For the Parks, Glenn, Seward and Sterling Highways
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline News | December 2025
🔔 Before you head out jingling down the highway, here is Memaw’s quick rundown of what the weather is cooking up from morning to night …
🌡️ Anchorage Area Weather Today
Early morning: Snow tapering off. Temps around 26 falling into the low 20s.
Midday: Mostly cloudy around 21 to 22.
Afternoon: Clearing with a little sunshine around 19 to 20.
Evening: Clear and cold around 13 to 16.
Hazards: Slick spots early. Black ice returns once the sun starts packing it in.
🎁 All-Day Weather Table
| Time Period | Weather | Temp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–7 AM | Snow changing to cloudy | 26 → 22 | Slippery roads, low visibility |
| 8–11 AM | Cloudy | 22 → 21 | Ice hiding under snow |
| 12–2 PM | Mostly cloudy | 22 → 21 | Drying a bit, travel improves |
| 3–5 PM | Partly sunny to clear | 20 → 17 | Better skies, watch shaded curves |
| 6–9 PM | Clear to mostly clear | 16 → 14 | Black ice warning |
| 10–11 PM | Mostly clear | 13 | Deep freeze refreeze |
🧭 Highway-by-Highway Holiday Outlook
🎅 Parks Highway
Road vibe: Morning snow could leave polished ice especially in shadowed areas near Palmer Hay Flats.
Midday to afternoon: Better skies, temps stay cold so nothing melts.
Evening: Expect refreeze everywhere.
Memaw’s tip: If you would not walk across your icy driveway in church shoes, do not zip down the Parks like you are late for Christmas Eve service.
🛷 Glenn Highway
Road vibe: Slippery early. The Glenn loves to pretend it is dry when it is actually coated in sneaky ice.
Midday: Traffic improves but watch the Muldoon and Hiland zones for polished lanes.
Evening: Black ice from Anchorage to Palmer.
Memaw’s tip: Keep two cookies worth of distance between you and the car ahead. The cookie unit is scientifically proven.
🎄 Seward Highway
Road vibe: Snow early in Anchorage. Down south near Seward the forecast includes a rain and snow mix with a high near 38 which can turn the highway into mashed potato slush.
Evening: Temps dip and slush becomes ice.
Wind: Gusty in the Turnagain Arm stretch.
Memaw’s tip: If the Arm is blowing, grip the wheel like you are holding on to the last gift card at Fred Meyer.
🦌 Sterling Highway
Road vibe: Mixed precipitation today. Could be wet snow, could be rain, could be both just to test your character.
Afternoon: Travel improves but temps fall fast after sunset.
Evening: Icy patches especially around Cooper Landing curves.
Memaw’s tip: Slow down in Cooper Landing. Those curves will send you into next Tuesday if you are not sweet about it.
🎁 Memaw’s Holiday Driving Reminders
- Check Alaska 511 before heading out. Screenshots slot perfectly under each highway section.
- Pack a blanket, snacks and a charged phone in case Santa needs a moment to dig you out.
- Watch bridges and shaded valleys. They freeze first and they freeze fast.
- If your window fogs up faster than you can wipe it, turn on the defrost instead of guessing where the road is.
💅
