Troopers warn of difficult driving on the Parks Highway near Cantwell

Alaska State Troopers warned drivers Monday of difficult conditions on the Parks Highway near Cantwell, after ice, snow and wind hit the road from Talkeetna to Fairbanks over the weekend and into Monday.

Troopers asked drivers in a post on X to use headlights, allow extra time and "move over or slow down for all emergency and road maintenance vehicles."

Near Talkeetna, a National Weather Service advisory Saturday night called for freezing rain on the Parks Highway and the Talkeetna Spur Road, with up to a fifth of an inch of ice. Forecasters canceled it early Sunday after temperatures rose above freezing.

Through Broad Pass, south of Cantwell, forecasters called for 4 to 10 inches of snow, heaviest Sunday morning, according to the weather service's advisory. They let it expire Sunday afternoon but said periods of snow would continue.

North of Cantwell, a weather station near Healy recorded a 55 mph gust at 1:40 am Monday. Nenana's airport measured freezing rain Monday morning, and the weather service office in Fairbanks had 3.1 inches of new snow by noon, with more falling. Winter weather advisories for Nenana and Fairbanks run until 10 pm Monday.

The same stretch drew a warning earlier this month, when the state Department of Transportation urged drivers to avoid the Parks Highway between Talkeetna and Cantwell because of snow and ice.

Road conditions are posted at 511.alaska.gov or by calling 511.