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 an...