Anchorage, the largest populated city in Alaska, is still recovering from the hurricane-force winds that battered homes and infrastructure on Sunday, leaving thousands without power and causing significant damage.
The extreme weather event had a significant impact across the city. In addition to widespread power outages, the storm downed trees, forced school closures and partially collapsed the Rabbit Creek Pedestrian Bridge along the Seward Highway.
The National Weather Service in Anchorage reported wind gusts reaching a staggering 129 mph at the Sunburst Ridgetop weather station on the Turnagain Pass Ridgeline. Schools in Anchorage remained closed on Monday, with some closures reported in other south-central Alaska districts.
“Although our crews have worked through the night, we continue to have schools without power, dangerous and unsafe parking lots due to extremely slick conditions, and maintenance issues within schools that have to be addressed.”
