Alaska News

Wind rattles Muldoon, Hillside

UPDATE 5 AM WEDNESDAY:

The National Weather Service has canceled the flood advisory for Anchorage.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

A storm blowing out of the North Pacific Ocean brought wind gusts up to 84 mph in the Anchorage area Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service's high wind warning for the storm expired at noon.

Power outages affected about 2,000 people in Muldoon and 1,500 Hillside residents, said Sarah Wiggers, Chugach Electric spokeswoman.

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Some city residents used Facebook to report downed trees, damaged fences and rearranged lawns.

The Weather Service says the storm was stronger at higher city elevations and along Turnagain Arm, with winds up to 60 mph and a gust up to 84 mph in the Paradise Valley area.

Meteorologist Bill Ludwig says winds in western parts of the city were much more calm, with some areas there seeing winds in the low 20s, although a 45-mph gust was recorded at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Some residents barely heard their leaves rustle.

Winds at Campbell Circle and Seward Highway were just 2 mph late in the morning.

The power at both South High School and O'Malley Elementary went out during the storm, but generators at both schools kept classes going and power is back on, said Heidi Embley, Anchorage School District spokeswoman.

She said because the generator at O'Malley Elementary only lit the hallways and winds were intense that if parents decided to keep their children at home, then the students' absence would be excused.

With the heavy winds mostly over, the next hurdle to jump is flooding.

The National Weather Service has a flood advisory in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday. The advisory points out Chester Creek is most likely to flood.

The National Weather Service predicts west winds from 20 to 25 mph and rain from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

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Reach Benjamin Brasch at bbrasch@adn.com or 257-4349. Twitter: twitter.com/ben_brasch

NWS flood advisory for Anchorage

By BENJAMIN S. BRASCH

bbrasch@adn.com

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