Weather Alert in Alaska

Recent Locations: Kodiak, AK

Winter Weather Advisory issued March 18 at 1:05PM AKDT until March 20 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK

AREAS AFFECTED: Municipality of Skagway; Haines Borough and Klukwan; Glacier Bay; Eastern Chichagof Island; City and Borough of Sitka; Admiralty Island; City and Borough of Juneau; Petersburg Borough

DESCRIPTION: ...HIT OR MISS SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEK... .Snow showers from the Gulf of Alaska will continue through Friday morning at least. Snowfall accumulations of 7 to 16 inches are expected through Friday, with some locally higher amounts possible. A more organized area of showers is expected to impact the NE gulf coast on Thursday bringing more intense snow falls which has prompted the addition of winter storm warnings for Yakutat and Pelican. However, accumulations will be limited during the daytime due to warmer temperatures as we are now into the latter half of March. In addition, snowfall accumulations will be widely variable across the area due to the hit or miss nature of the showers, however rates as high as 1 inch per hour and visibilities down to 1/2 mile or less will be possible within any heavier showers that repeatedly move over the same location. Advisories could be upgraded to short-fuse Winter Storm Warnings if heavier snow showers continue over the same area. A relative lull in the heaviest showers is likely for some areas on Friday, but more snow may sweep into the panhandle for the weekend. * WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 4 to 12 inches. Visibilities reduced to 1 mile or less at times. * WHERE...Portions of Southeast Alaska. * WHEN...Until 4 AM AKDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Heaviest snow showers are expected during the day Thursday. Snow amounts could be highly variable with the higher amounts near the outer coast and near higher terrain. Skagway and the Klondike highway could see gusty winds to 40 mph Thursday afternoon with possible blowing snow on the Klondike highway.

INSTRUCTION: Slow down and use caution while traveling. People are urged to prepare their property before the onset of winter weather. For the latest road conditions, where available, call 5 1 1 or visit 511.alaska.gov.

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Weather Topic: What is Rain?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Rain

Rain Next Topic: Shelf Clouds

Precipitation in the form of water droplets is called rain. Rain generally has a tendency to fall with less intensity over a greater period of time, and when rainfall is more severe it is usually less sustained.

Rain is the most common form of precipitation and happens with greater frequency depending on the season and regional influences. Cities have been shown to have an observable effect on rainfall, due to an effect called the urban heat island. Compared to upwind, monthly rainfall between twenty and forty miles downwind of cities is 30% greater.

Next Topic: Shelf Clouds

Weather Topic: What is Sleet?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet

Sleet Next Topic: Snow

Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones, and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.

The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is freezing rain.

Next Topic: Snow