Today
Cloudy with scattered snow showers in the morning...then numerous snow showers in the afternoon...possibly mixed with rain along the coast. Blowing snow developing through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm in the afternoon with visibilities reduced to to less than 1 mile at times. Snow accumulation up to 2 inches. Highs in the upper 20s inland to mid 30s along the coast. North to east wind 10 to 20 mph...except east wind increasing to 25 to 40 mph in the afternoon through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm.
Tonight
Snow...mixing with or changing to rain near sea level. Areas of blowing snow...reducing visibilities to one half mile at times. Snow accumulation up to 4 inches near sea level and 6 to 12 inches above 1000 feet. Temperatures steady or slowly rising through the 30s. North to east wind 15 to 30 mph. Through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm...east wind 30 to 45 mph increasing to 55 to 65 mph after midnight with gusts up to 80 mph possible.
Monday
Rain...except snow above 1000 feet. Additional snow accumulation 4 to 10 inches. Highs in the 30s. North to east wind 20 to 35 mph becoming south to east 15 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm...east wind 50 to 65 mph with gusts up to 80 mph possible.
Extended forecast for Western Prince William Sound
Monday Night
Rain and snow showers likely. Lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s. South to east wind 10 to 25 mph except southeast 25 to 40 mph through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm.
Tuesday
Rain and snow likely. Highs in the 30s. East wind 10 to 15 mph except southeast 15 to 25 mph through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm.
Tuesday Night
Snow and rain likely. Lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s.
Wednesday through Saturday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs 25 to 35. Lows 15 to 25.
Almanac
Key:T = Trace of precipitation; MM = data not available
... High wind watch in effect from late tonight through Monday afternoon through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm...
The National Weather Service in Anchorage has issued a high wind watch... which is in effect from late tonight through Monday afternoon.
A strong storm over the northeast Pacific this morning will track northward across the western Gulf of Alaska tonight and then move to somewhere in the vicinity of Cook Inlet on Monday. This low will push a strong front to the north Gulf Coast tonight and then inland Monday. This storm has the potential to produce east winds up to 80 mph through Portage Valley and Turnagain Arm sometime during the period from late tonight through Monday afternoon.
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.
... Major storm will impact southcentral Alaska beginning Sunday night...
A major storm will cross the western Gulf Sunday night and move into Cook Inlet by Monday before heading inland Monday night. As a result both high winds and snow will impact much of southcentral Alaska beginning Sunday night.
A high wind watch is in effect for Portage Valley and eastern Turnagain Arm late Sunday night through Monday afternoon. A high wind watch is also in effect along western Turnagain Arm and higher elevations in Anchorage Monday afternoon through Monday night. The heaviest snowfall is expected across higher elevations of western Prince William Sound... including Turnagain Pass... where up to two feet of snow is possible. The combination of snow and wind will make travel along the Seward Highway treacherous.
Although the Anchorage bowl and Matanuska Valley are not expected to see much precipitation out of this system... strong winds will likely move in to these areas late Monday as the storm tracks inland.
2009 Hurricane Coverage
High Wind Watch
Special Weather Statement