High Wind — City and Borough of Yakutat, Alaska

2026-01-14 · City and Borough of Yakutat, Alaska

Event narrative

Strong easterly winds with gusts of 45-55mph across the Yakutat area late on the 13th, saw a sharp wind shift out of the west in the 1am hour, spiking up to high wind. The peak wind gust measured at the Yakutat Airport ASOS was 53kt (61mph) at 248am on the 14th.

Wider weather episode

After an active period of multiple systems moving through the area bringing periods of high winds to the southern panhandle, a stronger system arrived bringing high winds to majority of the Panhandle on the 13th into the 14th. This low center tracked northward through the eastern gulf, while deepening, along with a storm force front. The low center moved onshore along the NE Gulf Coast in vicinity of Yakutat overnight Tuesday the 13th. As the low jumped inland, winds spiked up through the inner channels, lasting longest for the Skagway area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1317479. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.