High Wind — Alaska Peninsula, Alaska

2022-12-23 to 2022-12-24 · Alaska Peninsula, Alaska

Event narrative

The Cold Bay ASOS recorded a sustained period of wind gusts above 65 knots (75 mph) from late on December 21 into the early morning of December 22. A peak wind of 75 knots (86 mph) was measured during this time. Winds also briefly gusted to around 65 knots (75 mph) later in the morning on December 22. Winds also reached 62 knots (71 mph) at the King Cove AWSS late on December 21.

Wider weather episode

A rapidly deepening North Pacific low tracked north toward the Alaska Peninsula on December 21. That evening, a strong pressure gradient set up across the Alaska Peninsula between the North Pacific low, which was near peak intensity at the time, and strong high pressure over Interior Alaska. This produced high winds through gaps in the Aleutian Range through the early morning hours. As the low began to weaken, it continued to approach the peninsula. The proximity of the low allowed strong gusts to continue into the day on December 22. Winds began to diminish by the afternoon once the low had weakened significantly.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1097637. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.