High Wind in Alaska, April 30, 2002

An occlusion moved east across the Middle Tanana Valley bringing brief strong winds to the greater Fairbanks area. Although the Fairbanks Airport only reported gusts as high as 38 mph, various damage occurred. Eielson Air Force Base reported gusts to 50 mph.The windstorm brought down some trees which knocked out some power lines in the areas of Rosie Creek, Badger Road, 15 mile Chena Hot Springs Road, and near Salcha...most of the homes were without power for several hours. In Fairbanks, at a boat shop a tree fell on and damaged a customer's boat, a large storage shed belonging to the Yukon-Koyukuk school district was destroyed, being lifted up by the wind and then set down on a delivery van and some adjacent vehicles belonging to a kitchen distribution company located next door to the School District shed. The rain that accompanied the front ended up damaging goods that had been covered by the shed, including 1000 pairs of donated roller skates which had been slated to be shipped to various villages in the school district. Damages estimates include $60,000 for the shed, $30,000 for the shed contents, and $25,000 for damage to 5 vehicles.