Heavier amounts falling in some other parts of Southeast Alaska; periods of snow and cold spell expected throughout this week

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Advisories for Juneau residents to stay home Sunday are being issued by officials after a record 9.6 inches of snow on Saturday caused numerous road incidents, with the weather forecast calling for seven more inches of snowfall by Sunday night.

A chance of additional snow is forecast through at least Friday, but the more notable change will be temperatures dropping to near zero, according to an update issued by the National Weather Service Juneau at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

"The next band of heavier precipitation is expected to move through Sunday morning," an updated winter storm warning issued by the Weather Service earlier Sunday morning notes. "Snow is also expected to become lighter and less dense as the event goes on following the drying trend. Cold temperatures are expected to continue to spread southward into early next week, increasing potential for a long-duration snowfall event."

The storm warning is in effect until midnight.

"Travel will be very difficult and is discouraged unless it is an emergency," the warning states.

Saturday’s snowfall broke the previous Dec. 6 of 7.2 inches set in 1975, according to a Weather Service Facebook post at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The Juneau Police Department reported numerous vehicles were involved in collisions and slid off roads once heavy accumulation began throughout town at midday Saturday. Notices were also issued by the city reminding residents to keep trash cans at least five feet away from streets, to keep sidewalks clear when removing excess snow from driveways and to check snow loads on boats.

Snow is likely to continue in Juneau on Monday, but with little accumulation, with a high temperature of about 20 degrees, according to the extended forecast. The temperature is expected to drop to five degrees overnight Monday, and temperatures between 5 and 15 degrees — along with a chance of snow — are forecast through Friday. A slight rise in the temperature, with a high of 20 and low of 10, is expected on Saturday.

Snowfall has been heavier in some other parts of the region, notably in Haines, Skagway and areas to the north where more than two feet of total accumulation is forecast.

A pattern change is bringing colder temperatures and strong outflow winds extending southward through the weekend," the weather update notes. "This pattern, in combination with prolonged moisture, is producing accumulating heavy snow for the Haines. Periods of heavy to moderate snow continue over the Icy Strait Corridor due to the arctic boundary moving south of the Hoonah - Juneau area."

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