High Wind in Kodiak Island Northeast, Alaska

The Kodiak Gull Island Marine observation site recorded wind gusts over 70 mph starting 7:42 PM AKST February 19. The strongest gust recorded from the site was 89 mph at 9:32 PM the same day. The Kodiak Airport ASOS (PADQ) saw winds gusting over 70 mph at 8:03 PM and 8:11 PM before winds decreased in strength by 10:00 PM. A second, stronger round of gusty winds started at 11:40 PM with a 73 mph gust. The airport officially hit criteria of 75 mph at 12:53 AM AKST February 20. Winds frequently gusted over 70 mph until after 4:00 AM AKST February 20.

Kenneth Folsom, an Emergency Manager in Kodiak, reported that a roof was blown off somewhere in Kodiak City.

An upper level Arctic trough dug through Southcentral Alaska and into the Gulf starting February 19. This caused Arctic air to surge through Southcentral into the Gulf while pressure gradients tightened between a strong ridge in the Bering and a surface low that developed in the Northeast Gulf. These factors led to widespread gusty gap winds in Prince William Sound and Kodiak Island. In addition, the thermal and pressure gradients between the Matanuska Valley and the Copper River Basin strengthened enough to allow for strong, gusty northeast winds in the Matanuska Valley.