Southcentral Alaska is bracing for a return of frigid temperatures as clearing skies and a colder airmass settle into the region beginning Thursday. Forecasters with the National Weather Service predict that temperatures will fall significantly below normal and continue to decline through the weekend.
Conditions will vary significantly over short distances due to wind patterns and terrain. The coldest temperatures are expected in low-lying, wind-sheltered areas. In the Copper River Valley, overnight lows could plunge to between -35 and -45 degrees, with wind chill values nearing or dropping below -55 degrees.
The Susitna Valley may also see extreme cold, with lows approaching -35 degrees in areas such as Willow. Across the Matanuska Valley, Anchorage, and the Kenai Peninsula, low temperatures are expected to range from -5 to -25 degrees, with daytime highs potentially remaining below zero by the weekend.
Communities along Prince William Sound may experience slightly warmer air temperatures due to persistent winds, but wind chill values in the area could still drop between -10 and -25 degrees…