🥑💨 🚗✨ Windy Wednesday? Don’t Blow It. Make Guacamole.
☕️ Good morning, Southcentral!
It’s National Guacamole Day, and while I’d normally say that’s a perfectly good excuse to mash up some avocados, today we have bigger things to worry about first. Windy Wednesday has arrived, bringing strong gusts, wet roads, rain in parts of Southcentral and a possible aurora show tonight.
So grab your coffee, secure anything on the porch that Mother Nature might consider community property, and let Memaw get you caught up before you hit the road. 🚗💨
And keep reading all the way to the end. Because after we deal with the roads, traffic and sky, Memaw has one more bit of Wednesday wisdom waiting for you: The guacamole recipe that just might save the day. 🥑💅
🟢🟡🔴 Daily Verdict: Windy Wednesday, Wet Tonight & Maybe a Sky Show
- Roads: Wind is the first thing to watch this morning. Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula are dealing with strong gusts, while the Mat-Su is getting significant rain through Wednesday afternoon. Expect wet pavement, localized ponding and reduced comfort on exposed stretches. Check Alaska 511 before heading out for the latest incidents, construction and road conditions.
- Traffic: There is no broad traffic mess driving the morning story. Wind is. Anchorage remains under a Wind Advisory through noon, with gusts reaching 40–50 mph. The Kenai Peninsula is seeing similar gusty conditions, with the strongest winds along the coast. High-profile vehicles will have the most trouble, especially on exposed stretches and bridges.
- Sky: Wednesday starts cloudy to partly sunny depending on where you are, with showers developing or lingering across parts of Southcentral. Tonight brings more clouds and a chance of showers. Aurora activity is forecast to reach Kp 5, but clouds and precipitation could make the sky show a tough one to catch in much of Southcentral.
⚠️ Mat-Su Watch
Matanuska and Susitna Valleys – Heavy Rain and Rising Water
- Status: Significant rainfall continues through Wednesday afternoon.
- When: Heaviest rain was expected overnight, with additional rain through this afternoon.
- Where it hits: Willow, Talkeetna, the Talkeetna Mountains and smaller tributaries including Willow Creek and the Little Susitna.
- Why: An additional 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain is forecast after an estimated 0.5 to 1 inch already fell across the Susitna Valley.
💅 Reality check: Low-lying areas, poor-drainage spots and gravel bars can get waterlogged fast. Don’t treat a puddle that looks harmless like it has signed a peace treaty.
⚠️ Southcentral Watch (Anchorage Bowl & Hillside)
Anchorage Bowl – Strong Southerly Winds
- Status: Wind Advisory.
- When: Through noon Wednesday.
- Where it hits: Anchorage Bowl, including Eagle River and Eklutna.
- Why: South to southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts potentially reaching 40 to 50 mph.
💅 Reality check: High-profile vehicles get the hardest lesson today. Keep both hands on the wheel and give the gusts room to shove you around.
Now let’s get you down the road. 🚗💨
🏎️✨ Parks Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 51°F | 42°F | Wet pavement is possible. Watch for ponding and reduced visibility in heavier showers. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Afternoon | 57°F | 42°F | Rain chances continue. Watch for standing water and changing visibility through the Valley. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Evening | 48°F | 42°F | Showers become more likely tonight. Wet pavement and darker conditions mean less reaction time. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | 7:27 AM | 8:16 PM | Wasilla sunrise 7:27 AM; sunset 8:16 PM. | 🟡 |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | — | — | Moderate activity is forecast, but clouds and showers may block the view. | 🟡 |
🚙✨ Glenn Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 52°F | 44°F | Strong southerly winds in Anchorage can make the first part of the commute tricky, especially for high-profile vehicles. | 🟠 Elevated |
| Afternoon | 59°F | 44°F | Winds should ease gradually, but construction remains a factor near Peters Creek. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Evening | 51°F | 44°F | Watch for wet pavement and increasing shower chances later tonight. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | 7:25 AM | 8:14 PM | Palmer sunrise 7:25 AM; sunset 8:14 PM. | 🟡 |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | — | — | Moderate aurora activity is possible, but cloud cover will be the spoiler. | 🟡 |
🚐✨ Seward Highway
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 49°F | 43°F | Mostly dry for the morning, but expect changing conditions along Turnagain Arm. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Afternoon | 53°F | 43°F | Clouds increase. Watch for gusts and changing visibility approaching Seward. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Evening | 49°F | 43°F | Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers after 4 AM Thursday. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | 7:26 AM | 8:14 PM | Girdwood sunrise 7:26 AM; sunset 8:14 PM. | 🟡 |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | — | — | Moderate activity is forecast, but cloud cover along the corridor may limit viewing. | 🟡 |
NWS’s latest Seward forecast calls for a high near 53°F Wednesday, with west winds of 10 to 15 mph easing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
💅 Reality check: Turnagain Arm does not care that your weather app says “mostly sunny.” Watch the road, the wind and the mountains.
🚓✨ Sterling Highway – Soldotna
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 51°F | 42°F | Strong southerly winds remain the main concern north of the peninsula. | 🟠 Elevated |
| Afternoon | 55°F | 42°F | Winds remain brisk, especially toward Kenai and Nikiski. | 🟠 Elevated |
| Evening | 48°F | 42°F | Mostly cloudy. Winds remain noticeable tonight. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | 7:37 AM | 8:22 PM | Homer sunrise 7:37 AM; sunset 8:22 PM. | 🟡 |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | — | — | Moderate activity is possible, but clouds and wind make viewing uncertain. | 🟡 |
The Kenai Peninsula wind advisory covers Kenai, Soldotna, Sterling, Homer and surrounding communities through noon Wednesday, with south winds 15 to 25 mph and gusts potentially reaching 40 to 50 mph.
💅 Reality check: If you’re driving something tall, light or towing something, today’s wind gets a vote.
🛻✨ Knik Goose Bay Road
| Time of Day | Hi Temperatures (°F) | Lo Temperatures | Driving Tips | Road Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 51°F | 42°F | Wet pavement and gusty winds can make the morning commute unpredictable. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Afternoon | 57°F | 42°F | Rain chances linger. Watch for ponding in low spots. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Evening | 48°F | 42°F | Showers become more likely late tonight. | 🟡 Moderate |
| Sunrise & Sunset | 7:27 AM | 8:16 PM | Wasilla sunrise 7:27 AM; sunset 8:16 PM. | 🟡 |
| Aurora Forecast for Tonight | — | — | Moderate aurora activity is forecast, but clouds may hide the show. | 🟡 |
Road note: The Mat-Su rainfall outlook calls for localized ponding and rising water on smaller tributaries. That makes drainage and low-lying stretches worth watching even where there is no formal road closure.
🌌 Aurora Tonight
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute forecasts moderate activity, reaching Kp 5 tonight.
That sounds promising, but cloud cover could spoil the view. Anchorage and Wasilla are both looking at increasing clouds and a chance of showers overnight.
NOAA notes that aurora forecasts are based on predicted geomagnetic activity and the OVATION model, so even a strong forecast does not guarantee clear skies where you are.
💅 Memaw’s Parting Words
Well, honey, that’s your Wednesday: Wind in the morning, rain in the Valley, showers creeping back into the forecast tonight, and an aurora that may or may not be able to find a hole in the clouds.
🌬️ Drive like the wind is actually trying to move you. Right off the road.
And since it’s National Guacamole Day, here’s your assignment: Get yourself some ripe avocados, a lime with some pep, onion, cilantro, chile and salt. Mash it chunky. Don’t turn it into baby food. Then put out the chips and let the guacamole take credit for saving Wednesday. 🥑💅
🥑💨 Memaw’s Holy Guacamole
Makes: About 2½ to 3 cups
Serves: 4 to 6
Time: 15 minutes
Creamy, chunky, zippy and loaded with fresh flavor. And yes, avocados are considered a superfood, bringing healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals to the party.
So grab a chip, pile it high and don’t pretend you’re just having one. 😂🥑💅
Ingredients
- 4 ripe Hass avocados
- ½ cup finely chopped white onion
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 small jalapeño or serrano pepper, finely chopped
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 small Roma tomato, seeded and finely diced, optional
- 1 small garlic clove, minced, optional
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Directions
Pick good avocados, honey. They ought to give a little when you press them, but they should not feel squishy. Cut them in half, remove the pits, and scoop the green goodness into a wide bowl.
Mash, but don’t turn it into baby food. Use a fork, potato masher or molcajete and leave a few good little chunks. That’s where the character lives.
Stir in the onion, cilantro, chile, lime juice, salt and garlic if you’re using it. Fold in the tomato last.
Taste it before you brag on it. Add more salt if it tastes flat, more lime if it needs brightness or another spoonful of pepper if your crowd has a proper appreciation for heat.
Serve immediately with sturdy tortilla chips, or spoon it over tacos, grilled chicken, carne asada, beans, eggs or a baked potato.
And there you have it. The wind can howl, the rain can fall, but the guacamole shall prevail. 🥑💅
Forecasts from NOAA, the National Weather Service, and Alaska 511. Reality checks from Memaw. Both are subject to change without notice. 💅✨
Source check: NWS’s latest Anchorage point forecast puts Wednesday’s high at 59°F with strong south winds, while the hourly data reaches 59°F in the afternoon. NWS’s latest Seward data puts Wednesday’s high at 53°F, so I used that newer live pull rather than the older 57°F figure in the supplied notes. Alaska 511’s live system is the authoritative road-condition/incident source, while DOT&PF confirms the Peters Creek bridge configuration.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
