The fall storm brings rain and strong winds to the southeast

A strong fall storm will move across the Gulf of Alaska Friday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to communities in the Southeast through Saturday.

The front originates from a low pressure system currently hanging over the western Gulf near Kodiak. It is already lashing the island community with gusts of up to 75 miles per hour.

National Weather Service meteorologist Grant Smith said the storm is now heading toward Southeast Alaska. It will initially hit communities on the outer coast from Yakutat to Prince of Wales Island before spreading inland.

“It’s just a front that’s basically moving from west to east,” he said. “So from this evening we will see wind and rain along the coast. And then as the night and weekend come, the rest of the Panhandle will see the rain.”

Most locations can expect rainfall between 5 and 7 cm at sea level, but mountain slopes could see more rain.

“The moisture levels are not really impressive for Southeast Alaska,” he said. “The strongest winds will occur as the front moves through this evening into the early hours of this morning.”

Communities like Petersburg, Wrangell, Juneau, Hoonah, Gustavus and Yakutat could see winds between 30 and 50 miles per hour as the storm moves through.

Further south, winds could be even stronger, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour. A high wind warning is in effect for Sitka, Craig, Klawock and Hydaburg from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday. A high wind warning is in effect for Ketchikan and Metlakatla Saturday from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Winds this strong can knock down trees and power lines, cause property damage and lead to widespread power outages.

People are advised to secure their vessels or other loose items that could be blown around or damaged by the wind