NWS Alaska meteorologist Tim Markle said the warnings are designed to let community members know when the cold weather presents a risk to the community. However, the old system set wind chill warnings and advisories, which were statewide in scope, and only kicked in when there was a wind chill.
The largest populated city in Alaska is still recovering from the hurricane-force winds that battered homes and infrastructure on Sunday, leaving thousands without power.
A cold front is bringing freezing temperatures and hazardous conditions to millions across the country this month.
Peak gusts included 66 mph at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, 110 mph at Bear Valley and 107 mph at Arctic Valley.
The weather service warned of 30 to 45 mph winds, with gusts up to 80 mph, for higher elevations around Anchorage and Eagle River.
At the height of the storm, 17,500 Alaska residents were without power, according Chugach Electric Association.
This stretch of warm weather has been gripping the state since December, with little in the way of cold weather expected this week. While that has been the case as of late, many areas across the state have begun to see some much needed snowfall.
As Anchorage navigates through a warmer-than-usual winter, meteorologists predict a continuation of the milder temperatures.
A ferocious storm that pounded Southcentral Alaska with high winds and rain Sunday has left thousands still without power as utility crews grapple with unusually extensive damage to lines and poles. Anchorage schools closed Monday due to what district officials described as weather-related issues related to power outages as well as slick parking lots and building maintenance needs.
What is being called a once-in-a-generation winter storm hitting the south has killed at least nine people. CNN reported that two people died in Austin, Texas, and are being investigated as to whether it was due to the cold weather. One person died in Georgia from hypothermia, officials said, according to WSB.
Boston and the rest of New England have been dealing with well below-average temperatures, in some cases falling 20 degrees, as an expansive mass of Arctic air spreads across the eastern half of the United States. This cold surge is making our region this week feel colder than Anchorage, Alaska, which is topping out at 36 degrees.