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Forecasted High Winds Force Alaskan Ski Resort To Close

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 3:16 PM ET

Alyeska Resort, Alaska, has temporarily closed for the day on Wednesday, April 16, to ensure the safety of its guests and staff amid high winds that could gust as high as 90 miles per hour.

The resort cautioned in a social media post that the winds could move loose debris and damage property. A high wind warning published by the National Weather Service is in effect throughout the Alyeska area until 1 a.m. Thursday.

“People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind,” the warning reads. “Prepare for the possibility of widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.”

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The Aerial Tram, Bore Tide Deli, or Sitzmark access will not be open today. Guests who have purchased a lift ticket for Wednesday will be refunded.

“Stay safe out there, Alyeska fans!” the resort’s social media post about the closure reads.

It won’t be the first time Alyeska has dealt with a wind-related closure this season. In January, bouts of high wind slammed into south-central Alaska, leading the resort to briefly suspend operations.

Winds from one storm were fast enough to reportedly flip over planes at an airport in nearby Anchorage, Alaska. One lift shack at another ski area, Arctic Valley, was damaged. The Sunburst Ridgetop Weather Station on Turnagain Pass saw a gust of 129 miles per hour.

The wild weather hasn’t only brought bad news, though. The upper mountain area of Alyeska has been barraged by precipitation this winter and, as of Wednesday, April 16, was recording seasonal snowfall totaling 739 inches. The lower reaches of the resort have less snow, with only seven inches on the ground.

Despite the daily closure, Alyeska’s ski season isn’t over. The resort plans to offer skiing and riding through April 27, with several events, like a costume party and a pond skim, scheduled to finish the season off in style during the Spring Carnival. Wind, hopefully, won’t be among the guests of honor.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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