Heavy Rain and Mountain Snow Spread Across Alaska Through the Weekend

An active weather pattern is bringing a mix of rain and snow to much of Alaska through the weekend. Heavy precipitation is focused on Southcentral today, while mountain snow continues in the Alaska Range and lighter snow falls across western and northern areas. Rain will spread into Southeast Alaska by Saturday, with the overall pattern staying unsettled into early next week.

Heavy rain is falling across much of Southcentral today, with the greatest impacts near Seward where totals of 3 to 4 inches are possible and could lead to small stream and localized flooding. In the mountains, 7 to 15 inches of snow is expected in the Northern Susitna Valley including Broad Pass through this afternoon, while Thompson Pass could see 10 to 15 inches through much of Saturday. Precipitation will become more showery and less widespread by Halloween weekend.

Heavy mountain snow will continue this evening across the Alaska Range and affect travel along portions of the Parks Highway and the Richardson Highway south of Trims Camp through Saturday. Accumulations will be significant at higher elevations before the snow gradually winds down as the system weakens. Lower valleys north of the range should stay mostly dry.

Precipitation will transition to mainly snow overnight and into Saturday across western portions of the state. Through Saturday, 1 to 5 inches of snow is possible across the Seward Peninsula, north toward Kivalina, and the western Brooks Range, with amounts varying by elevation. On the North Slope and higher Brooks Range passes, including Atigun Pass, 1 to 3 inches is expected at lower elevations and 4 to 8 inches at higher elevations.

Quiet conditions will give way to rain starting tonight along the northeast Gulf Coast near Yakutat, where moderate to heavy amounts are expected. The rain will slowly push into the northern panhandle and Sitka on Saturday, then continue into the central and southern panhandle through Saturday night. Light snow of 2 to 4 inches is possible near White Pass and about an inch near Dalton Cache along the upper highways tonight through Saturday night, while the southern panhandle could see 1 to 2 inches of rain on Sunday.