By Jasz Garrett
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – While many are still digging out their cars and clearing the road from last week’s snowstorm, Mother Nature doesn’t wait for anyone. Sunday’s winter storm warning has been upgraded Sunday morning from 11-15 inches to 18-22 inches of snow total predicted Sunday through Monday.
A meteorologist with the National Weather Service Juneau, Spencer Fielding, detailed the winter storm warning Juneau is under currently.
“We’re gonna see about six to seven inches overnight. For today we’re expecting four to five during the day and then tomorrow we’re expecting another six to eight inches during the day,” he said. “As for visibility with the heavier snowfall, we will see a lower visibility which will make travel by air difficult. And obviously with the increased snow amounts travel by road will be less than ideal.”
By Monday night, Juneau will begin to warm up and switch back to rain and wet snow. By Tuesday, Juneau will have warmed up enough to see rain. Fielding said that this is a complex weather situation regarding the clash of warm moist air from the south and cold outflow from Canada in the north, and that’s why we are seeing the snow.
“The warm air that’s out over the Gulf of Alaska is making its way through the inner channels and then it’s rising up over the cold air because it is less dense and lighter and with it has all the moisture,” Fielding explained. “So, as it’s rising all the moisture is condensating and falling out while the cold air is more dense and closer to the ground and staying in place unless the wind can mix it out.”
A winter weather advisory for 3-8 inches of snow has been issued for Angoon and Kake. The snow is expected to impact surrounding areas. 8-14 inches of snow is expected for the Icy Strait Corridor excluding Juneau. Further north, no advisories are set but they are expected to receive snowfall as well.
Stay up to date on weather forecasts on the NWSJ website.
