Warm temperatures in forecast for Alaska cities

Published 1:01 pm Wednesday, December 31, 2014

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Commuters in Alaska’s largest cities woke up on the last day of 2014 to find unseasonably warm temperatures.

The National Weather Service reports temperatures in the mid-30s just after 6 a.m. in Anchorage, making snow-covered roads slick.

Fairbanks temperatures were climbing above freezing and the Alaska Department of Transportation warned drivers that freezing rain would cause hazardous driving in interior Alaska.

The department just before 8 a.m. warned drivers to stay off Chena Hot Spring Road and the Parks Highway from Mile 164 near Denali State Park to Mile 344 south of Fairbanks.

The department says conditions are difficult on parts of the Steese, Richardson and Elliott Highways but are expected to improve as crews apply salt and sand.

Wasilla’s temperature was 37 at 6 a.m.