The National Weather Service (NWS) issued several winter weather alerts for Alaska, with some areas expected to get up to 20 inches of snow while parts of the state are experiencing unusually warm temperatures. Alaska, known for its extremely cold and snowy climate, has experienced some rare warm weather this month.
Officials at the National Weather Service have warned drivers that "severe winter weather conditions will make travel very hazardous."
The largest populated city in Alaska is still recovering from the hurricane-force winds that battered homes and infrastructure on Sunday, leaving thousands without power.
NWS Alaska meteorologist Tim Markle said the warnings are designed to let community members know when the cold weather presents a risk to the community. However, the old system set wind chill warnings and advisories, which were statewide in scope, and only kicked in when there was a wind chill.
It may be January, but the unusually warm, rainy weather feels more like spring breakup, and it's bringing the kind of flooding concerns also usually not seen in the Anchorage area until later in the year.
On Jan. 23, 1971, a weather observer at Prospect Creek Camp measured a temperature of minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
In this time when peak cold often arrives in the northern hemisphere, Alaska today celebrates the king-of-the-cold’s birthday.
Hatcher Pass Road continues to be closed right after the Skeetawk entrance because of avalanche concerns. Alaska State Parks said there have been avalanches across Palmer-Fishhook and Archangel Roads. It also said an avalanche has dammed the Little Sustina River, which is now flowing through Government Peak Campground.
Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Kenai Peninsula are under a flood watch from Friday morning through Monday morning.
As Anchorage navigates through a warmer-than-usual winter, meteorologists predict a continuation of the milder temperatures.
Expect temperatures to get warmer during the days through the weekend, but overnight lows will still be freezing for most of North and Central Florida.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — More rain fell Monday on parts of Southern California after causing mudflows over the weekend, helping firefighters but boosting the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas scorched by Los Angeles-area wildfires.