High Wind Warning Issued for Thompson Pass with Gusts Up to 75 MPH

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Anchorage has issued a High Wind Warning for Thompson Pass. The warning is officially in effect from 11:00 PM AKST Thursday, February 19, through 7:00 PM AKST Friday, February 20.

Affected Areas

This alert specifically impacts the Thompson Pass region (AKZ732).

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected area should take the following precautions:

• Secure Property: Tie down or move indoors any loose outdoor objects that could be blown away or damaged.
• Prepare for Outages: Be ready for the possibility of widespread power outages due to high wind speeds.
• Travel with Caution: Use extreme caution if you must drive. High winds and blowing snow will make travel difficult.
• Protect Against Cold: Limit skin exposure. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero can cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes.

Expected Conditions

• Wind Speeds: Sustained north winds of 45 to 60 mph are expected.
• Wind Gusts: Peak gusts may reach up to 75 mph.
• Wind Chill: Temperatures will feel as low as 30 degrees below zero on Friday afternoon.
• Visibility: Blowing snow is expected to reduce visibility to as low as one-half mile at times between Thursday night and Friday morning.

Timeline

Winds are forecast to strengthen throughout the day on Thursday, reaching peak intensity Thursday night through Friday. While the warning is set to expire at 7:00 PM AKST on Friday, the National Weather Service notes that winds will be slow to diminish through Friday night and into Saturday.