Winter Weather — Susitna Valley, Alaska

2025-01-06 to 2025-01-07 · Susitna Valley, Alaska

Event narrative

The Talkeetna ASOS Station (PATK) reported light rain at 34F at 11:10 PM AKST. A CoCoRAHS observer/spotter along Oil Well Road southwest of Trapper Creek reported overflow and standing water on trails that made travel hazardous in the backcountry. Another CoCoRAHS observer near Talkeetna reported a mix of rain, sleet, and freezing rain that began on the morning of January 7th.

Wider weather episode

A series of weather systems impacted Southcentral from January 6th to January 7th. Southerly flow from a surface low brought warmer air into the region, increasing temperatures, particularly aloft, which made conditions favorable for mixed precipitation including freezing rain. A trough with its associated front pushed into the Southcentral coast the morning of the 6th, bringing heavy precipitation and even more warm air to Southcentral. Locations including Valdez, Thompson Pass, Anchorage, the Matanuska Valley and West Kenai Peninsula saw mixed precipitation including freezing rain that led to difficult driving conditions and accidents. This was followed by a strong low that pushed into the Gulf in the afternoon hours of the 6th, which brought hurricane force winds to Southcentral. The Anchorage Hillside, Portage, and East Turnagain Arm areas received very strong winds that gusted in excess of 75 mph.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1234078. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.