I’ll start things off by going over the advisories and warnings currently affecting south central. 

There is a BLIZZARD WARNING in effect until 5 AM for Portage Valley and the Turnagain Arm.  Wind gusts to 55 MPH and 5 to 10 inches of snow could bring visibility levels down to zero at times.  Be careful!

There is a HIGH WIND WARNING in effect until 7 AM for the Turnagain Arm and higher elevations around Anchorage.  Wind gusts could reach 80 mph.

There is a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY in effect until 4 AM for areas north and west of Talkeetna in the Susitna Valley.  Expect 5 to 10 inches of snowfall. 

For Friday in south central skies will be cloud with rain and snow for much of the day around the Prince William Sound, eastern and southern Kenai Peninsula, and the Susitna Valley.  Conditions will remain windy over the higher elevations, Turnagain Arm, and Portage Valley for the first half of the day.  As those southeasterly winds diminish and this system moves eastward the Matanuska Valley, Anchorage Bowl, and western Kenai Peninsula could pick up a couple of inches of snow on the backside of the system.  By Saturday some sunshine will return, but enjoy it because by Sunday and Monday snow will return to the region.  In the southeast snow and rain will move in for Friday.  There will be widespread snow in the morning changing over to rain by the afternoon for most of the southeast.  The weather will calm down a bit out west for Friday.  Into the Interior and North Slope skies will be cloudy with scattered snow showers. 

7 Day Forecast For Anchorage

Overnight will be windy on the Hillside and along the Turnagain Arm with gusts to 80 MPH.  Skies will be cloudy with isolated snow showers and lows in the upper 20s to low 30s.  Friday the winds will diminish by the afternoon on the Hillside and along the Turnagain Arm.  We could see some light snow late in the day adding up to 1 or 2 inches.  Highs will be in the low to mid 30s early dropping by the afternoon hours.  Saturday looks great with partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 20s.  Sunday and Monday snow will return with highs in the upper 20s.  Tuesday will be mostly sunny with highs in the 20s.  We could see some more snow showers for Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the upper 20s. 

Precipitation totals from around the state over the past 24 hours ending at 4 PM Thursday.  This includes rain and melted snow.

Anchorage NWS Sand Lake – Trace

Annette – Trace

Barrow Airport – 0.02’’

Bethel – 0.46’’

Bettles – 0.01’’

Cold Bay – 0.61’’

Dutch Harbor – 0.70’’

Fairbanks Airport – Trace

Homer – 0.10’’

Kenai – 0.03’’

King Salmon – 0.27’’

Kodiak – 0.47’’

Kotzebue – Trace

McGrath – 0.04’’

Nome – 0.03’’

Palmer – Trace

Saint Paul Island – 0.34’’

Seward – 0.14’’

Talkeetna – 0.01’’

Alaska extremes for Thursday as of 4 PM.  The hot spots the past 12 hours were Dutch Harbor and Port Heiden where it hit 54 degrees.  The cold spot the past 24 hours was Northway where it dipped to –24 degrees.