Wildfire in Western Susitna Valley, Alaska

There were numerous lightning strikes in the Western Susitna Valley. The greatest concentration of lightning strikes was located northeast of Skwentna in the Petersville area. A passing aircraft reported a lightning-ignited wildfire located approximately 20 miles west of the community of Susitna. Designated the Beluga Fire, the blaze burned a total of 65 acres before it was supressed.

A Gulf low moved inland over the Alaska Panhandle along with a ridge over the Southcentral and the Al-Can border. These features allowed for easterly waves to move over the Susitna Valley and into the East Kuskokwim Valley. These easterly waves, further enhanced by an upper low dropping into Southwest Alaska, combined with warmer temperatures and ample moisture allowed for many thunderstorms to form over the Susitna Valley and the East Kuskokwim Valley. There were 2420 lightning strikes over the Susitna Valley and Talkeetna Mountains from thunderstorms on June 19. By 9:30 PM that day, six fires were confirmed over the Susitna Valley. In the Susitna Valley, the greatest concentration of lightning strikes was northeast of Skwentna around the Petersville area. In the East Kuskokwim Valley, there were many lightning strikes around Lime Village.