Cold & Snow Prolong A Wild Alaskan Winter

May 03, 2012|By: Mitch Sego | Channel 2 Weather

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — We wouldn't know it by looking outside in Anchorage, with cool crisp sunshine yesterday, but some parts of the state continue to experience unusual winter-like weather.

Southwest is once again starting off the day with light snow. Light snow and flurries and very cold temperatures are gripping the Slope and Northwest Alaska, including Kotzebue and Nome. Glenallen and the rest of the Copper River Basin have had periods of snow this morning. Snow has extended to the Eagle and the Canadian border.

So, it begs the question: What happened to the record warmth and sunshine that had enveloped much of the state over the past weeks?

I explain the turnabout from warm to cold so quickly in my Weather Whys segment. Go to http://www.ktuu.com/weather/weatherwhys/ to learn more.

Chilly to flat out cold weather with mostly to partly cloudy skies will persist over Alaska as an upper trough digs southward over the West and reinforces the cold air already in place. Southeast will again escape the cold, with highs near 50 and occasional rain showers.

While heavy accumulating snow is unlikely, a dusting up to 2 inches is possible around Bristol Bay and over the Alaska Peninsula, in the Copper River Basin, over the mountains of PWS and throughout the Norton Sound region.

Highs will range from the single digits and teens over the north and west to 40s and 50s south and southeast. Cold 20s will spread all the was down the west coast toward Bethel.

Expect cold temps to remain out West with some moderating temps over the southern and eastern halves of Alaska by the weekend.

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