Fog advisories covered Richardson Highway near Gulkana and the Susitna Valley Wednesday

The National Weather Service in Anchorage issued a dense fog advisory Wednesday morning, Oct. 7, for the Central Copper Valley, from Gulkana north along the Richardson Highway. Forecasters said visibility could drop to one-quarter mile. They warned that fog combined with below-freezing temperatures could leave slippery roads and patchy black ice.

The advisory ran from 7:33 am to 10 am. Forecasters said fog had developed along the highway that morning and would lift later. They told drivers to slow down, use headlights, leave plenty of distance and watch for frost on bridge decks and roadways.

NWS Anchorage issued a second advisory for the central and northern Susitna Valley, in effect until 2 pm. Forecasters said dense fog had been reported around Trapper Creek that morning and observed through Broad Pass. Rain or snow could make roads slippery, they said. On Tuesday, the office had posted that a weak disturbance would bring 1 to 2 inches of light snow to the Parks Highway north of Talkeetna through Broad Pass into Wednesday evening, with temperatures in the low 30s. Both advisories have ended. Neither area was under a fog advisory Thursday morning.

Earlier in the week, the weather service placed the Western and Central Copper Valley under a fog advisory Sunday night into Monday morning, warning of patchy black ice, then canceled it early, at 8:33 am Monday. Another advisory covered the Southern and Central Susitna Valley from Monday night until 10 am Tuesday, with areas of dense fog expected along the Parks Highway from Willow north to Talkeetna, including Trapper Creek and Petersville.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy proclaimed Oct. 4-10 Winter Weather Preparedness Week. The proclamation says automobile accidents remain the leading cause of death indirectly linked to winter weather. It urges travelers to allow extra time for de-icing and driving, carry emergency supplies and stay alert behind the wheel. Highway conditions are posted on Alaska 511.