By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | February 2026
💅 This is one of those winter days that smiles sweetly and then trips you in the driveway. Temps are flirting with freezing, roads are pretending to behave, and black ice is out there minding its own business and waiting for you to get cocky. Today’s commute rewards patience, gentle braking, and pretending every bridge is plotting against you.
🚙 Parks Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 36 | 30 | Watch for black ice in shaded stretches and on bridges | Moderate |
| Afternoon | 37 | 31 | Slush near shoulders, brake early and gently | Moderate |
| Evening | 34 | 30 | Refreeze after sunset, bridges go slick first | Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | Sunrise ~9:13 AM Sunset ~5:09 PM | Low sun glare during commute hours | Moderate | |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | Kp ~2; Quiet geomagnetic conditions, aurora unlikely | Eyes on the road, not the sky | Low |
🚙 Glenn Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 35 | 29 | Ice on curves and overpasses | Moderate |
| Afternoon | 36 | 30 | Winter-packed surface holds steady | Moderate |
| Evening | 33 | 29 | Dark plus damp equals slick | Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | Sunrise ~9:13 AM Sunset ~5:09 PM | Headlights on early for visibility | Moderate | |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | Kp ~2; Low aurora potential | Don’t slow traffic to skywatch | Low |
🚐 Seward Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 36 | 31 | Watch shaded rock cuts and curves | Moderate |
| Afternoon | 37 | 32 | Packed snow and wet spots linger | Moderate |
| Evening | 34 | 31 | Refreeze likely near Turnagain Arm | Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | Sunrise ~9:13 AM Sunset ~5:09 PM | Low-angle sun can blind briefly | Moderate | |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | Kp ~2; Aurora unlikely this far south | Focus on lane discipline | Low |
🚚 Sterling Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 34 | 28 | Frosty patches and uneven surfaces | Moderate |
| Afternoon | 36 | 30 | Watch for frost heaves | Moderate |
| Evening | 32 | 28 | Ice sets in quickly after dark | Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | Sunrise ~9:13 AM Sunset ~5:09 PM | Slow down where shadows linger | Moderate | |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | Kp ~2; Quiet skies | Not a night worth pulling over | Low |
🚗 Knik Goose Bay Road & Palmer-Wasilla Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 34 | 28 | Local roads may be untreated | Moderate |
| Afternoon | 36 | 30 | Ice hangs on in shaded areas | Moderate |
| Evening | 31 | 27 | Black ice risk rises fast | Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | Sunrise ~9:13 AM Sunset ~5:09 PM | Visibility drops quickly after sunset | Moderate | |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | Kp ~2; Low aurora probability | Neighborhood driving requires patience | Low |
Memaw’s Parting Words
☕️ If you’re early, you’re relaxed. If you’re relaxed, you don’t end up starring in the morning traffic report. Slow down, sip your coffee, and let the hurry-up crowd test the laws of physics for the rest of us.
Forecasts pulled from the National Weather Service, with road reality checks courtesy of Alaska DOT.
💅
