High Wind — Western Aleutians, Alaska

2024-04-01 to 2024-04-02 · Western Aleutians, Alaska

Event narrative

A hurricane-force 950 mb low tracked around 250 miles west of Shemya on the morning of April 2, bringing high winds to the western Aleutians for several hours on the morning of April 2. The last gust >65 kt was recorded just before 8 am. Four LSRs were sent (via obs monitor in iris) for winds 75 mph or greater. Winds were confirmed by a local observer, who noted some light damage across the base.

Wider weather episode

A frontal boundary pushing into the western Bering and a second low east of the Kuril Islands and south of Attu affected the Kuskokwim Delta Coast, Nunuvak Island, Western Capes and Shemya April 2-3, 2024. The first low brought gusty winds, snow and low visibilities, along with cold air for this time of year, to the western and central Bering. A second low bombed out (with the surface low pressure decreasing more than 24 mb in 24 hours) as the low moved towards Attu and Shemya. By Tuesday afternoon, April 2 the pressure gradient force field spanned from St Matthew Island and Nunivak to Attu. This led to a small corridor of sustained hurricane force winds for the for the western Aleutian Islands, including Shemya.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1176698. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.