Update: The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District announced that southern Kenai Peninsula schools will have a 90-minute early release today. Also, the City of Homer is encouraging people attend by Zoom a Homer City Council Worksession at 4 p.m. today.
A winter storm on Monday morning continued to drop wet snow on the southern Kenai Peninsula, causing hazardous driving conditions with blowing snow and reduced visibility to a half mile or less, according to a National Weather Service advisory.
Homer Police at 9:40 a.m. also issued an alert advising motorists to avoid travelling on East Hill Road, West Hill Road and Skyline Drive for the next several hours as snowplow drivers clear the road.
“We have had numerous reports of vehicles in the ditch, vehicles high centered and roads impassable. Be safe and stay home,” police said in a press release.
In effect until 6 p.m., the weather advisory covers the western peninsula from Clam Gulch south. Total snow accumulations will be 3 to 6 inches, with higher amounts in the hills above Homer. On Diamond Ridge, snow was at least 2 feet since Sunday evening, with bushes and small trees bent by the snow.
The Kenai Peninsula School District did not close schools, but a tweet on Twitter, said, “BE SAFE. When school remains open & local weather and road conditions are poor in your area, parents and guardians should use their best judgment to determine what is safest for your child and family. Absences and delayed arrivals will be excused.”
“Our policy is if a parent thinks it’s unsafe, don’t come to school,” said Homer High School Principal Douglas Waclawski on Monday.
At 12:30 p.m., the school district announced on its website that students at southern peninsula schools would be released 90 minutes early today. Schools affected are Chapman School; Connections Homeschool (Homer); Fireweed Academy; Homer Flex School; Homer High School; Homer Middle School; Kachemak Selo School; McNeil Canyon Elementary School; Ninilchik School; Paul Banks Elementary School; Razdolna School; Voznesenka School and West Homer Elementary School. Nikolaevsk School was already closed today.
“Today has been challenging with the road conditions and weather. The decision protocol for this morning is being reviewed, as it is every time schools have a delay start, early release, or closure,” the district said in its announcement.” Be assured KPBSD and our contractor, Apple Bus, will debrief later today. Be safe, be kind.”
In an email from Homer City Clerk Melissa Jacobsen, the city strongly encouraged that people attend by Zoom a 4 p.m. Homer City Council Worksession. Anyone attending in person should go to the upstairs conference room in Homer City Hall. For information on attending by Zoom, visit the city website at https://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/citycouncil/city-council-worksession-182. The worksession is to discuss redevelopment of the Homer Education and Recreation Campus (HERC) and includes a presentation and discussion by Josh Cooper and Giovanna Gambardella of Stantec.
Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.
