'Pandemic of snow' continues with blizzard and lowest temperatures in 15 years

31 January 2024 , 12:06

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After their snowiest ever start to winter, Anchorage could now face it's coldest weather in 15 years (Image: AP)

A “pandemic of snow” in Alaska is set to continue into the weekend as bleak forecasts predict more blizzards of snow and the lowest temperatures in 15 years with -30C expected.

Record breaking levels of snow in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, have caused multiple roofs of commercial buildings to collapse as the city battles the fierce cold weather snap. Officials have strongly recommended that residents in the city shovel snow off the roof of their home, particularly if the building is showing any signs of structural distress - however small.

But the “miserable” weather, as described by one resident, shows no signs of stopping yet, and after a three day hiatus is set to return on the weekend, according to a National Weather Service forecast. The possibility of snow returns on Saturday night and will carry on through until Tuesday, according to the service.

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Residents have been advised to shovel snow from their roofs, particularly if there are signs of structural distress (AP)

Smaller flurries of snow are still possible from Wednesday through Saturday in south central Alaska. “All precipitation should be coming to an end though by Wednesday with the current system. A few small flurries and fog is likely around the low lying areas along Cook Inlet, including Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valleys, and Kenai,” a weather report from the service reads.

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But this will be followed by a cold snap from Wednesday through to the weekend, resulting potentially in Anchorage recording its “lowest temperature since 2009”. The weather report stated: “Cold air will settle into place across southcentral Alaska from midweek and into the weekend. Highs around or below zero and lows well below zero are likely for much of the area outside of immediate coastal locations along the PWS and Gulf of Alaska.”

Foggy and cloudy conditions may help to moderate the temperature in the area. But the weather service says that if “conditions can remain clear one of these nights, it's entirely possible ANC [Anchorage] records its lowest temp since 2009”.

Temperatures in Anchorage could drop to -30C this week (AP)

Currently temperatures are predicted at minus 30C throughout today (Wednesday), minus 29C on Thursday night, and minus 27C on Friday night. Temperature highs between Wednesday and Friday in Anchorage are expected to range only from minus 19C to minus 21C. As temperatures are predicted to rise when the weekend begins, it is possible snow will return.

So far in Anchorage, over 100 inches of snow has fallen - the quickest in the city’s history that it as ever reached this benchmark. Anchorage is on track to smash its all-time record of 134.5 inches (342cm) of winter snow, already sitting in eighth place with much of winter yet to come. It would comfortably beat last year's total of 107.9 inches (274cm) in Anchorage, and would just be the second time in the city’s history that it has seen consecutive years of 100-plus inches of snow, the last time being 1954 to 1956.

The rooftops of three commercial buildings have collapsed this year, after last year saw a shocking 16 collapse, resulting in one death. Elementary school teacher Tamara Flores described it as a “pandemic of snow” as she shovelled her driveway, adding that it was “miserable”. Anchorage resident Damon Fitts was more positive: "This winter is definitely rough, but us Alaskans are definitely built different. We can handle 100 inches of snow and still make it to work on time. We can put up with a lot."

Alex Croft