High Wind — Matanuska Valley, Alaska

2025-01-11 to 2025-01-12 · Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Event narrative

There were reports of downed spruce trees on Pittman Rd and Church Rd. The Glenn Highway weather station near the Matanuska Lake reported strong winds with a peak wind gust of 73 mph at 3:20 AM AKST. Social media posts reported downed trees and roof damage. There were many LSRs issued for damage to small outbuildings and trees for areas near Palmer, Wasilla, and Butte. An article from Alaska Public Media reported that four Mat-Su schools were closed, with most schools having a delayed start on January 16th. Link to Alaska Public Media article: https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2025-01-13/anchorage-schools-closed-after-day-of-damaging-winds-rain.

Wider weather episode

A large and strong low moved up the North Pacific into the eastern Bering Sea, peaking in strength as it moved up the Kuskokwim Delta. The orientation of the low's front was ideal for strong winds across Southcentral Alaska. Damaging winds were observed across parts of the Turnagain Arm, Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska Valley, and Anchorage. A significant amount of moisture also was transported by this system, causing issues with localized flooding and ponding of water on roads across parts of Southcentral. Snow fell in higher elevations, with multiple feet recorded in Thompson Pass. Colder temperatures prevailed after the front passed, allowing for heavy snowfall in Whittier on the morning of January 12. In Southwest Alaska, high surf, and minor coastal flooding in the Kuskokwim Delta Coast resulted from strong onshore winds. Low sea ice coverage was a factor in this flooding episode.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1234601. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.