High Wind — Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska

2025-09-22 · Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska

Event narrative

COOP observer at the northern end of Ketchikan, near Port Higgins, estimated winds of 40-65mph between 2-6am on the 22nd and checked the damaging wind box. Peak wind gusts elsewhere in the borough were measured at 44-53mph.

Wider weather episode

A quick moving storm force low pressure system deepened to 972mb as it tracked NE over the Eastern Gulf of Alaska on September 22nd. A sting jet formed on the south side of the low with hurricane force wind gusts. As the low jumped inland near Cross Sound, a sudden wind shift from east to west caused significant tree fall and damage to the community of Elfin Cove.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1295977. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.