CCFR issues safety warning, closure of Thane Road planned as Juneau within 2.1" of all-time winter snowfall record as of 11:59 p.m. Saturday; forecast says record may occur Sunday

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This story will be updated as events warrant during the day.

Three people were hospitalized, including a 5-year-old child who may have suffered head trauma, when the truck they were in slid into the median on Egan Drive on Saturday night "due to extremely slick road conditions," according to Capital City Fire/Rescue.

The accident occurred on a day when total winter snowfall at Juneau International Airport reached the second-highest ever at 192.2 inches, topping the 190.4 inches set in 2006-07, according to the National Weather Service Juneau. The airport is now 2.1 inches from the all-time record of 194.3 inches set in 1964-65 — and 2.2 inches from the monthly record for March.

A winter weather advisory issued at about 10 a.m. Sunday that’s in effect until 1 p.m. calls for two to five more inches of accumulation.

Snow showers continue from the Airport and Valley southeastward late this morning. dropping visibility to less than a mile at times," the advisory notes. "Snow showers should diminish in the afternoon."

For CCFR, that is cause for concern.

"Road conditions are hazardous," the department wrote in a post on its Facebook page Saturday night that included details and photos of the truck accident. "If you do not need to be on the road, stay home. If you must travel, slow down, increase following distance, and use extreme caution."

The one-vehicle collision involved a black Chevy truck that lost control and slid off the road, according to CCFR.

"The driver reported leg and back pain, and an adult passenger reported back pain," the Facebook post notes. "There is also concern for possible head trauma involving the child. Responding crews quickly assessed and treated all patients. All three occupants were transported for further evaluation."

A total of 5.5 inches of snow fell at the airport Saturday, bringing total snowfall for March to 60.2 inches, according to NWS Juneau. The average for the month is 9.8 inches and the record is 62.7 inches set in 2007.

The forecast calls for snow diminishing on Sunday, with a chance of snow showers through Monday night and then mostly cloudy skies through Saturday.

"Snowfall accumulations will be variable across the area due to the hit or miss nature of these showers," a NWS Juneau advisory notes.

Thane Road will be closed at the avalanche gate from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday for avalanche mitigation work, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced Saturday evening.

"If avalanche debris reaches the roadway, an extended closure may be necessary to safely remove debris," the department notes on its Facebook page. "DOT&PF reminds all motorists DO NOT STOP or park within the designated avalanche area."

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.