Hurricane-force winds blast Anchorage airport; planes diverted to Fairbanks
Originally published Friday, October 10, 2008 at 10:51 a.m.
Updated Friday, October 10, 2008 at 10:54 p.m.
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Winds of as much as 100 knots diverted planes from Anchorage to Fairbanks on Friday morning.
Twenty-three flights, including 19 cargo planes, landed at Fairbanks International Airport because of what was described as “hurricane force winds” by the Department of Transportation.
Other flights out of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport were temporarily grounded, while flights from Fairbanks to Anchorage were delayed or canceled.
The trouble began about 9 a.m. when two flights into Anchorage reported moderate to severe turbulence.
Conditions did not improve until just before noon.
In case of emergency, Fairbanks International Airport is equipped to handle up to 28 diverted flights.
Nearby Eielson Air Force Base was on standby Friday in case more planes needed to be sent there, but that wasn’t necessary by the time the winds cleared up.
“We were able to handle the diversion very quickly and efficiently,” said Angie Spear, the business development manager for the Fairbanks airport.
Community Discussion
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See! Who says Alaska doesn't have hurricanes!
Anchorage blows, Fairbanks sucks. No news here.
moondoggie--that made me laugh!!!:)
mooondoggie you brighten my friday!!! Hope your weekend is great
sure makes me glad of days off... the good news is that weather moves on eventually. right?
Wind from the north
Anchorage sucks as Fairbanks and the Chinook weather phenomenon blow.
The term is 'wind shear.' Any pilot will tolerate moderate turbulence. The jet engine, especially requires a positive flow of air for operation. The aircraft is designed to sustain strain from severe turbulence.
The Boeing Corp. recommends per flight limits to avoid wind shear.
Fairbanks did suck in the flights that Anchorage had blown.
Chin-nooky winds generate from the south (warm) which is why outside the Skankorage Bowl area always gets those 70-100+mph winds on average of three to five times a year during winter months , when warm and cold air mix (creates wind) .... I always wondered why the Skankorage and Mat-Su areas never make national news with 100 mph + winds when the areas have them , other than making the states look bad in terms of all the structures here holding up with no problems , especially around Potter Marsh/Glen Alps/Flattop/Rabbit Creek/Fire Island where they get a direct headwind funneling thru Turnagain Arm/Cook Inlet with no catastrophies... All the times I been in Anchorage during the winter I had experienced 60 mph winds in the Anchorage Bowl itself (midtown) one February as my face got sunburnt at 45 degrees walking in a headwind ...and felt 90 mph gusts at Potter Marsh which is no joke. Anchorage Bowl is such a unique place.
Winds from the north are 'northernly wind' which comes from the arctic , which gets bitterly cold as the Tanana Valley experiences both chin-nooky and northernly wind....
I look at all the polluting power plant and refinery stacks around the valley to see which way they are pointing/lingering or leaning as it will tell you winter time what kind of 'typical' winter weather we will have as the front moves in the Fairbanks/Squarebanks/Welfarebanks/Unfairbanks area :
From the north - Colder and potential sub arctic temps in winter , cooler temps during summer ...
From the south - Warm or moisture potential snowy weather in winter , any type of weather (take your pick) created and windy days during summer...
From the east - Colder and potential sub arctic temps in winter , hot and unbearable temps during summer ...
From the west - Moisture and wet weather (lots of potential snow) during winter , rain and windy days during summer ...
I have a barometer instrument (for local air pressure) as well as a fishermans barometer (for detecting potential fronts hundreds of miles away from any direction) , as the fishermans baro water level went way high two days before the chin-nooky winds hit Anchorage as the local barometer started to drop air pressure fast , so I knew some flaky type weather was going to hit before NOAA posted any warnings.
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