High Wind — Matanuska Valley, Alaska

2015-02-05 to 2015-02-06 · Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Event narrative

At station PAAQ, Palmer, wind gusts passed the 60 mile-per-hour mark beginning around 2 p.m. AKST February 5. Winds continued to gust above warning criteria for the next two hours. The peak gust of 75 miles-per-hour occurred at 10 p.m. February 6.

DOT station GTFA2 measured a peak gust of 71 mph.

A unoccupied single engine plane was damaged at the Palmer airport.

Wider weather episode

On February 5 and 6, an Arctic high pressure ridge extended from the Alaska Interior into the Canadian Yukon at around 1040 millibars. This ridge, combined with a low pressure system around 966 millibars located in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska created a strong pressure gradient over Prince William Sound and the northern extent of Cook Inlet.

Gap winds developed and damaged vessels in harbor and buildings in the region.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 556798. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.