Coastal Flood — Shishmaref, Alaska

2024-10-21 to 2024-10-22 · Shishmaref, Alaska

Event narrative

Widespread coastal flooding was reported across Diomede and Shishmaref as strong winds pushed water onshore. Diomede lost power and Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) was engaged. Two shipping containers were floated by the storm. Tribal elders in Shishmaref reported the worst high water in memory. Severe shoreline erosion was reported on the north and south end of town. The village's protective berm was damaged. Roads and the landfill were damaged, an archeological site was lost due to erosion, one outbuilding floated. Graves were swept away.

Wider weather episode

A major fall storm quickly pushed across northern Alaska between October 20th and 23rd, with the low itself moving all the way inland. The storm brought coastal flooding, high winds, heavy precipitation, and a mix of precipitation, including a rain-snow mix and freezing rain. Over higher elevations in the Brooks Range, snow amounts approached 2 feet, with 12 to 15 inches across the higher elevation Interior regions above 2000 feet. As the front pushed across the West Coast, south to southwest winds across coastal locations gusted to greater than 55 mph, with winds in excess of 65 mph occurring over the Bering and Chukchi coastal sites. These strong south to southwest winds pushes a surge of water all along the West Coast, with surge values of 4 to 10 feet above mean higher high water, highest near Kotzebue and in eastern Norton Sound, resulting in coastal flooding. A 12 to 15 mb gradient across the Alaska Range resulted in strong and gusty south winds through the Alaska Range passes with gusts to 65 mph.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220725. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.