Winter Storm in Wrn P.w. Snd & Kenai Mtns, Alaska

Office received reports from various backcountry organizations including the Department of Transportation of 16 inches of snow overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning at the summit of the pass. Another 10 inches was reported after that by another forecaster. Road conditions were hazardous from 700 feet to 1000 feet in elevation with water streaming down over ice and slush. Ice breaking down made the road feel like gravel and pot-holes. Plows were working hard to keep up with the snowfall rates. Visibility at the top was reduced to 1/4 to 1/2 mile at times due to heavy snow rates, resuspension from trucks, and wind.

A storm system moving northeastward through the Gulf of Alaska sent heavy precipitation in the form of heavy snow to the Copper River Basin and Prince William Sound area as it ran into Arctic air already in place.