Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Warnings in 2025
High Wind Warning 1, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this high wind warning at Jan 5, 2025, 11:03 PM AKST. It took effect at Jan 6, 2025, 12:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 15 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jan 5, 2025, 11:03 PM AKST (08:03 UTC)
- In effect from
- Jan 6, 2025, 12:00 PM AKST
- Expired
- Jan 7, 2025, 3:00 AM AKST
- In force
- 15 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
201 WWAK71 PAFC 060803 NPWAER URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 1103 PM AKST Sun Jan 5 2025 AKZ102-103-070200- /O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ /O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ Anchorage-East Turnagain Arm- Including the cities of Indian, Eklutna, Girdwood, Eagle River, Anchorage, and Portage 1103 PM AKST Sun Jan 5 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM MONDAY TO 6 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...Southeast winds 35 to 55 mph with gusts up to 85 mph expected. * WHERE...Portage, Turnagain Arm, and Anchorage Hillside * WHEN...From 3 PM Monday to 6 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highest winds are expected along Turnagain Arm and Portage. Southern portions of the Anchorage Hillside, such as Potter Valley, are the most likely areas of the Hillside to receive high wind. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ AKZ112-070200- /O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1200Z/ /O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ Matanuska Valley- Including the cities of Sutton, Palmer, Wasilla, and Chickaloon 1103 PM AKST Sun Jan 5 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM MONDAY TO 6 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...East winds 35 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. Localized higher gusts are possible. * WHERE...Matanuska Valley. * WHEN...From 3 PM Monday to 6 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Northeast winds out of the Matanuska Valley will increase in speed on Monday in response to a very strong low pressure system moving northward across the Gulf of Alaska. Winds will remain out of the northeast for much of Monday afternoon until approximately Midnight, when winds will then quickly shift to southeast out of the Knik River Valley. Winds will remain gusty through Tuesday morning. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ AKZ135-070200- /O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250106T2100Z-250107T1200Z/ Southeast Prince William Sound- Including the cities of Cordova 1103 PM AKST Sun Jan 5 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO 3 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...East-southeast winds 40 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. * WHERE...Southeast Prince William Sound including Cordova. * WHEN...From noon Monday to 3 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Easterly to east-southeasterly winds pick up early Monday afternoon with the highest winds occurring Monday evening. Winds begin to slowly diminish during the overnight hours Monday as they become more southerly into Tuesday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ DAN
3 follow-up statements
211 WWAK71 PAFC 061330 NPWAER URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 430 AM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 AKZ135-070200- /O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250106T2100Z-250107T1200Z/ Southeast Prince William Sound- Including the cities of Cordova 430 AM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...East-southeast winds 40 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. * WHERE...Southeast Prince William Sound including Cordova. * WHEN...From noon today to 3 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Easterly to east-southeasterly winds pick up early Monday afternoon with the highest winds occurring Monday evening. Winds begin to slowly diminish during the overnight hours Monday as they become more southerly into Tuesday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ AKZ102-103-070200- /O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ Anchorage-East Turnagain Arm- Including the cities of Indian, Eklutna, Girdwood, Eagle River, Anchorage, and Portage 430 AM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...Southeast winds 35 to 55 mph with gusts up to 85 mph expected. Occasional gusts near 100 mph possible through Portage. * WHERE...Portage, Turnagain Arm, and Anchorage Hillside * WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highest winds are expected along Turnagain Arm and Portage. Southern portions of the Anchorage Hillside, such as Potter Valley, are the most likely areas of the Hillside to receive high wind. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ AKZ112-070200- /O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ Matanuska Valley- Including the cities of Sutton, Palmer, Wasilla, and Chickaloon 430 AM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...East winds 35 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. Localized higher gusts are possible. * WHERE...Matanuska Valley. * WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Northeast winds out of the Matanuska Valley will increase in speed on Monday in response to a very strong low pressure system moving northward across the Gulf of Alaska. Winds will remain out of the northeast for much of Monday afternoon until approximately Midnight, when winds will then quickly shift to southeast out of the Knik River Valley. Winds will remain gusty through Tuesday morning. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ DAN
593 WWAK71 PAFC 062209 NPWAER URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 109 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 AKZ135-071200- /O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250107T1200Z/ Southeast Prince William Sound- Including the cities of Cordova 109 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...East-southeast winds 40 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. * WHERE...Southeast Prince William Sound including Cordova. * WHEN...Until 3 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Easterly to east-southeasterly winds pick this afternoon, with the highest winds occurring this evening. Winds begin to slowly diminish during the overnight hours as they become more southerly into Tuesday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ AKZ102-103-071500- /O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ Anchorage-East Turnagain Arm- Including the cities of Anchorage, Girdwood, Eagle River, Portage, Indian, and Eklutna 109 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...Southeast winds 35 to 55 mph with gusts up to 85 mph expected. Occasional gusts near 100 mph possible through Portage. * WHERE...Portage, Turnagain Arm, and Anchorage Hillside * WHEN...Until 6 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highest winds are expected along Turnagain Arm and Portage. Southern portions of the Anchorage Hillside, such as Potter Valley, are the most likely areas of the Hillside to receive high wind. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ AKZ112-071500- /O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0001.250107T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ Matanuska Valley- Including the cities of Wasilla, Sutton, Chickaloon, and Palmer 109 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST TUESDAY... * WHAT...East winds 35 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. Localized higher gusts are possible. * WHERE...Matanuska Valley. * WHEN...Until 6 AM AKST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult. Use caution if traveling in a high profile vehicle. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Northeast winds out of the Matanuska Valley increase in speed today in response to a very strong low pressure system moving northward across the Gulf of Alaska. Winds will remain out of the northeast from this afternoon through about midnight, after which winds will quickly shift to southeast out of the Knik River Valley. Winds will remain gusty through Tuesday morning. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$
314 WWAK71 PAFC 071142 NPWAER URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 242 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2025 AKZ102-103-112-071245- /O.CAN.PAFC.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250107T1500Z/ Anchorage-East Turnagain Arm-Matanuska Valley- Including the cities of Girdwood, Palmer, Chickaloon, Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Eklutna, Sutton, Portage, and Indian 242 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED... Winds have peaked along Portage Valley, Turnagain Arm, and the Anchorage Hillside. Winds will continue to diminish early this morning, though they will not completely die down. $$ AKZ135-071245- /O.EXP.PAFC.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250107T1200Z/ Southeast Prince William Sound- Including the cities of Cordova 242 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2025 ...HIGH WIND WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 3 AM AKST EARLY THIS MORNING... Winds have lightened up in the Cordova area. $$ Baines
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this high wind warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind warning went out at Jan 5, 4:45 PM AKST, 6 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 5, 4:45 PM AKST, 6 hours 18 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 445 PM AKST Sun Jan 5 2025 .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... Discussion: Today is the start to more complicated forecast period...with strong winds, a variety of precipitation types across Southcentral, periods of moderate to heavy rain for Gulf coastal areas, and heavy snow anticipated for higher elevations, including Thompson Pass. Over the past 24 hrs, the first of a series of surface fronts and upper-level shortwaves has pushed inland and continues to trek into interior Alaska. Temperatures have warmed a bit in response to this initial wave, especially for locations that saw an increase in easterly winds along the immediate coast. A wintry mix of showers persist behind the trough and in advance of the next surface low and front pushing into the northern Gulf this evening. The next front reaches the coast early Monday morning with the 980 mb parent low moving over the Barren Islands. These will bring an additional push of warmer air on modest southerly flow, and widespread precipitation to the coastal regions. Lower elevations along the Gulf that were seeing a mix of precipitation today should see a rapid changeover to rain (with the exception of Valdez) as easterly winds again quickly increase. The easterly Turnagain Arm winds will also likely bend into Anchorage for a time early Monday morning, allowing temperatures to brief climb above freezing. Temperatures elsewhere along northern Cook Inlet will also hold steady around freezing for Monday, meaning any precipitation spilling over the coastal mountains would fall as freezing rain. The strong southeasterly flow aloft, however, should keep any precipitation falling from Kenai to the Susitna Valley very light. The more challenging precipitation type forecast will be from Valdez north into the southern half of the Copper River Basin. Warmer air will again push inland in the wake of Monday's front. However, just how much cold air currently over places like Valdez scours out, remains to be seen. Prolonged snow could fall through much of Monday before temperatures finally push into the mid 30s and precipitation changes to rain. A foot or so of snow could fall before any changeover to rain. Farther inland, similar amounts could fall through Monday evening as temperatures stay slightly cooler. However, a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain could fall along the Richardson and Edgerton Highways in the southern Copper River Basin. Yet another, and more powerful storm system, then moves into the Gulf directly on the heels of the first. This system will likely have hurricane force winds along its front from Kayak Island to Hitchinbrook Entrance. Strong wind gusts of up to 100 mph are not out of the question for Portage and Eastern Turnagain Arm as this low reaches peak intensity as it crosses the Kenai Peninsula and into Cook Inlet. Winds to 75 mph will also be possible for the Anchorage Hillside and the Matanuska Valley as the low enters northern Cook Inlet. Winds could gusts as high as 60 mph along the western Kenai Peninsula coast. Winds could also approach 75 mph for Cordova if the front pushes far enough north. Precipitation will also begin to spill over the coastal mountains and fill in across Cook Inlet and the Mat-Su Valleys by Monday afternoon as the low advances and a strong upper-level wave moves overhead in tandem with a strong jet streak. Again, any precipitation for these areas could fall as freezing rain with temperatures near freezing. Even with temperatures slightly above freezing, the antecedent cold airmass has allowed ground temperatures to fall below freezing. Thus, any rain could still freeze on surfaces. The low then lifts north on Tuesday, with strong southerly winds in its wake as pressure rises quickly behind the low. Expect gusty winds for most locations with widespread gusts of 35 to 50 mph for valley locations. - TM && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3: Sunday through Wednesday morning)... A trough of low pressure pushed across Southwest Alaska on Sunday with periods of snow observed at Dillingham and Iliamna. Radar shows remnants of this precipitation shifting northwestward toward the Kuskokwim Mountains, which should should filter out any remaining precipitation en route to the Kuskokwim Delta later tonight. A look at the bigger picture shows the continued presence of an occluded low immediately south of False Pass. This low is promoting southeasterly flow into the ALaska Peninsula with near uniform temperatures hovering at 40 degrees from False Pass up into Port Heiden. Attention is turned to a shortwave trough lifting northward into the Gulf of Alaska currently, which will push into Southwest Alaska through Monday morning. This wave will set off a period of off and on snow showers for interior Bristol Bay and portions of the Lower Kuskokwim Valley, beginning later tonight and lingering into Tuesday. Temperatures at the surface are expected to remain at or below freezing for all areas with an area extending from Dillingham to New Stuyahok to Koliganek to see anywhere from a dusting up to 2 inches of snow through early Monday morning. Easterly winds along the coast, especially into Dillingham, could see a brief period of light freezing rain this evening, though this should be short-lived with minimal accumulations. A second and stronger area of low pressure is forecast to lift northward along the Western Alaska Range late Monday through Tuesday. Precipitation will be more widespread, extending across much of Bristol Bay into the Lower Kuskokwim Valley. Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches will be common with locally higher amounts up to 6 inches possible. A sharp cutoff in snow accumulations will exist along and south of King Salmon, as well as along and west of Togiak. Still, a dusting to up to an inch of snow may fall across these areas as well through the morning hours on Tuesday. Lastly, a cold airmass remains over the western and northern Bering where gusty northeasterly winds will continue from Saint Lawrence Island down into the offshore zone of 411.Gusts of 35 to as high as 50 knots will be possible within this region along with seas of 15 to 20 feet. Further east, the threat of heavy freezing spray will continue along the ice edge from east of Saint Matthew Island down to immediately south of Nunivak Island. BL && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Thursday through Sunday)... A very active weather pattern will continue for much of southern Alaska through the end of the week and into next weekend. The longwave pattern features a strong upper level low dominating much of the Bering Sea-western mainland Alaska and a steep ridge of high pressure along the Canadian Coast and Eastern Alaska. The high pressure ridge will weaken and retreat eastward slightly along the Gulf of Alaska and Southern Alaska allowing a very strong North Pacific low and its associated fronts to travel northward into the Gulf and into the Alaskan Peninsula Thursday and into Friday before being absorbed by the long wave trough of low pressure over the Baring Sea. This pattern will bring unseasonable warmer temperatures and mixed precipitation along the coastlines near the surface and has the real potential for heavy snow accumulations in the higher elevations. The upper level low will gradually retreat back into Eastern Siberia and the Chukchi Sea as the Ridge of high pressure reasserts its dominance Friday and into Saturday. This will flatten out the southern portion of the long wave trough allowing several compact surface lows and their associated fronts to transit along the Aleutians and coastal southern Alaska. Confidence in the model guidance is moderate with a slight bias between the GFS and European solutions through Thursday. The European and Canadian better handle the synoptic features Friday and into Saturday. && .AVIATION... PANC...VFR conditions with a north wind wind prevail through the first half of the TAF period. Snow will generally remain out of ANC, though can't completely rule out a few snowflakes. A brief period of gusty southeast winds out of the Turnagain Arm is likely early tomorrow morning before winds return to northerly in response to a strong low moving into the Gulf. Low-level windshear looks to persist with the strengthening southeast winds aloft with the exception of the period in which surface winds are out of the southeast. There is a chance for freezing rain Monday afternoon and evening, but it is very possible that the cross- barrier flow over the mountains will be enough to downslope out the precipitation. &&
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jan 5, 10:03 PM AKST, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
1003 PM AKST Sun Jan 5 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0813 PM Snow Valdez 61.11N 146.22W
01/05/2025 M3.8 Inch Chugach AK Trained Spotter
Updates previous report from Valdez. Snow
since this morning. Liquid equivalent 0.26
in.
&&Local storm report, Jan 5, 10:06 PM AKST, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
1006 PM AKST Sun Jan 5 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 PM Snow Thompson Pass 61.13N 145.73W
01/05/2025 E17.0 Inch Chugach AK Dept of Highways
16 to 18 inches of estimated snow
accumulation since 11 am Dec 4. Temperature
31 degrees, currently snow with rain mixing
in.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6, 3:43 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 60 hr | |
| Jan 6, 3:43 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 5 days | |
| Jan 6, 3:43 AM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 60 hr | |
| Jan 6, 4:57 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 23 hr | |
| Jan 6, 4:57 AM AKST | Hurricane Force Wind Warning | AFC | 11 hr | |
| Jan 6, 4:57 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 11 hr | |
| Jan 6, 4:57 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 23 hr | |
| Jan 6, 5:22 AM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFC | 19 hr | |
| Jan 6, 2:32 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 13 hr |
Nearby
High Wind Warnings in Alaska, 2025Every high wind warning in 2025
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.