Winter Weather — Anchorage, Alaska

2024-12-04 to 2024-12-06 · Anchorage, Alaska

Event narrative

NWS employees reported slick back roads across Anchorage the morning of December 5th. Ice accumulated on trees, bushes, and power lines on the south edge of Midtown. Temperatures dropped below freezing overnight December 5th into December 6th which prompted refreezing of water on roadways, creating additional slick road conditions.

Wider weather episode

In early December, a north Pacific low tracked into Southcentral Alaska, shifting winds southerly and increasing temperatures and precipitation chances. Temperatures aloft rose above freezing while surface temperatures remained below freezing in the Anchorage and Mat-Su Valley regions. This had the effect of transitioning precipitation that fell into freezing rain. Roads across the aforementioned regions became slick, particularly in neighborhoods and back roads that had prior snow/ice cover. A fatal accident off the Parks Highway occurred with State Troopers noting that weather was a major factor.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1229831. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.