Wind advisory takes effect 7 a.m. Tuesday for Anchorage, with gusts to 50 mph

The National Weather Service tells Anchorage residents to secure loose outdoor objects and drivers of high-profile vehicles to use extra caution from 7 a.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday, when gusts of up to 40 to 50 mph are expected. Forecasters say trees still carrying their leaves make power outages more likely.

The Weather Service in Anchorage issued the Wind Advisory, its lower wind tier, below a High Wind Warning, early Monday. South to southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected across the city.

"Trees are still mostly green and fully leafed, causing them to be more vulnerable to damage from the strong winds," the advisory said. It also warns gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and a few power outages may result.

"Winds will initially develop out of the southeast on Tuesday morning as strong winds along the Turnagain Arm bend into town," the advisory said. The strongest winds stay on the south and west sides of town until they turn southerly and spread across the Anchorage Bowl Tuesday afternoon, then diminish through Wednesday morning. The Municipality's hazard plan says 50 to 60 mph winds hit downtown hardest, and that Hillside and Turnagain Arm damage is limited below 85 mph.

A strong fall storm system moving into Alaska's western coast will produce the winds. The advisory can be extended, changed or cancelled before Tuesday.

A separate advisory covers the Northwest and Southwest Kenai Peninsula from 4 p.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday, with the same wind speeds, strongest along the coast from Anchor Point north to Kenai and Nikiski.