Anchorage Wind Event: 47,000 Customers Left Without Power
Gusts reaching 80 mph caused widespread outages across Southcentral Alaska on Friday morning, with crews working to clear fallen trees.
By Leila Mansour ·
More than 47,000 customers in Southcentral Alaska lost electricity on Friday morning due to high winds. Outage maps from Chugach Electric Association and Matanuska Electric Association showed the disruption stretching from Willow and Wasilla in the north down to Anchorage and Whittier in the south.
The National Weather Service issued high wind warnings for the Anchorage area and the lower Matanuska Valley, in effect until at least 11 a.m. Friday. Forecasters expected wind gusts in Anchorage and Eagle River to reach speeds of up to 80 mph. The service predicted the winds would taper off by Friday afternoon.
Utility line crews are working to restore service by removing fallen trees and repairing downed power lines. Julie Hasquet, a spokesperson for Chugach Electric, stated that crews would remain in the field throughout the day until power is restored to all customers.
Hasquet noted that the wind conditions placed a heavy burden on the electrical system. "These winds are pretty crazy, and they definitely take a toll on our system," she said. "So we always appreciate the members being patient, letting our crews get the work done, and just stay safe out there."
Chugach Electric advised residents to avoid approaching downed power lines or trees. The utility asked customers to report outages through the websites of Chugach Electric or Matanuska Electric.
The high wind warnings remained active for parts of the region as crews continued their restoration efforts on Friday morning.
