Download Winter Rift 2023

During winter storms, travelers should expect winter driving conditions and some roadways may be temporarily closed while snow is cleared. Be prepared for slippery, snow covered roads and limited visibility. Drive with care. During the winter, road conditions can change rapidly.The following road status information is valid from Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 1:30 pm, and it will remain valid until conditions change. At that time the information below will be updated.

Download Winter Rift 2023

On January 22, 2023, a 1,550 square kilometer (580 square mile) iceberg calved from the southwestern side of the Brunt Ice Shelf near the British Antarctic base Halley VI. The iceberg has been named A-81 by the US National Ice Center. This calving had been anticipated for several years because of the reactivation of a rift nicknamed Chasm 1, which began in 2012. The steady growth of Chasm 1 since then prompted a move of the Halley VI research base to a safer location in 2016, known as Halley VIa. A rapidly-developing new rift east of an ice rise (McDonald Ice Rumples) released a 1,270 square kilometer (490 square miles) iceberg, A-74, two years ago. A pair of Landsat 8 images reveals the overall changes in the ice shelf since early 2021. 041b061a72