Strong wind forecast for Anchorage ahead of possible weekend snow

By Anchorage Daily News

Updated: March 30, 2024 Published: March 28, 2024

Morning sun reaches the peaks near Turnagain Arm as fog hovers above the water on March 20, 2024. (Marc Lester / ADN)

A storm system moving into Southcentral Alaska is expected to bring strong winds by Saturday and chance of weekend snow.

Back-to-back storm systems coming into the region could bring mixed precipitation and gusts up to 55 mph in the Anchorage Bowl Saturday into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Back-to-back storms move into Southcentral this weekend. Strong winds, heavy snow, rain on snow, and blowing snow could lead to poor travel conditions. Take a look at this timeline to see when there might be opportunities to travel in less hazardous conditions #AKwx pic.twitter.com/n8jxXtCTo6
— NWS Anchorage (@NWSAnchorage) March 29, 2024

A high wind watch in effect for the Anchorage Hillside and western Turnagain Arm from Saturday morning through Sunday morning warned of southeast winds 40 to 50 mph with gusts up to 75 mph possible. The Anchorage Bowl could see winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph possible, forecasters say.

Forecasters said there was still some uncertainty around the weekend forecast, which on Friday was calling for a mix of rain or snow into the weekend over a broad area including the Anchorage Bowl, Mat-Su and the western Kenai Peninsula.

The weather service on Friday issued a winter weather advisory for snow and blowing snow in Valdez and Thompson Pass and warned of the potential for moderate to heavy snow in the Copper River Basin.