Weather
West Alaska Weather Oct. 7-9: Gusty Winds Expected
Nome, AK – Gusty winds are expected along Alaska’s West Coast beginning as early as Wednesday evening and continuing through much of the week as a low pressure system moves through the Bering region.
By Avery Collins · 2026-10-06T11:03:45.797Z
Nome, AK – Gusty winds are expected along Alaska’s West Coast beginning as early as Wednesday evening and continuing through much of the week as a low pressure system moves through the Bering region.
According to the National Weather Service in Fairbanks, High Wind Watches have been issued for St. Lawrence Island and portions of the Seward Peninsula. The agency said residents should continue monitoring forecasts for updates as the system approaches.
An NWS wind graphic valid for the period from Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning shows gusts around 44 mph near Nome. Farther north, gusts around 51 mph are depicted near Point Hope and 37 mph near Kotzebue.
Other western communities shown on the graphic include Gambell, with gusts around 37 mph, and Chevak, around 35 mph. The strongest winds depicted are concentrated along portions of the western coast and nearby waters, while conditions are considerably lighter farther inland.
A High Wind Watch means conditions capable of producing damaging high winds are possible. The exact timing and magnitude of the strongest winds remain subject to change as the Bering system develops and approaches western Alaska.
The NWS graphic covers a broad area, and wind speeds will vary considerably by location. The watch also does not apply to every community shown on the map.
Residents of St. Lawrence Island and the Seward Peninsula should expect increasingly windy conditions beginning as early as Wednesday evening, with gusty weather potentially continuing into Friday. Updated NWS forecasts and any changes to the High Wind Watches will provide more precise timing as the system approaches.