Power Outage in Homer, AK

Winter Storm. Issued due to a report from an NWS Employee of freezing rain in Kenai. They also said roads were bad, rain was full droplets, and 22 degree air temp.|A spotter called the office and reported solid rain from Kenai to Soldotna to Sterling at approximately 4:35PM on the 28th of December with an air temp 31 degrees and very slick roads. They also reported that the Spur Highway was closed about an hour prior and roads seem to also be sanded. Social media reports of rain & slick surfaces.|The Alaska 511 page reported at 2:35 PM on the 28th that all roads between Kenai, Soldotna, Sterling, and Kasilof River were difficult, black ice, frosted surface, ice, ice glaze, icy patches, road surfaces in poor condition, surface water hazard, wet and icy roads, and freezing rain. Also, social media reports came in of a large power outage effecting many on the Central Peninsula. Social media reports came in that Homer Electric Association was responding to a large power outage effecting over 4,000 members across the Kenai Peninsula and attached the article to the tweet.

December 28, 2021

High Wind. A employee at the NOAA Fisheries lab in Jackalof Bay estimated that wind gusts in this area were between 70 and 80 knots. He also took video of the road between Jackalof Bay and Seldovia that showed many large trees (estimated 18 inches in diameter) that had been blown down or snapped off. This also caused a power outage for the town of Seldovia and the surrounding area.

November 27, 2019

High Wind. Homer Airport measured a gusts to 61 mph at 1153 p.m. Wind damage occurred in Soldotna, where a member of the public reported ripped shingles on roof, a powerline down, and a pontoon boat blown off of a trailer (via social media).

December 29, 2015

Four-days of heavy snowfall left several feet of snow in the Seldovia/Homer/Anchor Point, Alaska area resulting in widespread power outages in the communities and two sunken fishing vessels. The snow initially began early Saturday, December 22nd, as a large convective band setup across the southern Kenai Peninsula. The band remained nearly stationary through Sunday night/early Monday. NOAA Kasitsna Bay Laboratory reported two-feet of snowfall by Saturday afternoon, followed by an additional 30 from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. While the convective band ceased by Monday, heavy snow continued through Christmas Eve (Monday) and Christmas Day (Tuesday) as a trough moved into the area from the west. Measurements after Sunday were more difficult to obtain as much of the area was in panic mode dealing with power outages and broken snow removal equipment. Snow diminished rapidly Wednesday, December 26th, followed by light rain. Four to five feet of compacted (and rained on) snow was measured after the episode was over throughout the impacted area. Diesel and hydraulic fluid from the sunken fishing vessels closed several oyster farms in Jakolof Bay. The value of the fishing vessels, spill clean up, and oyster farm damages is presently unknown and not included in the property damage amount.

December 22, 2012

A "Bora" type windstorm hit much of the Matanuska Valley, Anchorage and portions of the Kenai Peninsula.Very cold air funneled down the Matanuska Valley, driven by a large high centered over the Chukotsk Peninsula. A combination of strong convergence aloft, a tight surface pressure gradient, and terrain forcing brought hurricane-force winds to the ground over a large portion of greater Anchorage. Damage reports were numerous and included small planes, roofs torn off buildings, car ports caving in and siding blown off. Power outages of 9 hours or more were reported. Communications were also impacted. Lots of broken signs, traffic lights rendered inoperable, partial roof collapses, lost roofing shingles and garbage cans scattered all over west Anchorage and the Palmer area.When the 109 mph gust hit the Ted Steven's International Anchorage airport at 10:42 pm, the tower was abandoned and the airport closed to incoming traffic. Just prior to that, an Alaska Airlines flight received clearance to land with winds "three five zero at eight zero knots (92 mph)". Flights right behind it decided to go to Fairbanks and Juneau! In all, around 15 flights were diverted to Fairbanks, which became a parking lot for 747s Thursday.Winds gusting close to 60 mph whipped across the western Kenai Peninsula also, creating 'red flag' conditions and spreading small fires into significant ones across the dry ground. Largest reported fire reached 100 acres north of Anchor Point. Scattered power outages were also reported across the area, including one larger one around Fritz Creek (on the outskirts of Homer).In the Valdez area, gusts at the airport reached an estimated 100+ mph, ripping roofs off several structures and breaking glass in buildings and cars. Overall, at least 14 vehicles around the Valdez airport were damaged.In addition, temperatures around zero combined with the strong winds to produce wind chills near 45 below zero. The cold air, driven into buildings by the strong winds, also froze many water pipes...which then burst, adding to the damage estimates.

March 12, 2003