as snow and rain continue to fall in Southcentral Alaska

The Anchorage and Mat-Su school districts announced school closures Wednesday as fresh snow and a drizzly rain that caused mayhem on Anchorage roads Monday and Tuesday is forecast to continue Wednesday.

A winter weather advisory for the Anchorage area, warning of snow, rain and freezing rain, remains in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday, but rain will continue into the day.

Anchorage will likely get 2 to 4 inches of snow through Wednesday, although higher totals are possible along the Glenn Highway and Upper Hillside.

Driving conditions were considered difficult by the Department of Transportation in and north of Anchorage. Portions of the Seward Highway were also described as difficult. Roads had frozen slush, ice glaze and snow.

“A southeasterly Turnagain Arm wind is expected to move across the western half of Anchorage by midmorning, allowing temperatures to climb above freezing,” the advisory said. “Temperatures along the Upper Hillside will also climb above freezing through the morning hours as southeasterly winds increase.”

The snowfall will turn to rain by mid to late morning in Anchorage and continue into the afternoon, the advisory said. Temperatures are expected to drop in the evening, changing precipitation back to snow before tapering off.

The Matanuska Valley is forecast to get 4 to 8 inches of snow, according to a winter weather advisory that remains in effect until 5 p.m. Wednesday. The Susitna Valley could get up to 10 inches.

Another storm system is expected to move into Southcentral Alaska on Thursday afternoon or evening, the Weather Service says.

Hatcher Pass in Mat-Su was expected to receive 12 to 18 inches of new snow Wednesday, the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center reported. Avalanche danger was high and the center said it would be very likely to trigger an avalanche. Hatcher Pass Road closed Monday night near Mile 11 due to increasing avalanche risk and will remain closed until at least Friday.

The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center said danger throughout the Turnagain Pass area was considerable at all elevation levels on Wednesday.