High Wind in Alaska, September 21 to 22, 2000

Pressure gradients between a moderate high pressure center in the northeast Gulf of Alaska and an approaching weather front from the southwest, produced locally strong southeast winds along the Anchorage Hillside. Gusts reached speeds of 84 mph as reported by an observer at the intersection of O'Malley and Maintree Roads...along the mid Anchorage Hillside. Gusts above 60 mph were recorded across many other areas of the Hillside.Power was knocked out to a large majority of Municipal Light & Power customers in the city of Anchorage after wind knocked tree branches into power lines about 8 pm. Scattered customers throughout the Chugach Electric Association service area, from Jewel Lake to the Hillside were without power as well. Wind also flipped a small floatplane at Lake Hood Thursday afternoon and damaged another while it was taxiing. No injuries were reported.The front also was preceded by very warm air, yielding a balmy 70 degrees at Elmendorf AFB Thursday afternoon. This was among the warmest temperatures ever recorded at the site this late in September.Forecasters at the Anchorage Forecast Office alerted the public to the high wind potential as early as 5 days prior to the onset of the strong winds.