By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | December 2025
Alright sugar, Southcentral woke up frosty and feisty today. Hereâs Memawâs festive rundown so you can get where youâre goinâ without landing your sleigh in the ditch.
đ¨ď¸ All Day Forecast for Southcentral Alaska
Memawâs weather verdict: Cold, damp, tricky. Just âcause the snowâs not fresh doesnât mean the roads are safe. Treat every curve, bridge, and shady corner like itâs trying to surprise you.
| Time | Temp (°F) | Conditions and Road Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 29° | Cold start. Pavement likely still below freezing. Watch for black ice. Fog patches possible in lower areas. |
| 7:00 AM | 29 to 30° | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light freezing drizzle or leftover moisture. Bridges and overpasses may be slick. |
| 8:00 AM | 30° | Cloudy and cold. Any wet looking pavement can be icy. Shaded areas are especially risky. |
| 9:00 AM | 31° | Overcast and steady cold. Continue treating all wet pavement as potential ice. |
| 10:00 AM | 32° | Little warming in the air but the road surface is slow to thaw. Thin glaze ice is possible where moisture remains. |
| 11:00 AM | 33° | Cloudy with possible drizzle or light rain. Pavement may shift between slush and ice. |
| 12:00 PM | 33 to 34° | Light rain or mixed showers possible. Surface temperatures are right at the freezing point. Expect thin ice under slush. |
| 1:00 PM | 34° | Cloudy. Roads may become wetter. Some icy patches may soften but can still cause trouble. |
| 2:00 PM | 34 to 35° | Overcast with a chance of light rain. Shaded areas and bridges can remain slick. |
| 3:00 PM | 34° | Cloud cover remains. Driving surfaces remain unpredictable. Treat them with caution. |
| 4:00 PM | 33° | Temperatures hold steady while daylight fades. Moist surfaces may begin to refreeze after sunset. |
| 5:00 to 6:00 PM | 32 to 31° | Possible drizzle or light rain. Reduced visibility and cooling pavement create a higher risk of slick roads. |
| 7:00 PM and later | 30 to 29° | Temperatures drop again. Any leftover moisture will refreeze. Black ice is likely in many areas. |
đ Highway-by-Highway Commute Notes
Parks Highway
- Morning fog in the Mat-Su Valley and Wasilla area reduces visibility.
- Pavement is cold and slick. Bridges and overpasses are particularly risky.
- Memawâs advice: drive slow, keep plenty of space ahead, and treat every curve like it is iced over.
Glenn Highway
- Knik area and valley stretches have low visibility due to fog.
- Cold pavement plus leftover moisture makes black ice likely on bridges and shaded spots.
- Keep your speed down and tap brakes gently when approaching curves or overpasses.
Seward Highway
- Coastal areas may be slick from moisture combined with cold temperatures.
- Hills and shaded curves near Turnagain Arm are especially prone to ice.
- Even if the sun peeks through, surface temperatures are still cold. Headlights on and steer carefully.
Sterling Highway
- Mixed conditions this morning: wet in some sections, icy in others.
- Inland hills and shaded areas are most likely to have frozen patches.
- Brake early and smooth out steering inputs. Beautiful views will tempt you to look away, but keep your eyes on the road.
đ§¤đ𤜠Memawâs Winter-Driving Rules (Because I Love You and I Donât Want Your Fenders Bent)
- Clear every window, mirror and light. Donât let snow or moisture rain down on someone elseâs windshield.
- Double the usual following distance. I donât care if youâre a good driver. Your tires canât stop on hope alone.
- Headlights ON from dawn to dusk. Fog, drizzle and cloud cover blur a good lookinâ road into a nasty surprise.
- Big no to cruise control today. Keep your sleigh reins in your own hands.
- Use your noggin. If you see a slick patch, treat it like glass. Brakes? Gentle. Steering? Smooth.
- And check Alaska 511 cams. If they say âdifficult driving,â Memaw says âstay home and sip cocoa.â
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