Here Comes the Wind Again (Anchorage, Eek: apartment, power lines, house)

[globetraveler]

Looks like another early season wind event is heading our way. Hopefully it doesn't cause as much havoc and damage as last weeks storm did.

------------
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
406 PM AKDT THU SEP 13 2012

...POWERFUL STORM TO BRING STRONG WINDS TO SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA...

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC
ON SATURDAY AND TRACK TO INTO BRISTOL BAY ON SUNDAY. THE
SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING STRONG WINDS TO ANCHORAGE...PORTAGE
VALLEY AND TURNAGAIN ARM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.

AKZ101-150100-
/X.NEW.PAFC.HW.A.0010.120916T0400Z-120917T0000Z/
ANCHORAGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANCHORAGE...EAGLE RIVER...INDIAN...
EKLUTNA
406 PM AKDT THU SEP 13 2012

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.

* LOCATION...THE ANCHORAGE BOWL...HILLSIDE AND ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM.

* TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP INITIALLY OVER THE
UPPER HILLSIDE AND TURNAGAIN ARM SATURDAY EVENING...AND SPREAD
TO THE REST OF ANCHORAGE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS SATURDAY
NIGHT. WINDS WILL PEAK DURING THE DAY SUNDAY AS A WEATHER FRONT
MOVES THROUGH THE REGION...AND THEN BEGIN DIMINISHING SLOWLY
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS....SOUTHEAST 70 TO 85 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 100 MPH
ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND THE UPPER HILLSIDE. FOR THE REST OF
ANCHORAGE...SOUTHEAST 35 TO 50 MPH WITH POSSIBLE LOCAL GUSTS TO
65 MPH.

* IMPACTS...TREES AND POWER LINES MAY BE BLOWN OVER. STRONG WINDS
CAN PRODUCE WIND DRIVEN PROJECTILES AND MAY DAMAGE PROPERTY.
TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS
HIGH WIND EVENT. PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS
WEATHER SITUATION. PREPARATION FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
WEATHER EVENT SHOULD BEGIN NOW.




Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
130 PM AKDT THU SEP 13 2012

AKZ101-140800-

...STRONG WINDS EXPECTED IN THE ANCHORAGE AREA THIS WEEKEND...

A STRONG STORM IS STILL EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE ANCHORAGE AREA LATE
SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. WHILE THERE REMAINS SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO
THE MAXIMUM STRENGTH OF THE WINDS, THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
WINDS CLOSE TO THE MAGNITUDES SEEN IN LAST WEEK`S STORM.
THEREFORE THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THERE WILL BE MORE
UPROOTED TREES AND RESULTING POWER OUTAGES.

THE BEST ESTIMATES AT THIS TIME:

UPPER HILLSIDE AND TURNAGAIN ARM: SOUTHEAST WIND INCREASING TO 35 TO
50 MPH SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND FURTHER INCREASING TO 75 MPH WITH GUSTS
AROUND 100 MPH POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY MORNING.
WINDS WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON SUNDAY.

LOWER HILLSIDE, EAST ANCHORAGE AND EAGLE RIVER: SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO
20 MPH DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY INCREASING TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
65 MPH POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT. WINDS WILL PERSIST
INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON ON SUNDAY AND THEN GRADUALLY DECREASE BY
LATE AFTERNOON.

REST OF ANCHORAGE: SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH ON SATURDAY INCREASING
TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT. WINDS
WILL PERSIST INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON ON SUNDAY AND THEN GRADUALLY
DECREASE BY LATE AFTERNOON.

BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THE MAIN FRONT SHOULD HAVE PASSED THROUGH
WHICH WILL BRING IN SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS IN THE 20 TO 35 MPH
RANGE...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS BEING IN SOUTH AND WEST ANCHORAGE
NEAR THE INLET.

CHECK BACK FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS AS THE WEEK
PROGRESSES FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM.

$$
EZ SEP 12

[Moose Whisperer]

Yep, these storms usually don't start until October. The last one only had gusts forecast into the 70-80 mph range, while this one is forecast up to 100 mph for the upper hillside. This is starting out to be an even more extereme winter than last year, and we all know what happened then!

[globetraveler]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Yep, these storms usually don't start until October. The last one only had gusts forecast into the 70-80 mph range, while this one is forecast up to 100 mph for the upper hillside. This is starting out to be an even more extereme winter than last year, and we all know what happened then!

I read the 5:00am discussion and the NWS says there is some uncertainty whether the high winds will reach the lower elevations of the Anchorage bowl. The 9:00am High Wind Watch update today still had 100MPH gust for the hillside and 65MPH gusts possible for the rest of Anchorage Saturday night until Sunday afternoon. We'll see how this all plays out.

I agree, it is starting to look like another crazy winter is on tap for the area.

[Moose Whisperer]

As I expected, the High Wind Watch has now been upgraded to a Warning. And the max gusts for the upper hillside have now been raised to 110 mph! Yikes!

High Wind Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK409 PM AKDT FRI SEP 14 2012...

POWERFUL LATE SUMMER STORM TO BRING STRONG WINDS TO SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA..

.A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING TO BRISTOL BAY WILL BRINGDANGEROUS WINDS TO PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA SATURDAYEVENING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. AN ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONTWILL ALSO BRING DANGEROUS WINDS TO EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANCHORAGE...EAGLE RIVER...INDIAN...EKLUTNA

409 PM AKDT FRI SEP 14 2012...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM SATURDAY TO 1 AM AKDTMONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WINDWARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM SATURDAY TO 1 AM AKDTMONDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.* LOCATION...THE ANCHORAGE BOWL...HILLSIDE AND ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM.* WIND...IN THE ANCHORAGE BOWL AND LOWER HILLSIDE...SOUTHEAST WIND 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH. ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND THE UPPER HILLSIDE...SOUTHEAST WIND 70 TO 85 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 110 MPH DIMINISHING TO 65 TO 80 MPH SUNDAY EVENING.*

TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP INITIALLY OVER THE UPPER HILLSIDE AND TURNAGAIN ARM SATURDAY EVENING...AND SPREAD TO THE LOWER HILLSIDE AND EAST ANCHORAGE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS SATURDAY NIGHT. STRONG WINDS THEN WILL SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE ANCHORAGE BOWL AS A WEATHER FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH AFTER MIDNIGHT SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.*

IMPACTS...TREES AND POWER LINES MAY BE BLOWN OVER. STRONG WINDS CAN PRODUCE WIND DRIVEN PROJECTILES AND MAY DAMAGE PROPERTY. TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTEDOR OCCURRING.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS THAT COULDBE BLOWN AROUND OR DAMAGED BY THE WIND.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Yep, these storms usually don't start until October.

That's 'cuz Mother Nature's hot flash is over, and now she's making up for all the time she wasted last fall and winter.

[globetraveler]

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WINDWARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM SATURDAY TO 1 AM AKDTMONDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.* LOCATION...THE ANCHORAGE BOWL...HILLSIDE AND ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM.* WIND...IN THE ANCHORAGE BOWL AND LOWER HILLSIDE...SOUTHEAST WIND 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH. ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND THE UPPER HILLSIDE...SOUTHEAST WIND 70 TO 85 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 110 MPH DIMINISHING TO 65 TO 80 MPH SUNDAY EVENING.

Yikes! 75-85 mph winds gusting to 110 mph. Looks like the winds will be around for a bit more time as compared to the last one as well.

I hope everyone stays safe this weekend.

[jdhpa]

Originally Posted by globetraveler

Yikes! 75-85 mph winds gusting to 110 mph. Looks like the winds will be around for a bit more time as compared to the last one as well.

I hope everyone stays safe this weekend.

I grew up in coastal Florida, that reminds me of sitting in the house waiting out hurricanes.

For a couple of years we lived in an apartment on the beach, the tide was very high during hurricanes and the waves would break over the sea wall (or over A1A between buildings). Do you get high tides there during these wind storms?

[asphodell]

I'm from Florida as well. I'm pretty excited to get some hurricane-esque storms up here! I'm fairly certain we don't have to worry about storm surges up here. The most that might happen is a kick ass bore tide !

I do hope that in the future Alaska puts forth some kind of preparation type deal like we have in Florida and other states that get hurricanes. People need to be aware of the risks of storms like this as well as be prepared for them.

[Moose Whisperer]

Storm surges are never an issue as far as I know from these events here in South Central, probably due to the prevailing wind direction and our geography. However, it is sometime a major issue for the Western costal areas when the wind blows straight in from the Bearing sea, and may of the coastal vilages are unprotected, sitting just above sea level.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Storm surges are never an issue as far as I know from these events here in South Central, probably due to the prevailing wind direction and our geography. However, it is sometime a major issue for the Western costal areas when the wind blows straight in from the Bearing sea, and may of the coastal vilages are unprotected, sitting just above sea level.

Actually, the storm surge associated with hurricanes is caused by extremely low pressure. The low pressure in the atmosphere actually lifts the water up. While we experience hurricane force winds, there is no associated low pressure system to create a storm surge.