Thane residents should be prepared for extended road closures, the state transportation department announced.

Strong winds and heavy snow at higher elevations will cause the avalanche hazard above Thane Road to rapidly increase on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 20, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said in a news release.

The department reminded residents not to stop or park in the road’s marked avalanche danger zone. If access along the road is blocked because of an avalanche, the department of transportation will likely be unable to safely remove debris until the hazard naturally decreases.

City and Borough of Juneau advises residents to be aware of where avalanche paths are, pay attention to the level of avalanche danger, carry a beacon when traveling in an avalanche zone and consider evacuating their homes during high avalanche danger if they live in the path of a slide.

• Contact the Juneau Empire newsroom at (907)308-4895.