More snow forecast for Southcentral Alaska

Southcentral Alaska was expected to get slammed with more snow overnight Saturday, with big dumps in the forecasts for Anchorage, Turnagain Arm and Valdez, according to the National Weather Service.

And in Cordova, where residents were reeling from recent heavy snow, the Alaska National Guard was set to provide much-needed help digging out from Thursday's huge slug of snow.

As for the current storm battering Alaska, the state's largest city was looking at the heaviest snowfall. Anchorage residents will likely see 6 to 12 inches by this morning and another 2 to 4 inches during the afternoon, the weather service said.

A weather service blizzard warning for Turnagain Arm near Whittier is also in effect from 12 a.m. today to 12 a.m. Monday. Strong winds gusting to 70 mph and 4 to 8 inches of snow overnight Saturday would combine to create whiteout conditions, the weather service said.

Valdez, likely the hardest-hit Alaska community so far in 2012, is on pace to exceed the seasonal snowfall mark: As of Friday, the Western Prince William Sound city had about half of the 1989-90 record of 560 inches. As much as another half-foot could fall by this morning, and Thompson Pass is under a winter weather advisory for blowing snow, the weather service said.

The Richardson Highway out of Valdez was open Saturday through Thompson Pass after earlier avalanche closures, according to the Department of Transportation. Crews had plowed the pass and fired artillery to clear avalanche hazards, said DOT spokeswoman Meadow Bailey.

Still, after all the hard work, the men and women were getting tired, and the DOT called in reinforcements, Bailey said.

Also on the east side of Prince William Sound, the city of Cordova continued to deal with heavy snow and, on Saturday, rain. Avalanche danger forced the DOT to close the Copper River Highway at Mile 5, cutting off easy access to the airport, Bailey said.

Cordova Mayor Jim Kallander declared a local disaster as a result of the snow, he said Friday. Some of the extra DOT plowing personnel were headed to Cordova, Bailey said.

The Alaska National Guard said in a written statement that more than 50 personnel were headed to Cordova with supplies and equipment today, weather permitting, to help move snow and protect buildings.

The state Emergency Operations Center is also sending avalanche kits containing beacons, shovels and probes for snow removal personnel in case they are hit by snowslides as they work.