Access to Front Street via St. Michaels was blocked off early Monday, after a broken water main was reported. City workers brought out the backhoe to dig out the ruptured section, work on which continued late into Tuesday.
An alternating drop of snow and freezing rain over the weekend put a damper on holiday festivities in Wrangell, and caused problems for drivers and pedestrians both as late as Monday morning.
The area received
over an inch and a half of precipitation Saturday and Sunday, starting with ample helpings of snow.
Rough sea conditions
early Saturday hampered efforts on the part of Wrangell's annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count to tally area avians. Five of the volunteers' nine survey groups were planning to scout for shore birds by boat, but were unable to do so. As a result outlying islands and the Back Channel were unable to be included in this year's survey.
Warming conditions through the afternoon and a light rain turned snow to slush, which then hardened to ice overnight. Ordinarily unperturbed by Alaska weather, running group Southeast Beasts had to forgo its weekly Sunday morning jog due to safety concerns. A Christmas play scheduled by Bible Baptist Church later that afternoon was likewise rescheduled, set instead for Tuesday evening.
Ice persisted into Monday morning, with a pair of vehicular accidents, including a truck stuck in a ditch due to ice. A number of residents living on upland lots along Zimovia Highway and around town found themselves trapped for the morning.
Due to privacy concerns and the relatively small number of people treated, Wrangell Medical Center was unable to comment on the number of residents admitted for ice-related injuries. But a number of spills were shared on social media, and the cancellation or dialing back of several events indicates residents were on their guard.
The downhill section of St. Michaels Street between Church and Front streets was closed to traffic early Monday, remaining so as of press time Tuesday night. A water main had ruptured beneath the road, but whether it was related to cold conditions or was coincidental has not been determined. Public Works director Amber Al-Haddad pointed out the section has had problems in the past, and iron ductile piping around the city's water delivery network have been apt to fail unexpectedly.
Further rain and snow mixtures are expected through the week, with snow showers predicted Thursday afternoon. Low temperatures will likewise persist, so residents are advised to drive slowly and exercise caution on hills in the meantime.
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