Weather

Winter warmup

Cars carefully make their way through the slushy snow around the bend in the Kenai Spur Highway near Christmas light-filled Leif Hansen Park on Sunday in Kenai. After a chilly fall and several thick blankets of snow, temperatures rose sharply on the western Kenai Peninsula, climbing above freezing Sunday and converting the falling snow to rain. Small lakes formed from the snow on the Kenai flats and the ice built up along the shores of the lower Kenai River moved out. The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement Sunday, forecasting the warm weather to continue throughout the day Monday as a developing storm system brings “unsettled weather” to Southcentral Alaska. Strong wints are expected on the western Kenai Peninsula, with the strongest of the winds arriving in the Turnagain Pass area and in the Portage Valley, clocking in at up to 70 miles per hour Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service. Rain is expected in Seward and along the gulf coast, with temperatures remaining in the mid- to high 30s throughout the week. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)… Continue reading

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai River downstream of the bridge was completely frozen Sunday morning. The weekend brought deep freezing temperatures to the central Kenai Peninsula, plunging to -4 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday morning with a high of 17 degrees during the day. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to increase tomorrow and continue in the upper 20s and low 30s through the week, with increased chances of snow through Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Icy sunrise

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017… Continue reading

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai River downstream of the bridge was completely frozen Sunday morning. The weekend brought deep freezing temperatures to the central Kenai Peninsula, plunging to -4 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday morning with a high of 17 degrees during the day. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to increase tomorrow and continue in the upper 20s and low 30s through the week, with increased chances of snow through Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Several inches of snow blanket the bluff along the Kenai River on Sunday afternoon during a slow snow fall that covered the Soldotna and Kenai area. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Blanketed bluff

Blanketed bluff Several inches of snow blanket the bluff along the Kenai River on Sunday afternoon during a slow snow fall that covered the Soldotna… Continue reading

Several inches of snow blanket the bluff along the Kenai River on Sunday afternoon during a slow snow fall that covered the Soldotna and Kenai area. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
A car crosses the David E. Douthit Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Kenai River through dense fog on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. A heavy fog rolled over the western Kenai Peninsula Tuesday evening, resulting in cancelled flights in and out of the Kenai Municipal Airport and ensconcing Halloween trick-or-treaters in an eerie mist colored orange or white by the streetlamps. By morning, the fog had thinned and the temperature dropped to the high 20s, with some fog predicted to continue in the morning and evening through Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fogged in

A car crosses the David E. Douthit Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Kenai River through dense fog on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska.… Continue reading

A car crosses the David E. Douthit Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Kenai River through dense fog on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. A heavy fog rolled over the western Kenai Peninsula Tuesday evening, resulting in cancelled flights in and out of the Kenai Municipal Airport and ensconcing Halloween trick-or-treaters in an eerie mist colored orange or white by the streetlamps. By morning, the fog had thinned and the temperature dropped to the high 20s, with some fog predicted to continue in the morning and evening through Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Bird bath Crows bathe in rainwater puddling in the gutter alongside Trading Bay Road on Wednesday in Kenai. Tuesday morning brought a little wet snow accumulation to the central Kenai Peninsula, but by midafternoon, temperatures had warmed and taken the snow with them, turning the precipitation to rain. The rain continued throughout Wednesday with temperatures hanging around 40. The National Weather Service is forecasting the rain to continue through Friday morning with highs staying around the mid- to upper 40s. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Birdbath

Crows bathe in rainwater pudding in the gutter alongside Trading Bay Road on Wednesday in Kenai. Tuesday morning brought a little wet snow accumulation to… Continue reading

Bird bath Crows bathe in rainwater puddling in the gutter alongside Trading Bay Road on Wednesday in Kenai. Tuesday morning brought a little wet snow accumulation to the central Kenai Peninsula, but by midafternoon, temperatures had warmed and taken the snow with them, turning the precipitation to rain. The rain continued throughout Wednesday with temperatures hanging around 40. The National Weather Service is forecasting the rain to continue through Friday morning with highs staying around the mid- to upper 40s. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Snow slows traffic, though few accidents reported in Kenai, Soldotna

With a measurable amount of snow on the roadways this morning, it’s time to slow down and bust out the four-wheel drive. Drivers in Kenai,… Continue reading

Photo: A nip in the air

Photo: A nip in the air

Frost glistens on the grass outside the Kenai Courthouse on Trading Bay Road on Monday, Oct. 9 in Kenai. Central Kenai Peninsula residents woke up… Continue reading

Photo: A nip in the air

Central Kenai Peninsula sees more rain this summer than usual

Central Kenai Peninsula residents have gotten practice at being prepared for less than perfect weather this summer. Steady rain has led to canceled Peninsula Oilers… Continue reading

Minor earthquake felt on Tuesday

At 3:47 p.m. on Tuesday, a 3.7 magnitude earthquake was felt throughout the Kenai Peninsula region. The minor earthquake’s epicenter was located at a depth… Continue reading