MEA warns of power outages with freezing rain and wind forecast for the Mat Valley

Matanuska Electric Association is warning members to prepare for power outages as a storm is expected to bring freezing rain and gusts up to 50 mph to parts of the Matanuska Valley overnight Monday into Tuesday.

"Strong winds, ice, and snow can cause trees and branches to fall into power lines, potentially resulting in outages," the cooperative said. Its crews are prepared to respond if outages occur, MEA said, but "hazardous weather and road conditions may impact restoration efforts."

The National Weather Service pushed back the start of its winter weather advisory for Anchorage and the Lower Matanuska Valley on Monday morning. It now runs from 11 pm Monday to 9 am Tuesday.

Forecasters also expect less snow than they did earlier, now under an inch, with a light glaze to a few hundredths of an inch of ice. Snow should turn to freezing rain overnight, then to rain as temperatures climb above freezing Tuesday morning.

Roads could still be icy for the Tuesday morning commute in sheltered areas from east Anchorage up the Glenn Highway to Eagle River, Chugiak, Eklutna and the Butte, which will stay below freezing the longest, the advisory says. Some roads and bridges will likely become slick. Drivers can check conditions at 511.alaska.gov.

A separate advisory for the Anchorage and Eagle River hillsides, where MEA also serves Eagle River, calls for 1 to 5 inches of snow, with the most above 1,000 feet. It warns of gusts up to 60 mph, mainly on the southern Anchorage Hillside, and says strong winds could damage trees and power lines.

An Oct. 30 windstorm, with gusts up to 70 mph south of Eagle River, cut power to more than 13,500 MEA members from Eagle River to Willow.

MEA asks members to report outages through SmartHub and to check its outage map. Treat any downed line as energized and report it at 907-746-7697, or 907-696-7697 in Eagle River, the cooperative said. MEA also urged members to charge devices, secure loose outdoor items and have flashlights and emergency supplies ready.

Winds should gradually diminish Tuesday, forecasters said, though unsettled weather is expected to persist across Southcentral into midweek.