An early autumn storm was expected to bring strong wind and rain to Southcentral Alaska starting Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
The weather service Tuesday morning issued a wind warning for gusts up to 80 mph on the Anchorage Hillside and along Turnagain Arm. The warning was in effect from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. Wednesday.
The weather service forecast said Anchorage stands a 50 percent chance of seeing rain Tuesday evening, while the winds will peak between midnight and 4 a.m. Wednesday.
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The Anchorage Bowl can expect wind speeds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 45, according to the weather service.
Gusty winds were expected to continue through the day Wednesday, with rain likely in the morning.
"We're definitely expecting trees to be denuded," said NWS meteorologist Pam Szatanek. "It's hard to say how much foliage will come down. People can expect some small branches."
The heaviest rain will be in the Prince William Sound area, from Whittier to Cordova.
"That area is really going to get hammered," she said.
"This will be a fast moving system, which should limit the duration of heavier rainfall, so there are no flooding concerns at this time," the weather service said.