High Wind — Anchorage, Alaska

2024-02-21 to 2024-02-22 · Anchorage, Alaska

Event narrative

Wind gusts began to exceed 65 knots (75 mph) on the Anchorage Hillside around 9 pm on Feb 21. A mesonet observing site in Arctic Valley measured a 82 knot (94 mph) wind gust at 1 am on Feb 22. Numerous locations at low elevation across the Anchorage Bowl and along the Glenn Highway north to Eagle River also observed wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. Anchorage International measured a peak wind of 60 knots (69 mph) during the early morning hours of Feb 22. Over 9000 Chugach Electric customers were reported without power across Anchorage by 2:30 am on Feb 22. Strong winds also flipped a small plane at Merrill Field.

Wider weather episode

A deep, decaying low over the Northern Bering Sea extended an occluded front across Western Alaska on the evening of Feb 21, leading to the development of strong southeasterly winds across Southcentral Alaska. Winds were enhanced by a weak surface low driving up Cook Inlet, allowing for high winds along the Anchorage Hillside to spread down into the lower elevations of the Anchorage Bowl through the early morning hours of Feb 22. This led to the observation of a wind gust of 60 knots (69 mph) at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in west Anchorage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1163822. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.