Heavy snow and freezing rain lead to power outages affecting thousands in Interior Alaska

A weekend storm brought heavy snow and freezing rain to Interior Alaska and caused power outages affecting thousands of people from Fairbanks to Healy.

By 8 a.m. Monday, 169 outages were affecting more than 9,000 users, according to the Golden Valley Electric Association’s outage map. More than 14,000 users had been impacted Sunday night.

Golden Valley said on Facebook that hazardous road conditions made it difficult for crews to make repairs. Trees heavy with ice fell on power lines throughout the region, the collective said.

The storm began Saturday in the Interior, with up to three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulation expected by Monday morning, according to a winter weather advisory that was scheduled to remain in place until noon.

“Winds and freezing rain will end this afternoon and conditions will improve then,” the advisory said. “Cooler temperatures this afternoon will cause water on roads to freeze.”

Heavy snow hit the region, with more than 14 inches reported in Denali Park and 8.4 to 9.5 inches in Fairbanks by Sunday morning, the weather service said. An additional 4 to 8 inches of snow was expected by Monday.

The weather service on Facebook also described the potential for increasing winds Sunday night and early Monday “to cause problems with ice accumulated on trees and power lines.”

Road conditions surrounding Fairbanks were described as hazardous Sunday afternoon and into Monday by the state Department of Transportation. Deep, drifting snow and black ice were reported among other conditions.

The Parks Highway was closed in both directions Sunday night between Nenana and Healy because of dangerous conditions, Alaska State Troopers said in an online statement. The highway was reopened around 4:30 a.m. Monday.

“If you live in Interior Alaska, please do not drive unless it is absolutely necessary,” troopers wrote, describing multiple vehicles in the ditch.

The Elliott Highway was closed Monday morning after about Mile 73, near the Dalton Highway turnoff.

Freezing rain also fell in parts of Southcentral Alaska on Sunday, contributing to icy roads.

Driving conditions on the Glenn and Parks highways near Wasilla and Palmer were described as very difficult Monday morning, according to the transportation department. Black ice and plowed snow was on the roadways.

The rain would likely leave a hard layer on top of the snow, Christensen said.

Avalanche danger was high on Sunday and into Monday at all elevations in Hatcher Pass and travel within avalanche terrain was not recommended, according to the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center. The heavier rainfall amounts in the area mixed with strong winds were expected to overload an already-weak snowpack, the avalanche center said.

Avalanche danger was moderate at all elevations in Turnagain Pass on Monday, according to the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center.

Roof avalanches were possible Monday, the center said.