Coldest winter temperatures in years are expected to arrive in the Alaska this week. Temperatures are likely to plummet and a deep winter chill is also predicted to move into South Central and the Interior.
The coldest temperatures are foreseen to start off beginning mid-week. Similarly, Alaska’s largest city, in the Anchorage area, mercury is expected to drop down and settle from the freezing -12°C to -25°C on Thursday morning. However, the weather will start warming up by the weekend.
As per the meteorologists, some parts of the East Anchorage area could also witness a -30°C. The reason decoded for this icy weather is said to be the air mass coming from the Arctic Circle.
According to the Meteorological Department, West Anchorage area as on Sunday, 3 p.m. has witnessed fresh snowfall measuring up to 4 inches. On the contrary, East Anchorage area also observed snowfall amounting to 5-6 inches during the similar time frame. Higher elevations along the mountains were expected to witness highest snow accumulations. Though, snow storm projected was 5-10 inches.
During the storm, Hatcher Pass in the Mat-Su Valley received 8 inches of snow. Similarly, 8 inches of snow was accumulated at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood while 13 inches was accrued at the hill top of the Glacier Bowl Express.
As of now, more freezing and bone-chilling weather is likely in the Brooks Range that can expect a minus 55°C while minus 45°C on the Chukchi Sea coast through Tuesday. Lows of minus 30°C is predicted in the Southwest Alaska’s communities like Aniak and Sleetmute.
The last time, a temperature of minus 15°C was observed in Anchorage at the Ted Stevens International Airport was in January 2012.
Image Credit: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson