Alert archive / Alaska / Wind Advisories in 2026

Wind Advisory 12, NWS Anchorage, AK

May 15, 2026Anchorage Municipality, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this wind advisory at May 15, 2026, 2:34 PM AKDT for Anchorage Municipality, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It took effect at May 16, 2026, 4:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 18 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 2026, 2:34 PM AKDT (22:34 UTC)
In effect from
May 16, 2026, 4:00 PM AKDT
Expired
May 17, 2026, 10:29 AM AKDT
In force
18 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

Counties Anchorage Municipality, AK, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK

The radar

The Kenai radar (PAHG), 154 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:34 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Anchorage Iap/Pt. Campbe, (PANC), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 76 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Anchorage Iap/Pt. Campbe, at 12:00Z on 2026-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Anchorage Iap/Pt. Campbe, at 12:00Z on 2026-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -5 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
981 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

542 
WWAK71 PAFC 152234
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
234 PM AKDT Fri May 15 2026

AKZ702-161400-
/O.NEW.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.260517T0000Z-260518T0300Z/
Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River-
Including the cities of Anchorage Hillside, Upper Eagle River,
and Indian
234 PM AKDT Fri May 15 2026

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM SATURDAY TO 7 PM AKDT SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 to 65 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides.

* WHEN...From 4 PM Saturday to 7 PM AKDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds and worst conditions are 
  expected late Saturday evening through late Sunday morning. While 
  unlikely, there is a chance that winds may gust up to 75 mph. For 
  lower elevations, gusts up to about 35 to 45 mph are forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Winds this strong can make driving difficult. Use caution while 
traveling and secure outdoor objects.

&&

$$

Chen
4 follow-up statements
613 
WWAK71 PAFC 161131
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
331 AM AKDT Sat May 16 2026

AKZ702-170215-
/O.CON.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.260517T0000Z-260518T0300Z/
Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River-
Including the cities of Upper Eagle River, Anchorage Hillside,
and Indian
331 AM AKDT Sat May 16 2026

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM 
AKDT SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides.

* WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 7 PM AKDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds and worst conditions are 
  expected late Saturday evening through late Sunday morning. There 
  is a chance for isolated gusts up to 75 mph. For lower elevations, 
  gusts up to about 35 to 45 mph are forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high 
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Secure outdoor objects.

&&

$$

Mitchell
390 
WWAK71 PAFC 161823
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
1023 AM AKDT Sat May 16 2026

AKZ701-170900-
/O.EXB.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.260517T0000Z-260517T0900Z/
Anchorage-
Including the cities of Eklutna, Anchorage, and Eagle River
1023 AM AKDT Sat May 16 2026

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM AKDT 
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Anchorage and Eagle River.

* WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 1 AM AKDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and 
  affect outdoor events.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds will increase through today, with the 
  strongest winds expected during the evening hours.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling, especially for high profile vehicles. 
Secure outdoor objects like canopies and light outdoor furniture.

&&

$$

AKZ711-170900-
/O.EXB.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.260517T0000Z-260517T0900Z/
Lower Matanuska Valley-
Including the cities of Wasilla, Big Lake, and Palmer
1023 AM AKDT Sat May 16 2026

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM AKDT 
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 to 55 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Lower Matanuska Valley, including Palmer and Wasilla.

* WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 1 AM AKDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and 
  affect outdoor events. Strong winds may loft glacial silt from the 
  Matanuska River and lead to periods of reduced visibility.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds will increase through today, with the 
  strongest winds expected during the evening hours.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling, especially for high profile vehicles. 
Secure outdoor objects like canopies and light outdoor furniture.

&&

$$

AKZ702-170915-
/O.EXT.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.260517T0000Z-260517T2100Z/
Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River-
Including the cities of Upper Eagle River, Indian, and Anchorage
Hillside
1023 AM AKDT Sat May 16 2026

...WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM AKDT 
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 to 65 mph 
  expected. Isolated gusts up to 75 mph are possible.

* WHERE...Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides.

* WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 1 PM AKDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and 
  affect outdoor events.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds and worst conditions are 
  expected from this evening through late Sunday morning, with a 
  chance for isolated gusts up to 75 mph.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling, especially for high profile vehicles. 
Secure outdoor objects like canopies and light outdoor furniture.

&&

$$

Chen
138 
WWAK71 PAFC 170841
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
1241 AM AKDT Sun May 17 2026

AKZ701-711-170945-
/O.EXP.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-260517T0900Z/
Anchorage-Lower Matanuska Valley-
Including the cities of Big Lake, Eklutna, Palmer, Wasilla, Eagle
River, and Anchorage
1241 AM AKDT Sun May 17 2026

...WIND ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 1 AM AKDT EARLY THIS MORNING...

Gusty winds will gradually diminish through tonight. 

$$

AKZ702-172100-
/O.CON.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-260517T2100Z/
Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River-
Including the cities of Upper Eagle River, Anchorage Hillside,
and Indian
1241 AM AKDT Sun May 17 2026

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM AKDT THIS AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 to 65 mph 
  expected. Isolated gusts up to 75 mph are possible.

* WHERE...Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides.

* WHEN...Until 1 PM AKDT this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and 
  affect outdoor events.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds and worst conditions are 
  expected from this evening through late Sunday morning, with a 
  chance for isolated gusts up to 75 mph.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high 
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Secure outdoor objects.

&&

$$

Mitchell
928 
WWAK71 PAFC 171829
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
1029 AM AKDT Sun May 17 2026

AKZ702-171930-
/O.CAN.PAFC.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-260517T2100Z/
Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River-
Including the cities of Anchorage Hillside, Indian, and Upper
Eagle River
1029 AM AKDT Sun May 17 2026

...WIND ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

Winds have diminished to below 45 mph across the higher elevations 
of Anchorage and Eagle River.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this wind advisory 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 wind advisory went out at May 15, 4:41 AM AKDT, 9 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 15, 4:41 AM AKDT, 9 hours 53 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
441 AM AKDT Fri May 15 2026

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)...

A few weak easterly shortwaves pass through southern Southcentral
today, keeping light showers in place this morning and early
afternoon across the Mat-Su and Copper River Valley.

Attention shifts to a North Pacific low pushing into the Bering
Sea today. Its associated front moves into the southern Gulf of
Alaska and over Kodiak Island by Saturday morning, bringing
rounds of precipitation and gale force winds. The front will
continue its northward progression through Saturday, with upslope
driven precipitation along the Kenai Mountains and western Prince
William Sound. Gap winds will pick up through Turnagain Arm, Knik
Arm, and through the Copper River Valley, as well as along
ridgetops of the Kenai and Chugach Mountains by Saturday morning.
Further inland and away from the Gulf coast, conditions will
generally trend warmer and dryer. Temperatures climb into the high
50s and perhaps the low 60s.

KM

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA , THE BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS
(Days 1 through 3)...

Flood warnings caused by ice jams for Napaskiak, Oscarville,
Napakiak, Bethel and Kwethluk remain in effect through 9:00pm
AKDT Friday.

A low, currently north of Atka, becomes stationary in the Bering
Sea east of the Pribilof Islands by this afternoon as a westerly-
wave moves across the Interior today. The low's front moves across
the Aleutians to Interior Southwest Alaska the next 24 hours.

Nighttime microphysics and surface observations show widespread
fog at St. Paul and along the AK Peninsula and Southwest Alaska
coast -- from King Salmon north to Toksook Bay. Visibility ranges
from 1/2 SM to 1 SM from the Southwest Alaska coastline inland to
through parts of the Kuskokwim Delta. This widespread fog lifts
slowly later this morning. Additionally, widespread, steady
precipitation, coupled with wind gusts ranging from 25 to 35 mph,
persist through the day in the Aleutians and the Alaska Peninsula.
QPF amounts range from 0.50 to 1.00" today. Lower QPF amounts are
expected tomorrow in the Alaska Peninsula and Southwest Alaska.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Monday through
Thursday)...

Upper level troughing over the Bering Sea extending into the Gulf
looks to persist through at least early to mid next week,
allowing for the unsettled weather across much of southern Alaska
to continue. By Monday morning, the last of the front from this
weekend's Bering storm continues to affect the Gulf coast with
steady rainfall and mountain snow tapering off and becoming more
showery throughout the day. As this front pushes inland, most
interior locations across Southern Alaska will see an increased
chance for showers through Monday. Multiple successive shortwaves
within the broad cyclonic flow continue to rotate north into
southern Alaska through early next week. Expect elevated winds to
pick back up in the western and northern Gulf, with the eastern
Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound set to see another round
of heavy precipitation for Tuesday. Elsewhere, widespread light
precipitation is expected with this system across the rest of the
northern Gulf coast and Southwest Alaska.

Attention shifts farther west by the middle of next week as the
general Bering Sea low pattern continues with the next low
emerging off of Kamchatka. Models differ on the track this low
takes across the Bering, with the GFS favoring a more northerly
track into the southern Bering while the European/Canadian models
favor a track just along and south of the Aleutian Chain.
Regardless of which solution ends up playing out, generally
unsettled conditions are expected for the Aleutian Chain as the
low and its front tracks to the east through Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...VFR ceilings will likely prevail through the period, with
ceilings generally at or above 5,000 ft. Vicinity showers are
possible later this morning through early afternoon, with brief
dips in ceilings below 5,000 ft. Turnagain Arm winds will weaken
through the day today, with calm southeasterly winds shifting
south to southwesterly this afternoon. However, Turnagain winds
will reintensify later this evening, with southeasterly gusts
approaching 20-25 kts overnight and into tomorrow morning.

-CW

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 4:13 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC60 hr
May 14, 4:13 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC41 hr
May 15, 3:39 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
May 15, 3:41 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC48 hr
May 15, 3:41 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC30 hr
May 15, 1:28 PM AKDTHigh Wind WarningAFCAleutians East5 hr
May 15, 3:21 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr

Nearby

Wind Advisories in Alaska, 2026Every wind advisory in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.