Weather service warns of gusts up to 75 mph in Aleutians East Borough through Friday

The National Weather Service upgraded its high wind watch for the Aleutians East Borough to a warning early Thursday, Oct. 22. The high wind warning takes effect at 10 pm Thursday and runs until 10 pm Friday.

Forecasters at the weather service's Anchorage office expect southeast winds of 35 to 50 mph, with gusts up to 75 mph possible. The strongest gusts are expected from Akutan to King Cove. The office said the winds could move loose debris, damage property and cause power outages, and that travel could be difficult.

The weather service urged people to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged. It told residents to prepare for possible widespread power outages and to use caution if they must travel.

Farther west, a wind advisory covers Unalaska and Nikolski from 10 pm Thursday to 4 pm Friday, with south winds of 25 to 40 mph and gusts up to 55 mph. That advisory warns of blowing objects and a few power outages.

The Anchorage office first issued the high wind watch Tuesday afternoon, naming Cold Bay and King Cove. Forecasters said a storm-force Bering front would push southeast winds through a gap that runs southeast to northwest, and put the chance of gusts reaching 75 mph or more at 40 to 60 percent. A Wednesday afternoon update noted uncertainty about the exact wind direction and whether the gap would strengthen the winds.

The watch had covered Friday morning through Saturday morning and rated the event's certainty as "possible." The warning starts earlier, ends Friday night and rates it "likely."

Last month, a special weather statement issued Sept. 19 forecast gusts up to 60 mph in Cold Bay, King Cove and False Pass.