The winter storm warning issued for the Kuskokwim Delta continues through 5 a.m. on Wednesday. The National Weather Service predicts freezing rain to continue, with ice accumulating up a half inch in most areas. The highest ice accumulation is predicted to be along the coast. Northwest of Bethel, up to 3 inches of snow fall is also possible. The National Weather Service cautions that “travel could be extremely hazardous.”
The winter storm began around midnight on Monday. Bethel residents awoke on Tuesday to find slick ice encasing all exposed surfaces outside.
Due to the icy conditions, the Lower Kuskokwim School District closed all Bethel schools on Nov. 5, except for the Kuskokwim Learning Academy. The list of closed schools are: Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat Preschool, Gladys Jung Elementary, Ayaprun Yup’ik Immersion School, and Bethel Regional High School. At present, LKSD plans to reopen all Bethel schools on Wednesday at normal times.
The Bethel Family Clinic, Wells Fargo Bank, and Quyana Café are also closed Tuesday due to icy roads.
