ANCHORAGE — Meteorologists say a weather front is bringing high winds and warmer temperatures to much of Alaska, with extreme conditions prompting the closure of a state-operated tunnel.
State transportation officials say high wind conditions led to the indefinite closure of the Whittier tunnel on Portage Highway Monday morning.
National Weather Service meteorologist Rebecca Duell says winds near the tunnel were blowing at 41 mph, gusting to 91 mph.
Duell says the Delta Junction area also is hard-hit, with sustained winds blowing at 45 mph and gusting to 62 mph.
The weather front also was bringing warmer temperatures, with highs in the Anchorage area ranging between the mid-30s and low 40s, compared to the normal high of 24.
In the Fairbanks area, temperatures were in the low 20s compared to the normal high of 3 degrees.
