Strong winds are blowing over the Alaska Range. National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Fisher reported gusts to 70 miles an hour along the Richardson Highway and in the 60 mile an hour range along the Parks Highway on Monday morning. Fisher says the winds were the result of the first of 2 Chinook events, emphasizing that the second, forecast to begin late Tuesday could yield even higher gusts.
“This is what we call a mountain wave event. And what happens in the lee of the Alaska Range there we get strong downward motion aloft, which can push the winds…. down to the surface, which can create really strong wind gusts. So we’re looking at gusts as high as, maybe, 100 miles an hour along parts of the Richardson Highway.”
The Tuesday into Wednesday Chinook event is also forecast to bring 80 to 90 mile an hour peak gusts to the rail belt and Denali region, and Fisher cautions about potential severe impacts.
“(It’ll) probably make travel very difficult along the Richardson and Parks Highways in areas where these strong winds are gusting. There’s also the potential for these strong wind gusts that could cause significant damage to buildings. Basically what we’re looking at is a record event.
Fisher says temperatures are expected to rise above freezing in the windy, areas as already balmy air from the south undergoes dynamic warming as it moves rapidly over the mountains
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
