Drivers Warned of Tough Journey Situations as Summer time Snow Anticipated

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists in Fairbanks, Alaska, warned some drivers of inauspicious journey situations as 2 inches of snow is anticipated between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning.

Why It Matters

The finish of summer season has contrasting climate throughout the U.S., with the Pacific Northwest battling dangerously sizzling temperatures, whereas a chilly entrance brings extra fall-like climate to a lot of the remainder of the U.S. Meanwhile, components of Alaska are underneath a winter climate advisory and winter storm warning as among the first snows of the season start.

What To Know

NWS Fairbanks issued a winter climate advisory and a winter storm warning for components of northern Alaska on Tuesday morning.

The winter climate advisory is in place for the Central Beaufort Sea Coast, together with the cities of Prudhoe Bay, Deadhorse, Alpine, Kuparuk and Nuiqsut, and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387.

For the winter climate advisory, as much as 2 inches of snow is feasible, in addition to freezing rain.

“There is very high uncertainty in exact accumulations. Freezing rain is possible everywhere, especially in the Brooks Range and along the Dalton Highway south of Prudhoe Bay,” the advisory mentioned. “Temperatures will hover around 32 degrees, especially Tuesday night and Wednesday night which will make things difficult to accumulate unless precipitation rates are heavy enough to overcome warm ground temperatures.”

The advisory is in place from 10 p.m. native time Tuesday to 7 a.m. Thursday.

The extra critical winter storm warning is in place for the Central Arctic Plains and Central Brooks Range, together with for Dalton Highway from MP 322 to MP 387, Atigun Pass, Anaktuvuk Pass, Franklin Bluffs, Galbraith Lake, Dalton Highway from MP 232 to MP 322, and Sagwon.

For the winter storm warning, meteorologists warned of wintry precipitation, together with an ice glaze as much as .1 inches.

“Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes,” the warning mentioned.

The winter storm warning is in impact from 10 p.m. native time Tuesday till 1 a.m. Thursday.

“This is our first winter weather product that we’ve issued for the season out of our office,” NWS warning coordination meteorologist Jason Laney instructed Newsweek.

Laney mentioned such alerts can happen as early as the center of August.

“It’s not common to get them this early, but it has happened in the past,” he mentioned. “Typically, we look right at about the end of August when we start regularly issuing winter products.”

What People Are Saying

NWS Fairbanks, in a winter climate advisory: “The greatest risk for accumulating snow will be north of the Brooks Range and towards the coast, while the greatest risk for freezing rain accumulations resides in the Brooks Range. The Dalton Highway in between has equal chances for both.”

NWS Fairbanks, in a winter storm warning: “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”

What Happens Next

People within the space ought to monitor native climate steering. Once wintry situations start, additional precaution needs to be taken when touring, comparable to slowing down.