ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Temperatures across the state are noticeably cooler as the weather continues to turn colder in the South. Many areas will be nearly 5 to 25 degrees colder than Wednesday morning, and even colder conditions are expected this weekend. While calmer weather is expected across much of mainland Alaska, coastal activity will persist, with a low pressure system expected to bring strong winds, rain and areas of snow near the Alaska Peninsula.

SOUTH CENTRAL: Brrr! Temperatures will get colder each morning as northerly winds add to the colder air already accumulating in Southcentral. While we remain dry inland, look for some gap winds to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. Winds will increase into the evening hours in Prince William Sound, Seward and the western portions of the Kenai. Although the wind will not be strong, the colder weather today will see cold temperatures of up to 20 degrees in most locations.

A low pressure system moving east into the Gulf of Alaska will maintain north-northeast flow over the Southcentral. Coastal areas could see increasing rain/snow into the evening hours, with Prince William Sound seeing a greater chance of this. Whittier may see light snow accumulation into the evening hours.

Prepare for even colder weather over the weekend as afternoon highs will drop to near freezing and overnight lows will be in the 10s and 20s.

SOUTHEAST: Light rain and breezy winds are expected today, with more snow expected in areas of the Klondike Highway near White Pass. At sea level, temperatures will be warm enough for rain to fall throughout the day. Less than half an inch is expected in most locations, with highs reaching 40°C.

A Strong wind clock applies to portions of the southern panhandle where winds will increase Friday evening through Saturday. Hydaburg and Craig could experience gusts in excess of 60 mph as the next storm moves in towards the end of the week.

INNER: A few early morning snow showers will carry us through the first part of the day, with accumulation likely to be less than an inch. When the last snow subsides, it will become colder and quieter inland again. While today will see highs in the 20s, expect even colder weather toward the end of the week. This weekend will see highs in the 10s, with lows falling near or below zero overnight. Plenty of sunshine is forecast, but you'll find you'll need to bundle up more. From next week, areas with snow showers are likely to spread again inland. This will also be accompanied by the return of some warmer air, with highs rising back into the mid to upper 20s.

SLOPE/WEST ALASKA: A Advice on winter weather On the east coast of the Beaufort Sea it will last until Friday morning. Blowing snow will result in limited visibility and winds will blow at speeds of up to 45 mph.

While winds will be noticeable on the rest of the slope, winds should remain below recommended criteria but still be quite breezy. Gusts of more than 35 miles per hour were observed throughout the day in Utqiagvik, east of Deadhorse. Combined with light snowfall, this could lead to limited visibility at times. Temperatures this weekend will fall into the 10s, with overnight lows in the single digits.

In the west, flooding continues to recede and colder, drier weather is returning to the region. There will still be some windy conditions today as a low near the Alaska Peninsula draws in colder air on the back side of the system. This will also lead to some gusty winds in parts of Southwest Alaska, where winds may reach up to 40 miles per hour today. Snow will be light, with areas near Dillingham receiving 1 to 2 inches of snow. As the low moves eastward, calmer weather is expected toward the end of the week.

Aleutian Islands: A low near the Alaska Peninsula is bringing strong winds to parts of the Aleutian Islands. A Strong wind warning Wind gusts of up to 85 mph are possible across the peninsula through this evening. The system will evolve quickly as it is scheduled to be installed in the Gulf of Alaska later today. While this is the case, these gusty winds will continue to blow across portions of the Aleutian Islands, helping to intensify the colder weather moving into the state. While there will be little cold spread across the Aleutian Islands, we will see highs around 40°C in the Eastern Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula through Friday.

OUTLOOK: October looks to be ending quite coolly, while November is expected to usher in wetter weather. While it's been pretty dry for Southcentral, that streak could come to an end next week. The upcoming weather pattern favors some snow for parts of Southcentral next week. With temperatures expected to warm into the 30s by next week, we are likely to see some areas with a wintry mix. A reminder that average snow depth tends to increase in recent years as the calendar turns from October to November.

Take care and have a wonderful Thursday!

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.