Anchorage could see up to 9 inches of snow starting Wednesday afternoon as a slow-rolling storm hits the area, the National Weather Service said.
Snow is expected to continue through early Thursday morning. Areas of the Anchorage Hillside could see 4 to 9 inches of snow, the weather service said. The Anchorage Bowl is expected to see 2 to 5 inches of snow, with more falling on the east side of town.
“It’s not going to be snowing really heavily, but it’s going to continue for some time,” said Adam Przepiora, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Anchorage.
Wind whipped across rooftops in Anchorage on Wednesday afternoon, sending snow swirling in drifts.
Winter weather continues for Southcentral through Thursday. For the latest forecast, visit https://t.co/9shRFYMbfM#AKwx pic.twitter.com/sRDNrSgh1o
— NWS Anchorage (@NWSAnchorage) March 11, 2021
Northwesterly wind gusts up to 30 mph are forecast for Anchorage and could cause localized areas of blowing snow, the weather service said. The winds could bring in cold air, dropping temperatures to minus 10 by Thursday morning.
North of Anchorage, the Mat-Su is expected to see 4 to 8 inches of snow from the storm, with much more possible in Hatcher Pass. Snow totals could be higher north of Talkeetna, the weather service said.
A mix of rain and snow in Seward and the Western Prince William Sound area was expected to transition to all snow by Wednesday night, the weather service said. Between 6 to 12 inches was expected along the Seward Highway between Girdwood and Turnagain Pass and toward Whittier, although the weather service said locally higher amounts are possible.
Northwest winds along Seward Highway through Turnagain Pass, and in Portage and Whittier are expected to cause blowing snow that will reduce visibility on Wednesday night and into Thursday , the weather service said.