A storm is set to hit Southeast Alaska this weekend with strong winds and heavy rain. Andrew Park is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau. He says the storm will hit Friday morning with winds likely decreasing in the afternoon. But that lull won’t last long.
“By early Saturday morning we are confident that there’s going to be at least gale-force winds down in southern Clarence (Strait), with higher winds moving further north, potentially into Sumner Strait. Given the holiday weekend, we really want to focus on that messaging. Friday morning is going to be windy. You might see those winds subside, but Saturday morning we’re going to be right back in it.”
Park says on Saturday, sustained winds of 35 to 40 miles per hour with stronger gusts are expected. He says the storm will be strongest in Southern Southeast.
“If you’re near Hydaburg or Cordova Bay on the west coast of Prince of Wales (Island), you’re going to have high winds out there this weekend. If you’re in sheltered bays, yeah, it might not be so bad, but if you poke your head out, especially along our coast, or into Dixon Entrance or in Clarence Strait, you’re going to see strong winds.”
Park says the storm may diminish slightly on Sunday, but will pick up again early next week with even heavier rain expected.
