ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — In the aftermath of a ferocious storm that battered Anchorage with hurricane-force winds, thousands of residents in Alaska’s largest city found themselves grappling with power outages as they faced a landscape of downed power lines, damaged trees, and disrupted transportation on Monday.
The havoc wreaked by the powerful storm was evident in the recorded wind speeds, with a staggering 132-mph (212-kph) gust blasting through a mountain weather station to the south of Anchorage. To the north, Arctic Valley experienced a 107-mph (172-kph) gust, while within the city limits, winds roared at a formidable 75-mph (121-kph). The threshold for hurricane-force winds, deemed to start at 74 mph (119 kph), was certainly surpassed as Anchorage was battered by nature’s fury.
National Weather Service meteorologist Tracen Knopp attributed the extreme weather event to a sizable low-pressure system originating in the Bering Sea. This system ushered in not only the high winds but also an influx of moisture and unseasonably warm temperatures, hovering in the low 40s Fahrenheit (slightly over 4.4 degrees Celsius) on Sunday.
One Anchorage resident, Steven Wood, recounted a harrowing experience as he and his family observed the destructive winds during breakfast. The peaceful morning turned chaotic when their neighbor’s roof was torn off and hurtled toward their home. Wood vividly recalled the terrifying moment, shouting “Incoming! Everybody run!” as the roof crashed into their residence, shattering windows and causing structural damage.
The storm’s impact extended beyond individual properties, with a pedestrian walkway spanning the Seward Highway suffering a partial collapse due to the relentless winds. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported as debris from the bridge obstructed the major roadway, prompting rerouting of traffic and swift cleanup efforts by transportation crews.
The storm also disrupted air travel, forcing the diversion of three passenger jets, nine cargo planes, and a U.S. Air Force aircraft away from Anchorage on Sunday. These flights were redirected to Fairbanks, a considerable distance to the north, as the turbulent conditions made landing in Anchorage untenable.
As residents began the arduous task of clearing debris and assessing damage, power restoration efforts were underway following widespread outages. At the height of the storm, 17,500 customers were left without electricity, according to Julie Hasquet, a spokesperson for Chugach Electric Association. By Monday, the number of affected customers had dwindled to approximately 5,700, though the restoration process was painstaking due to the extensive damage inflicted by the storm.
Hasquet emphasized the meticulous nature of the restoration work, highlighting the challenges faced by repair crews encountering obstacles such as fallen trees and debris entangled in power lines. She noted that some customers might not see their power restored until Tuesday, underscoring the complexity of the recovery efforts amid the city-wide devastation.
Navigating the aftermath of
