Quite the snow storm that moved into south central the past 24 hours.  Outside of Valdez the highest amounts of snow were found in a narrow band from Kasilof to the south to the Matanuska Valley in the north.  Snow totals in this band ranged from about 3’’ to 12’’.  This snow was associated with an upper level disturbance that just parked itself right over the region. What looked like it was going to be a small snowfall turned into a pretty big one for some of us.  This was a really dry snow though.  The 5.2’’ that fell since midnight at the NWS Office in Anchorage melted down to only 0.16’’.  That’s not a lot of water content for more than 5 inches of snow.  The general rule used is that 1 inch or rain usually equates to about 12 inches of snow.  This can obviously vary under different atmospheric circumstances. 

Okay.  So we are done with the snow for the time being.  Drier and sunnier weather will return to south central on Friday.  Our next system will arrive Saturday.  This one is not going to be a big snow maker for the Matanuska Valley, Anchorage Bowl, and western Kenai Peninsula.  Why?  The onshore flow with this system will be out of the southeast putting these regions under the rain/snow shadow.  We will likely see some higher winds on the Hillside and along the Turnagain Arm that will warm us back up into the 30s in the bowl this weekend.  Throughout the Prince William Sound and eastern Kenai Peninsula you will see snow possibly mixing with some rain at the lower elevations throughout the weekend. 

In the southeast you will likely see gray skies and rain and snow much of the weekend.  No real surprises there.  Out west you will see milder temps heading your way with occasional snow and rain showers.  Up towards the Interior and North Slope weather should be relatively quiet the next few days.  

7 Day Forecast For Anchorage 

Overnight will be mostly cloudy with areas of fog developing and lows ranging from -5 to 5 above.  Friday we will see some fog in the morning giving way to partly cloudy skies and highs in the teens.  Saturday clouds will return and temps will begin to warm again.  Highs will be near 30 with winds increasing on the Hillside and along the Turnagain Arm.  Sunday and Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be mild with highs in the 30s.  Skies will be mostly cloudy with nothing more than an isolated showers possible.  Tuesday through Thursday will be mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers possible and highs near 30.