Windy weather heads into Southcentral Alaska as temperatures rise

Southern winds are forecast to usher in warm air in the Anchorage Bowl this week.

The National Weather Service issued a wind warning for Turnagain Arm and higher elevations of Anchorage from Monday afternoon through early Tuesday.

Meteorologist Bill Ludwig said gusts along Turnagain Arm were already reaching 60 to 70 mph Monday morning but could get as high as 80 mph by evening.

In Anchorage, gusts were expected to stay in the 20 to 35 mph range, although Ludwig said winds on the east side and on the lower Hillside could reach up to 45 mph.

The winds are expected to carry in heat. Temperatures overnight Monday to Tuesday in Anchorage are expected to reach nearly 40 degrees, Ludwig said. But the warmth likely won’t be around long enough to melt much of the snowpack, he said.

Tuesday morning, temperatures will drop. Ludwig said there could be some rain early in the day, but it will switch to snow as the afternoon hits. It’s unclear how much snow Anchorage could get, but Ludwig said early forecasts called for around an inch.

High temperatures throughout the week are expected to hover around freezing in Anchorage. Ludwig said snow also is possible through the week.

Ludwig said the Matanuska Valley will likely see weather similar to Anchorage’s this week, but wind there today won’t be as intense.

A winter weather advisory was issued for the Susitna Valley for early Tuesday until about noon. Ludwig said snow was falling Monday morning and was expected to get heavier in the evening and early hours of Tuesday. Talkeetna, Willow and Cantwell were expected to get 4 to 9 inches of snow. High temperatures in the Susitna Valley throughout the week were expected to reach the low 30s.

Western Alaska was experiencing blizzard conditions Monday that were expected to continue until Tuesday morning. The Kuskokwim Delta area west of Bethel was expected to see 4 to 6 inches of snow with 45 mph wind gusts.