A high wind warning Tuesday for Southcentral Alaska from the National Weather Service updated a high wind watch issued Monday, with conditions now expected to peak on Wednesday. A flood warning has also been issued for parts of Prince William Sound, with other areas of the sound and the Susitna Valley under a flood watch.
According to Tuesday’s wind warning, effective from at 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday for parts of Anchorage, Eagle River and Indian, winds from 75 to 110 mph are expected along Turnagain Arm and higher elevations. The lower Hillside, East Anchorage and Eagle River are forecasted to see winds from 20 to 30 mph, with gusts from 45 to 60 mph.
A warning for Whittier, Seward, Girdwood and Moose Pass, in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, expects east winds of 60 to 75 mph.
“Winds will increase early Wednesday morning and peak during the early to mid afternoon hours on Wednesday,” meteorologists wrote. “Winds will rapidly diminish late Wednesday afternoon.”
Channel 2 chief meteorologist Jackie Purcell says winds should build Tuesday evening on the Anchorage Hillside, then reach a peak late Wednesday morning through late Wednesday night. The winds are expected to drop from the Hillside into the Anchorage Bowl Wednesday morning.
The weather service said Tuesday that the winds were being driven by conditions south of Alaska, with hydrologist Ben Balk describing “a fire hose of moisture” coming in from the tropics. Meteorologist Sean Baines says the pattern is expected to continue for another four to five days.
An NWS flood warning due to recent heavy rain is in effect until 4 a.m. Thursday for Cordova, Eyak Lake and Eyak River, with the lake at minor flood stage and the river in a bankfull state. A flood watch has been declared from late Tuesday night through Thursday afternoon for Whittier, Seward, Girdwood, as well as Talkeetna, Willow and Cantwell. The Susitna Valley watch mentions Willow and Montana creeks, as well as the Yentna and Skwentna rivers as particularly susceptible to flooding.
Channel 2 has gathered some helpful information about reporting power outages, as well as Facebook pages for the city’s Office of Emergency Management and area power utilities.
TO REPORT A POWER OUTAGE:
CHUGACH ELECTRIC: 762-7888 (in Anchorage), 800-478-7494 (outside Anchorage)
ML&P: 279-7671
MEA: 696-7697
If you need immediate sheltering assistance, please call the American Red Cross of Alaska at 646-5401.
Damage reports may be filed online at the Anchorage Office of Emergency Management’s website, or you may call OEM at 343-1401 during normal business hours if you do not have access to a computer.
Facebook Pages:
US National Weather Service Alaska:
http://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Alaska.gov
Anchorage Office of Emergency Management:
http://www.facebook.com/AnchorageOEM
Municipal Light & Power (ML&P):
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Municipal-Light-Power/195622507137163?ref=ts
Chugach Electric:
http://www.facebook.com/ChugachElectric
(CE "Chugach’s Facebook page is not a place to report outages.")
Matanuska Electric Association (MEA):
http://www.facebook.com/matanuska.electric
Contact Chris Klint
