Weather

Strong winds forecast for Southcentral Alaska overnight as rain continues

Strong winds are expected to ramp up along Turnagain Arm and higher elevations of Anchorage late Wednesday, meteorologists say.

Gusts will reach 60 to 70 mph overnight, according to a statement issued by the National Weather Service.

Southeast winds are expected to continue through Thursday and will pick back up again overnight and into Friday as a second storm front moves across the area, said meteorologist Michael Kutz.

In the Anchorage Bowl, winds are expected to increase gradually Wednesday, with gusts of 20 to 45 mph overnight, Kutz said.

The winds could cause tree damage or power outages throughout the area, Kutz warned.

“Hopefully everybody just keeps it safe out there,” he said. “There is a possibility of wind damage and people should tie down their collectibles to stop them from being scattered all over.”

The remainder of the week will bring gloomy, drizzly weather, and Kutz said Anchorage see an accumulation of about two-thirds of an inch of rain by Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The storm system is caused by a high-pressure system moving from Canada and meeting in Southcentral Alaska with a low pressure system coming in from the Gulf of Alaska, Kutz said. The intensity of the rain and winds will depend on how close the low center gets to Anchorage before moving farther inland, he said.

Seward could see some of the heaviest rainfall from the system, up to 4 inches by Friday morning, Kutz said.

The Matanuska and Susitna valleys are expected to get winds similar to what’s expected in Anchorage, Kutz said. On Wednesday morning, gusts were already reaching 46 mph in Palmer, which caused the closure of the Central Landfill. Just before 11 a.m., more than 500 people in the Matanuska Valley were without power, according to the Matanuska Electric Association.

Kutz said the rainy, windy weather is typical for Southcentral this time of year.

“We’re going to probably see a couple of days of some disgusting, nasty weather,” he said.

Tess Williams

Tess Williams is a reporter focusing on breaking news and public safety. Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Contact her at twilliams@adn.com.

ADVERTISEMENT