Heavy Snow and High Wind in Alaska, October 24 to 25, 2000

Arctic air, lodged in the upper Susitna Valley, combined with a moderate weather front, that moved in from southwest Alaska and the western Gulf of Alaska, to produce heavy snows in several areas. A heavy snow warning was issued late Tuesday afternoon. Just north of Chulitna and northwest of Hurricane, storm totals ranged from 6" - 18" in an 18 hour period. The Chulitna Highway DOT maintenance facility, on the outskirts of the heavy snow, recorded a mere 3" of new snow.Just to the south of the heavy snow area, easterly wind gusts at the Wasilla Fire Station at or above 60 mph were reported from just after 10 pm ADT Tuesday until 6:30 am ADT Wednesday. Peak wind Tuesday was a 68 mph gust, occurring between 10 pm and 10:30 pm ADT. Wind gusts then diminished to less than 60 mph for several hours until just after 3am ADT Wednesday. From 3 am ADT to 6:30 am ADT Wednesday, easterly wind gusts above 60 mph were again recorded, peaking at 66 mph just after 6 am ADT Wednesday.In the Anchorage area, winds ahead of the front reached 77 mph at a private residence on Timberline Drive at 4:46 am ADT Wednesday.