A southwesterly wind flow over Anchorage not only brings us snowfall but also a new record snowfall for the books! The previous Anchorage snowfall record set in 1954-55 was 132.6 inches. That record stood for 57 years but was surpassed today on Holy Saturday 2012 by almost 2 inches. Currently, we reached 134.5 inches. It has been a winter to remember! However, I know everyone who lives in the Anchorage Bowl is ready for summer, so if breaking the record does not psych you then our 7-day forecast will. Expect these snow showers to taper off early this evening with decreasing cloud cover bestowing clear skies by midnight to Anchorage. Thereafter, there will be morning patchy fog then mostly sunny skies for the rest of the day. This pattern of morning patchy fog and mostly sunny skies will repeat on Monday. Even better, the rest of the week will have mostly sunny to sunny skies with high temperatures in the 40s and low temperatures in the 20s. Snow measurements for today at KTVA station reached 3.5 inches, Anchorage accumulated 4.3 inches, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Elmendorf Airfield received 3.1 inches.

 An upper level trough and southwesterly winds bring snow showers to South Central today. For today and tomorrow there will be showers and winds over the West Coast and Southwest due to a Low just off the western horizon. Warm air will continue for the next three days over the Southeast and High pressure will dominate the Gulf of Alaska. By Monday the West Coast Low will move to the north and dissipate leaving only winds for the Seward Peninsula and the Southwest. High pressure will bring sunshine to South Central.

 Sunday will bring sunshine to the Southeast with high temperatures in the 50s. Truly, it is a perfect day for an Easter Egg Hunt! The Interior will have mostly cloudy skies. Barrow and Prudhoe Bay will have high temperatures at 4 and 5 degrees. Fairbanks and Denali will have high temperatures in the 40s. Expect strong winds to the West over Bethel and St. Mary’s. Anticipate showers for Nome, Bethel, and St. Mary’s. I predict cloudy skies everywhere except for McGrath with a little bit of sunshine. High temperatures will be in and around the mid-20s to the north ranging up to the 40s to the south. The Southwest contains the most severe weather with strong winds throughout. Expect strong winds for Dillingham and Unalaska and showers over the Southwest with cloudy skies. South Central will experience sunshine and few clouds with high temperatures ranging from the 30s to 40s.

 Enjoy the snow while it lasts because as time progresses sunshine will prevail. Drive carefully especially tonight and during this week because of wet and at other times frozen road surfaces. These are repeating daily hazardous conditions as wet snow falls and temperatures drop below freezing at night and increase above freezing during the day. Drive safely!