500
FNAK71 PAFC 162236
FWSAER

Spot Forecast for Crow Pass Crossing...Healthy Futures Alaska
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
236 PM AKDT Thu Jul 16 2026

Forecast is based on forecast start time of 1200 AKDT on July 17.

.DISCUSSION...

Wet and very cool (-for July) conditions are expected for the
Cross Pass route on Saturday.

Event Lead-up: Several rounds of rain / rain showers will move
across the Girdwood-Eagle River route Thursday into Friday, with
the bulk of rainfall occurring Thursday / Thursday night, then
tapering off on Friday. Rain may be heavy at times on the Girdwood
side of the pass, with lighter amounts in lower elevations towards
Eagle River.

Saturday: On Saturday, the weather pattern will be conducive for
isolated to scattered rain showers throughout the day along the
route, with a slightly higher probability of rain on the Girdwood
side of the pass (including the pass itself). Rainfall totals on
Saturday will generally be on the low side however (less than a
tenth of an inch). Low-level clouds may lead to mountain
obscuration / high-elevation fog at times, especially along the
pass and in Girdwood. Wind will be light/variable to begin the
day, but pick up from the ESE as the day progresses, with winds
through the pass gusting 10-20 mph early in the day, increasing to
20-30 mph in the afternoon, and in excess of 30 mph in the
evening. Temperatures will be chilly for July- anticipate morning
temperatures in Girdwood in the 40s to around 50 degrees, but with
temps in the pass in the upper 30s to around 40. Eagle River will
be a fair bit warmer, with temps generally in the 50s to around
60. Wind chill values in the pass are likely to be in the 30s,
possibly 20s at times.

River Conditions:

The gauge at Eagle River at Glenn Highway Bridge is currently at
5.17 feet as of midday Thursday. River levels are expected to
very slowly fall to around 5.06 feet for the start of the race on
Saturday. For reference, when this gauge reads 6 feet, water is
generally about waist high for those fording the river along the
Crow Pass Trail. Thus, based on this river forecast, it looks like
lower than that.


.FRIDAY...

Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy . Rain likely through the day.
Chance of pcpn......90 percent.
Max temperature.....44-54
Wind chill..........35-48
Surface winds (mph).Southeast winds 5 to 18 mph.
Rainfall amount.....0.12 inches.


.FRIDAY NIGHT...

Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy. Rain showers.
Chance of pcpn......80 percent.
Min temperature.....36-44.
Wind chill..........34-42.
Surface winds (mph).Southeast winds up to 12 mph.
Rainfall amount.....0.14 inches.
CEILING (KFT).......Variable. 3000ft above ground level (AGL) in lower
                    elevations to 0 / mountain obscuration at times
                    around the pass.

.SATURDAY...

Sky/weather.........Cloudy. Rain showers likely.
Chance of pcpn......70 percent.
Max temperature.....37-58.
Wind chill..........35-56.
Surface winds (mph).Southeast winds up to 20 mph.
Rainfall amount.....0.07 inches.
CEILING (KFT).......Variable. 3000ft above ground level (AGL) in lower
                    elevations to 0 / mountain obscuration at times around
                    the pass.
Visibility..........Greater than 3-6 miles for lower elevations to less
                    than a mile at times for the pass and higher elevations.

$$
Forecaster...Brown
Requested by...Johnse Ostman
Type of request...OTHER
.TAG 2617430.0/AER
.DELDT 07/16/26
.FormatterVersion 2.0.0
.EMAIL matias@healthyfuturesak.org,johnse.ostman@gmail.com,johnse.ostman@noaa.gov