Freezing rain expected to make Anchorage roads slick this weekend

Freezing rain is forecast to move through Anchorage this weekend and create icy roads.

Storms moving into the Gulf of Alaska are expected to push a warm front into the coast, leading to periods of light rain and freezing rain from Saturday until Monday, according to an alert issued by the National Weather Service on Friday.

Rain or freezing rain is most likely to fall from Saturday night into Sunday morning near sea level in Anchorage, especially on the east side of the city, the Western Kenai Peninsula east of Soldotna and near Palmer, forecasters said.

Surface temperatures in Anchorage are expected to reach above freezing, ranging from 30 to 34 degrees, so rain is unlikely to freeze onto powerlines or trees, but could create icy surfaces on roads or areas with snow, said meteorologist Joshua Ribail.

The precipitation is the start of a weather pattern that could last until the end of the month, Ribail said. There is a chance it could shift over to snow, rather than rain, next week, he said.

Anchorage has seen below-average snowfall this season, Ribail said. There has been 28 inches of snow so far this season, but that total is generally in the 30s by this time of year, he said. Anchorage experienced record-breaking amounts of snow during the last few years.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.