Hurricane winds and extreme snow are impacting various regions in Alaska, particularly the Mat-Su Valley. The storm’s effects began overnight, with expectations for conditions to worsen through Sunday. A First Alert Weather Day has been issued, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Severe Winds in Mat-Su Valley
Winds have reached hurricane force, recording up to 84 miles per hour in Palmer and 75 miles per hour in Wasilla. These powerful winds have resulted in significant power outages across Southcentral Alaska.
- Palmer: 84 mph
- Wasilla: 75 mph
A High Wind Warning is in effect for the Mat-Su Valley until Monday afternoon. Similarly, Anchorage to Kenai remains under a High Wind Advisory through the same period.
Heavy Snowfall in Southeast Alaska
Southeast Alaska is bracing for heavy snowfall. Haines has already recorded 9 inches as of Saturday afternoon. The situation is expected to worsen with heavy snow transitioning from rain early Sunday morning.
- Haines: 9 inches of snow
- Projected accumulation for Juneau: 13 to 24 inches by the weekend’s end
- Winter Storm Warning for Eastern Chichagof Island: 10 to 13 inches of snow
Other areas under Winter Storm Warnings include Skagway and Haines, where 15 to 20 inches of snow accumulation is anticipated. Yakutat is expected to receive 2 to 4 inches under a Winter Storm Advisory.
Interior and North Slope Conditions
Contrasting with the severe weather in the south, the Interior and North Slope regions will experience clear skies. However, temperatures could drop significantly, reaching 20 to 30 degrees below zero. Wind chill factors could create hazardous conditions, with frostbite possible within just 5 minutes.
Warnings for Western Alaska
Western Alaska is also dealing with extreme conditions. Blizzard Warnings and High Wind Advisories are in place until Monday afternoon for the Kuskokwim Delta, Nunivak Island, and Bethel. Winds could reach up to 60 miles per hour, with wind chills dropping to 35 degrees below zero.
Aleutian Chain Alerts
Additionally, the Aleutian Chain faces a Gale Warning with gusts potentially reaching 60 miles per hour. High temperatures are expected to remain in the mid to upper 20s, with a wintry mix likely.
Residents are advised to stay informed and take precautions during this extreme weather event, available through the El-Balad Weather App.
