Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Beth Ipsen said wind gusts along the Seward were reaching 30 to 60 mph, with occasional gusts to 80 mph. She said conditions at Moose Pass were alternating between rain and snow, producing extremely slippery conditions.
Ipsen also said trees were down at Mile 11 of the Hope Highway, while snow was starting to stick to trees near Cooper Landing and make them bow. Crews from the state Department of Transportation were running from area to area, but trees on the highway toward Seward had also started falling into the roadway after becoming overladen with heavy, wet snow and ice.
DOT crews in the area were working in tandem in the area north of Summit Lake to the Turnagain Pass rest area. Ipsen says multiple vehicles, including tractor-trailers, have been immobilized in the pass and troopers are proceeding slowly as they assist stranded motorists.
“Whiteout conditions are making visibility impossible,” an email update from Ipsen at about 6:15 p.m. said. “Troopers are working with DOT to make temporary paths out for stranded motorists.”
Emergency responses were complicated by people sliding into ditches in areas with poor or no cellphone reception. While DOT did not elect to formally close the Seward, Ipsen suggested that drivers avoid hitting the road Sunday.
“If at all possible, stay where you are,” Ipsen said.
As of 9 p.m. Sunday, APD dispatch reported 49 vehicles in distress, 17 vehicle accidents and five vehicle accidents with injuries. They also received 29 reports of light poles, wires and trees blocking the roads. Dispatchers say area roads are extremely slick, and also advised drivers to stay home.
According to Chugach Electric spokesperson Phil Steyer, about 4,400 homes on the Anchorage Hillside, 600 more in four communities south of Anchorage -- Hope, Moose Pass, Whittier and Indian -- and about 2,000 more homes scattered throughout the area were without power early Sunday evening. Steyer said crews were responding to all affected areas, but he didn't have any immediate estimates of how long it would take to restore power.
Homer Electric Association spokesperson Joe Gallagher said about 2,500 of its Kenai customers lost power from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, probably when a tree snagged on a Kenai-Nikiski transmission line.
As of 8 p.m., HEA crews are still attempting to restore power to 149 homes on Poppy Lane in Soldotna, 20 homes on Hinnerman Street in Nikiski and 24 homes on Robinson Loop near Nikiski. The Seldovia area is on generator power after a tree hit the main power line to the South Kachemak Bay area.
Meanwhile, users of Channel 2’s Facebook page said power was also out in Girdwood, Tyonek and parts of Eagle River.
Meteorologists anticipated that the storm would blow itself out overnight Sunday.
This is a developing story. Please check KTUU.com and watch the Channel 2 newscasts for updates.
Contact Christine Kim at
ckim@ktuu.com and Jackie Bartz at
jbartz@ktuu.com
