Up to 5 inches of snow forecast for Dalton, Elliott and Steese summits through Saturday

Drivers on the Dalton, Elliott and Steese Highway summits face snow and gusty winds under a Winter Weather Advisory the National Weather Service in Fairbanks issued Thursday. The advisory runs from 10 am Thursday to 10 am Saturday and also covers the White Mountains and higher terrain south of the Yukon River.

Forecasters expect 2 to 5 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts above pass level. Winds could gust 30 to 40 mph. Blowing snow could cut visibility below half a mile at times, and travel could be difficult, the weather service said.

Forecasters said a series of fronts will lift north over the Interior Thursday into Friday. The strongest winds are expected Thursday into Thursday night, then ease Friday as snow chances continue.

The advisory tells travelers to slow down, use caution and check road conditions at 511.alaska.gov or by calling 511. The state transportation department says Dalton Highway winter road reports are updated at least on weekday mornings, with more updates when conditions worsen.

At the Dalton's northern end, a second Winter Weather Advisory, issued at 4 am Thursday for the Central and Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast, runs from 4 pm Thursday to 4 pm Friday. Prudhoe Bay sits in the Central Beaufort Sea Coast zone. That advisory calls for up to an inch of snow, gusts as high as 40 mph and areas of blowing snow that could cut visibility below half a mile.