High Wind — Eastern Aleutians, Alaska

2024-01-06 · Eastern Aleutians, Alaska

Event narrative

High winds were first observed in Dutch Harbor on the morning of Jan 6, with gusts in excess of 65 knots (75 mph). However, the highest gusts were observed in Akutan later in the afternoon. At 4:45 pm, the C-MAN station AKXA2 in Akutan measured a gust of 89 knots (102 mph). Winds then decreased through the evening hours. Additionally, the storm caused some damage, with a boat flooding due to the weight of the rain and snow and a breakwater which had been damaged previously receiving additional damage.

Wider weather episode

Another potent low pressure system moved up into the central Aleutians as it rapidly deepened and reached peak intensity upon entering the far southern Bering Sea. A core of very strong westerly winds with gusts peaking well into Hurricane force passed over the eastern Aleutians as the low progressed into the Bering, with the highest recorded gust of 102 mph noted at an Akutan marine exchange observation site at 4:45 PM ASKT 1/6/24. Other gusts in excess of 70 mph were recorded from the central Aleutians to the Alaska Peninsula.

The low's front continued to cause hazardous weather as it extended across southern mainland Alaska on 1/6 and 1/7. Blizzard conditions were observed in the Kuskokwim Delta and heavy snow fell in Turnagain Pass on the Kenai Peninsula.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1158190. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.