Wind chill warning, advisories issued for north, west Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The National Weather Service issued wind chill warnings for Alaska’s northern coast while more snow was forecast for the state’s largest city.

Warnings of dangerously cold winds were forecast for a handful of northern areas including the Beaufort Sea coast, the southeastern Brooks Range and the Kobuk and Noatak river valleys. Wind chill was predicted to range from 40 to 60 below zero (-40 to -51 Celsius) and the weather service said frostbite could occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes in those conditions.

The weather service issued wind chill advisories through Friday morning to west coast and northern areas, including the Chukchi Sea coast, the Seward Peninsula and the Yukon Delta.

The weather service forecast snow for other areas. A blizzard warning was issued for the area south of the Denali National Park entrance. Wind chills to -40 were forecast with new snow and blowing snow that could create slippery conditions on the Parks Highway.

South of Anchorage, blowing snow was forecast Thursday for western Prince William Sound, including the Seward Highway and Turnagain Pass.

Anchorage, which had been largely free of snow, received 5-7 inches (13-18 centimetres) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Another 1-5 inches (2.5-13 centimetres) was forecast by Thursday afternoon.