Two Roads Diverged and One Had Black Ice: Memaw’s Arctic Roll for March 26

The road less slippery glows under morning sun, making every cautious mile a delight.

By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | March 26, 2026

Memaw woke up this morning thinking about birthdays. The poetic kind.

Robert Frost, early in his journey, dreaming of roads less traveled and woods yet to be written.

Today belongs to Robert Frost, the New England wordsmith who gave us snowy woods, quiet roads, and that famous fork in the road. Honey, if he’d ever tried commuting through the Mat‑Su in March, he’d have written a whole extra collection about frost on windshields, sun glare off snowbanks, and a certain moose named Tundra standing in the median like she owns the highway.

Two roads diverged in the snow, and I took the one with fewer tires… but, you’d best watch for me. | Alaska Headline Living ©

Southcentral Alaska is serving up exactly the kind of scene Frost would appreciate: cold, crisp air, mostly plowed roads, and that quiet hush before spring officially wakes. Commuters can expect patchy black ice in shaded areas, some slush in the valleys this afternoon, and a night sky that could reward you with a northern lights show if the clouds behave.

🟢🟡🔴 Daily Verdict: Calm Roads with a Chance of Poetry in the Sky
Roads: Mostly clear with overnight refreeze patches
Traffic: Typical weekday flow, no widespread disruptions
Sky: If clouds thin tonight, northern lights could dance for Frost’s birthday

🚙 Parks Highway (Wasilla → Willow)

Parks Highway @ Hawk Lane MP 53.2 | Alaska 511

Time of Day	Hi Temperatures (°F)	Lo Temperatures	Driving Tips	Road Risk Level
Morning	23	15	Slow down for black ice near Big Lake; Moose (or Tundra!) might still be strolling	🟡 Moderate
Afternoon	28	20	Roads drying a bit; watch for spray on curves around Wasilla	🟢 Low
Evening	24	18	Refreeze begins past Willow; keep a safe gap	🟡 Moderate
Sunrise & Sunset	Sunrise 7:35 AM Sunset 8:30 PM		Low sun glare northbound this morning	🟡 Moderate
Aurora Forecast for Tonight	Kp 3 to 4; auroral oval over Alaska		Pull over at scenic spots north of Wasilla	🟢 Low

🚙 Glenn Highway (Anchorage → Palmer)

Glenn Highway @ 2nd Knik River Bridge MP 31.1 | Alaska 511

Time of Day	Hi Temperatures (°F)	Lo Temperatures	Driving Tips	Road Risk Level
Morning	22	14	Bridges and shaded river valleys slick; watch the Knik River crossings	🟡 Moderate
Afternoon	27	20	Pavement mostly dry; give trucks plenty of room climbing hills	🟢 Low
Evening	23	17	Cold air settles in the valley; expect refreeze on quiet side roads	🟡 Moderate
Sunrise & Sunset	Sunrise 7:37 AM Sunset 8:30 PM		Bright eastbound sun in morning can blind you; sunglasses ready	🟡 Moderate
Aurora Forecast for Tonight	Kp 3 to 4; visible arcs over Chugach		Turn onto pullouts past Eagle River for darker skies	🟢 Low

🚐 Seward Highway (Anchorage → Turnagain Arm)

Seward Highway @ Bird Point MP 96.3 | Alaska 511

Time of Day	Hi Temperatures (°F)	Lo Temperatures	Driving Tips	Road Risk Level
Morning	24	18	Ice-polished curves near the Arm; watch for wind gusts	🟡 Moderate
Afternoon	30	22	Coastal breezes soften some icy patches; headlights on in tunnels	🟢 Low
Evening	26	20	Refreeze near cliffside and avalanche-prone stretches	🟡 Moderate
Sunrise & Sunset	Sunrise 7:36 AM Sunset 8:31 PM		Sunset glare off the water can be blinding; take your time	🟡 Moderate
Aurora Forecast for Tonight	Kp 3 to 4; visible if marine clouds stay thin		Head south of Anchorage or down the Arm for the darkest skies	🟢 Low

🚚 Sterling Highway (Homer → Kenai)

Sterling Highway @ Ninilchik River Bridge MP 135.2 | Alaska 511

Time of Day	Hi Temperatures (°F)	Lo Temperatures	Driving Tips	Road Risk Level
Morning	25	17	Frost near rivers and overpasses; slow down by Soldotna curves	🟡 Moderate
Afternoon	31	23	Mostly dry; watch for gravel and slush around Kenai flats	🟢 Low
Evening	27	21	Refreeze likely once temperatures drop; street lights sparse outside town	🟡 Moderate
Sunrise & Sunset	Sunrise 7:40 AM Sunset 8:34 PM		Low sun angles near wetlands reduce visibility	🟡 Moderate
Aurora Forecast for Tonight	Kp 3 to 4; clear skies = strong aurora visibility		Best spots are away from Soldotna & Kenai city lights	🟢 Low

🚗 Knik Goose Bay Road (Wasilla → Point MacKenzie)

Knik Goose Bay Rd | Alaska 511, where are you?

Time of Day	Hi Temperatures (°F)	Lo Temperatures	Driving Tips	Road Risk Level
Morning	22	14	Rural stretches are packed snow; be ready for tractors or farm traffic	🟡 Moderate
Afternoon	27	20	Mostly stable; shoulders still snow-packed	🟢 Low
Evening	23	17	Cold dips and refreeze after sunset; watch wildlife crossings	🟡 Moderate
Sunrise & Sunset	Sunrise 7:35 AM Sunset 8:31 PM		Open flats = strong glare in early morning and late evening	🟡 Moderate
Aurora Forecast for Tonight	Kp 3 to 4; darker skies = easier aurora spotting		Good viewing west of Wasilla; bring a thermos	🟢 Low

💅 Memaw’s Parting Words
Remember, sugar, Robert Frost once wrote about two roads diverging in a yellow wood. Here in Alaska, the roads diverge, too. But, it’s more like “one slick with ice, one just waiting to slap you with a snowbank.” Your choice: take it slow and steady like a sensible poem, or rush and end up rhyming with a ditch.

Drive like you’re carrying a warm pie for the whole neighborhood, keep those headlights on, and if the clouds give you a break tonight, step outside. The northern lights might just tip their hat to Frost, swirling green and gold across the sky like he wrote it himself. Only this time, honey, the words shimmer. 💖