Residents of the eastern Interior, as well as much of Southcentral Alaska, can expect warm temperatures and high winds from weather systems over the next few days, based on warnings issued Sunday by the National Weather Service.
A special weather statement issued Sunday noted high wind warnings for the eastern Alaska Range and the Delta Junction area. The warnings, in place from midnight to 6 p.m. Monday, called for winds increasing through Sunday afternoon and peaking overnight; Denali National Park will be under a wind advisory for the same time period Monday.
"Maximum wind gusts of 80 mph are expected along areas near the Richardson Highway in the eastern Alaska Range," forecasters wrote. "Areas near Delta Junction can expect south winds gusting to as high as 70 mph, and gusts to 65 mph are expected in the Railbelt area in Denali."
Ryan Metzger, a forecaster with the weather service's Fairbanks office, said Sunday that both storms are the result of low-pressure systems passing through the Bristol Bay region.
"It's bringing southern-type wind flow from the south across most of northern mainland Alaska," Metzger said. "On the west coast it's bringing a mixed bag of precipitation, and as far as the Alaska Range goes, it's bringing strong winds."
Forecasters say the second weather pattern, "an exceptionally strong wind storm which could be of record proportions," is expected to arrive Tuesday night in areas including the western Alaska Range, the Railbelt, the Richardson Highway and Delta Junction.
"Winds aloft in this second storm are expected to be exceptionally strong, and this storm has the potential to produce maximum wind gusts of 90 mph or higher in areas prone to the strongest winds," forecasters wrote.
The high winds will be strong enough to cause "significant damage to structures," according to the weather agency. Metzger said the Delta Junction area's record wind velocity to date is 77 mph, set on Dec. 4, 2011.
"People living in areas prone to strong winds should begin to prepare now for these two periods of very strong winds," forecasters wrote. "Any loose objects should be secured. The very strong winds will make travel along the Parks and Richardson highways very difficult."
Metzger said areas west of Fairbanks may see "a wintry mix" of rain, snow and freezing rain over the next few days --- but the Golden Heart City, protected from precipitation by the Alaska Range, can expect some high temperatures to accompany the winds.
"Tomorrow it's going to be in the mid-teens and Tuesday in the lower 20s -- and Wednesday in the upper 20s, and Thursday in the 20s still," Metzger said. "Considering it's currently 14 below, it's relatively warm."
The Fairbanks office encourages people in affected areas to monitor its website, or follow radio and TV updates on current weather conditions.
Warming up in Southcentral
Similar conditions are expected in Anchorage, as the National Weather Service's Anchorage office said in a Sunday statement that a warm front will bring "temperatures above freezing across many inland locations by Monday."
"In addition, strong east to southeast winds will impact many coastal locations including Anchorage Monday which will allow for temperatures to rise into the 40s across the Anchorage Bowl and the Matanuska Valley," forecasters wrote. "The possibility for rain (mixed with snow at times) will also accompany this front, which may have an impact on area roadways which have been below freezing for an extended period of time."
More warm air from the Pacific Ocean is expected to arrive over the region overnight Tuesday, according to the agency.
"The warmer and active pattern looks to persist into the weekend and possibly longer, keeping temperatures above average across much of southern Alaska," forecasters wrote.
Turnagain Arm and upper elevations -- including the Anchorage Hillside -- will be under a high wind warning from 11 p.m. Sunday until noon Monday.
"Winds will steadily increase this evening, peaking overnight and remaining dangerously high through Monday morning," forecasters wrote. "Winds will then rapidly decrease Monday afternoon."
Anchorage-based weather service forecaster Luis Ingram said the local warning wasn't a direct product of the Bristol Bay low-pressure system, but could be traced to it.
"There is a front stretching out from that low, and it's that front that's generating those stronger winds," Ingram said.