Josh Lingle shovels outside Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe after overnight freezing rain brought icy conditions to Kenai on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Icy conditions prompt closures across central, southern peninsula

The conditions follow several days of adverse conditions

Icy weather conditions prompted closures across the central Kenai Peninsula on Wednesday as motorists were encouraged to be cautious while traveling. The National Weather Service announced Tuesday that a wintry mix of weather was headed to Southcentral Alaska on Wednesday, with freezing rain expected in Kenai and Soldotna.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District canceled school for most schools in central and southern peninsula communities due to inclement weather and announced a two-hour delayed start for Hope and Cooper Landing schools. Other closures were announced by Veronica’s Cafe, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula, the Kenaitze Indian Tribe Early Childhood Center preschool and Early Head Start programs, and Soldotna’s Kenai Peninsula College campus.

A community budget forum hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District that was scheduled for Wednesday night was postponed. That forum will now be held on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Kenai Central High School library and will also offer Zoom participation.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Wednesday’s conditions came days after several inches were dumped across the region, prompting increased risks of avalanches and road closures along some parts of the Seward Highway. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said in an update Wednesday that Hatcher Pass will remain closed above Milepost 11 through at least the end of the weekend due to predicted snowfall.

Josh Lingle was shoveling outside his place of work, the Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe in Kenai, on Wednesday afternoon. He said he’s seen freezing rain cause some real damage in the past.

“I’ve seen branches coming down, power lines come down,” Lingle said. “I mean, that freezing rain’s a really bad deal.”

By the time he was shoveling around 2:30 p.m., however, the warmer temperatures had melted off a lot of the ice left by Tuesday night’s rainfall.

“This warm up, it melts off and it’s not too bad,” Lingle said. “And the people, they really get it around here. I mean, they know what they’re doing.”

Temperatures had increased to 39 degrees by Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service reported.

The agency is predicting patchy, freezing fog and chances of snow and rain Thursday morning in Soldotna, with total snow accumulations expected to hit 4 inches. High temperatures are predicted to range from the low 30s to low 40s, while low temperatures are predicted to range from the mid-20s to low 30s.

Real-time traffic updates, including alerts about avalanche hazard reduction and closures, can be found on the DOT&PF 511 system at 511.alaska.gov.

Reach reporters Camille Botello and Ashlyn O’Hara at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com and ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof to close Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in