The National Weather Service in Fairbanks posted a Winter Storm Watch early Sunday morning for the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Nenana. It runs from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon, with 4 to 8 inches of snow possible. Forecasters expect a round of light snow Monday afternoon and evening first, maybe mixed with a little rain, and then heavier snow building in on Tuesday. In their 2:59 PM update Sunday, forecasters kept the 4 to 8 inch range but said they're leaning toward the heaviest snow landing near Eielson, with lighter amounts in Fairbanks and especially west of town, and they stressed there's a lot of uncertainty since a 30 mile shift east or west would change things a lot. Check the latest Fairbanks forecast and alerts from NWS.
Our take: yesterday this was a "maybe 3 to 6 inches" kind of story. Now the weather service has the whole borough under a watch, North Pole included, and says travel could be very difficult, with the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes most likely to feel it. That's a good reason to treat Monday as your prep day. Top off the gas, plug in the car, find the gloves that match, and give yourself extra time Wednesday morning. A watch can still get bumped up or dialed back, so check again Monday night.
If you'd rather watch it pile up from the window, Good Hand Co. can line up snow removal in Fairbanks or North Pole, and help with hard pack and berm removal once the plows come through. And when the slush starts coming in on boots, The Alaska Cleaning Company can help get the entryway and carpets back in shape.
Painting: Good Hand Co.