Weather service downgrades Broad Pass storm warning, forecasts 3 to 6 more inches

Steady snow on the Parks Highway through Broad Pass tapered off early Saturday, ending a storm the National Weather Service had warned could drop as much as 15 inches.

In a final update at 12:52 am Saturday, forecasters said the snow had eased to scattered showers and steady, heavy snow wasn't expected to continue.

The weather service's warning called for 7 to 15 inches, with the heaviest snow Thursday night into Friday morning. Forecasters said up to an inch could fall per hour, with visibility a quarter mile or less at times.

Late Friday morning, they downgraded it to an advisory calling for 3 to 6 more inches, with snow possibly mixing with rain as temperatures rose above freezing.

Farther north, the weather service office in Fairbanks called for 4 to 8 inches and gusts to 30 mph in the southern Denali Borough. The heaviest snow was expected between mileposts 215 and 225 of the Parks Highway, just north of Cantwell. That advisory ended at midnight Friday.

It's the third time this month the stretch has drawn winter weather alerts. The state urged drivers to avoid the Parks Highway between Talkeetna and Cantwell on Oct. 10, and advisories for Broad Pass ended Oct. 25.

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