Blizzard conditions and a travel advisory have shut down most city offices today. 

National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Lawson says a large low-pressure system to the southwest is creating the stormy conditions. 

"The front that's associated with that is pushing a lot of wind and snow up into your area and that going to continue to progress just to your south over the next day or so."

Lawson says the snow will probably mix with rain this afternoon and be accompanied by wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour. 

But don’t despair - colder weather and higher pressure should prevail starting on Wednesday, although Lawson cautioned that it will probably keep snowing, just not as much. 

He says there’s been record snowfall across much of southern Alaska this winter, including the Aleutian Chain.

“Most of these systems start off well in the North Pacific and then continue up towards you, and then from where you’re at out in Unalaska or just south of it, they’ll continue up into the Gulf or up into the southern mainland.  So pretty much everyone is going to get affected by this.  And we will be feeling this system here in Anchorage in the next few days, after it’s done with you.”

The Unalaska Department of Public Safety  and the National Weather Service have issued a Category II travel advisory, asking people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.  That advisory is in effect until 8 pm.

Public Safety says there have been no accidents or damage reported as a result of the storm.

For more information about the advisory, you can call the travel hotline at 581-6080.