High Wind — City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska

2025-09-17 · City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska

Event narrative

The Sitka Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 60mph at 446am AKDT Wednesday the 17th. A local weather spotter noted some small branches and twigs blown off trees, trash cans and plastic chairs blown over, and a previously damaged store front window now broken with glass on the sidewalk downtown. A tug boat traveling through Peril Strait, north of Sitka, measured a peak gust of 67kt at 617am AKDT.

Wider weather episode

A storm force low developed and pushed into the eastern Gulf of Alaska the evening of Tuesday 9/16/2025 through Wednesday 9/17/2025, bringing widespread strong to high winds to the panhandle. Winds surged northward through the inner channels as the low center tracked closer to the coast and jumped inland. The Juneau Airport Wind System (JAWS) was lit up all day due to wind shear and flights were cancelled. Cruise ships via the USCG changed plans and stayed the night in ports before onset of winds and missed their next 1 or 2 ports of call. There were numerous reports of localized damage to siding and roofs.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1295172. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.