Seward Highway @ Huffman Road MP 120, Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 4:20am/Alaska 511
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | November 2025
Your straight-talk Alaska traffic and weather guide for the three major routes from the frosty start of your day to the twinkly ride back home.
Well now, sweetheart, winter isn’t just walking through the door this morning. It’s kicking off its boots and making itself at home. The Glenn, the Seward, and the Parks are all serving up their own little holiday surprises, from frosted windshields to patches of ice that shine like they’re auditioning for the tree lights in Town Square.
But don’t you worry. Memaw’s here with the full scoop on what’s cold, what’s slick, and what’s still worth a good deep breath before you merge. Whether you’re rolling out before sunrise or coasting home while the sky turns half-night and half-Christmas-card, we’ve got you covered. Let’s unwrap this commute together.
🌄 Morning Commute Weather Snapshot
Glenn Highway Corridor (Mat-Su Valley → Anchorage)
- Early temps around 7 °F (-14 °C) and rising to about 14-17 °F (-10 °C to -8 °C) by 8-10 am.
- Skies mostly clear to sunny by mid-morning.
- Road reality: Very cold start, meaning frost and black ice risk especially on bridges, north-facing slopes, and shaded off-ramps.
Seward Highway Corridor (Girdwood → Anchorage)
- Temps starting near 24-26 °F (-4 °C to -3 °C) and climbing toward 29-32 °F (-2 °C to 0 °C) by midday.
- Clear skies transitioning to mostly sunny.
- Road reality: Slightly milder than the Glenn route but still cold enough for slick patches in shaded areas and curves.
Parks Highway Corridor (Anchorage ↔ Mat-Su Valley)
- Shared beginning section with Glenn until splits; expect similar temps to Glenn early (very cold: teens Fahrenheit).
- By mid-morning, temps likely in the high teens to low 20s (-8 °C to -6 °C).
- Road reality: Major corridor, decent maintenance, but still vulnerable to cold start issues—especially near wildlife zones and less-treated segments.
🚦 Morning Commute Breakdown
- 6-7 am: All three corridors start off icy. Glenn and Parks: especially slick. Seward: a little more forgiving but still cautious.
- 7-9 am: Glenn & Parks: temps in the mid-teens, visibility okay but traction fluctuates. Seward: improving faster.
- 9-10 am: Best window for smoother roads, especially on the Seward route. Glenn & Parks still warming up.
- Traffic notes:
- Glenn Hwy: Standard inbound congestion, plus possible ramp slow-downs or ice-related delays.
- Seward Hwy: Watch for snow/ice on curves and the incline from Girdwood.
- Parks Hwy: Higher volume, watch for wildlife (especially moose), sudden slowdowns, and icy patches.
🌇 Drive-Home Forecast & Evening Conditions
Glenn Highway
- Evening temps dropping from ~20 °F (-7 °C) at 5 pm to the mid-teens (-8 °C and below) later.
- Clear skies returning.
- Road reality: Thaw begins to reverse; expect refreeze on ramps, bridges, and shaded sections.
Seward Highway
- Temps from ~28 °F (-2 °C) at 5 pm down to ~24-26 °F (-3 °C) and lower.
- Mostly clear skies.
- Road reality: Gentler downward trend, but shaded curves, overpasses, and pull-outs may refreeze faster than you expect.
Parks Highway
- Evening temps likely in the low-20s to high-teens (-4-7 °C) as day ends.
- Road reality: High-volume corridor but does not guarantee safe surfaces; refreeze risk returns strongly as temps drop. Wildlife crossings more likely at dusk.
🔧 Memaw’s Commute Survival Checklist
- Warm up the car.
- Extra space between vehicles on all routes.
- Low sun + cold roads = glare + ice — stay alert.
- Stick to main lanes; avoid back roads if you can.
- Use real-time cameras & updates via Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (via 511 Alaska). Alaska 511+2Alaska 511+2
- Evening drive-home: Assume any wet-looking road is now ice — especially after sunset.
🧤 Final Thoughts
So there you have it, sugar, a whole day of winter roads wrapped up with a bow. Morning frost gives way to a bit of sparkle and shine, but by the time you’re headed home, everything you saw thawed is fixing to freeze again. Keep your cocoa hot, your headlights clean, and your patience merry.
And remember: in Alaska, the holidays don’t wait for perfect weather. They ride shotgun with you, right there beside the ice scraper and the extra gloves. Stay safe, stay slow, and let a little twinkle follow you all the way home.
