Expires:201209031800;Remove:201209031800;968776
WWAK81 PAFC 021925
SPSAER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1100 AM AKDT SUN SEP 2 2012

AKZ101-111-121-125-131-135-141-145-152-155-161-031800- 
...TWO POWERFUL EARLY SEASON STORMS ON THE WAY...
A PAIR OF VERY STRONG STORM SYSTEMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF ALASKA 
WITH STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE FIRST 
STORM WHICH IS SITTING OVER THE EASTERN BERING SEA TODAY WILL 
TRACK NORTHWARD ALONG THE WEST COAST OF ALASKA TONIGHT AND
MONDAY...PRODUCING WIDESPREAD STRONG WINDS AND LOCAL HEAVY RAIN 
FROM THE EASTERN BERING SEA AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA TO THE GULF OF
ALASKA AND SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR 
ALONG WESTERN TURNAGAIN ARM AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF ANCHORAGE 
AND EAGLE RIVER WHERE A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT.
HOWEVER...MOST PLACES CAN EXPECT TO SEE A PERIOD OF STRONG GUSTY
WINDS AS THIS SYSTEM PASSES THROUGH.  
A SECOND MORE POWERFUL STORM WILL TAKE A NEARLY IDENTICAL 
PATH TO THE FIRST STORM ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...PRODUCING
STRONGER AND MORE WIDESPREAD WINDS ALL THE WAY FROM THE WESTERN
ALEUTIANS TO MAINLAND ALASKA. 
POWERFUL STORMS LIKE THESE ARE VERY TYPICAL IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.
HOWEVER...THEY ARE MUCH RARER THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON. WHEN SIMILAR
WINDS ARE OBSERVED IN THE WINTER THERE MAY BE LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE. 
A VERY NOTEWORTHY DIFFERENCE THIS TIME OF YEAR IS THAT THE GROUND 
IS NOT FROZEN AND ALL OF THE LEAVES ARE STILL ON THE TREES. THIS
GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF FALLING TREES AND BRANCHES AS
WELL AS POWER OUTAGES. IN ADDITION...THERE MAY BE HIGHER THAN NORMAL
TRAFFIC ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM FOR THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY. HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION IN HIGH WINDS.
HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS...WHICH WILL CAUSE RISES
ON RIVERS AND STREAMS ACROSS THE REGION. HOWEVER...THESE SYSTEMS 
WILL MOVE THROUGH FAIRLY QUICKLY LIMITING THE PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN 
IN ANY GIVEN LOCATION. ALTHOUGH NO FLOODING IS EXPECTED AT THIS
TIME...PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES NEAR RIVERS AND
STREAMS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY RISING
WATER LEVELS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO HIGHER GROUND.  
STAY TUNED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS
AND WARNINGS ON THESE EARLY SEASON STORMS.
$$
SEB