High Wind — Aleutian Islands, Alaska

2000-02-17 · Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A complex frontal system south of the Alaska Peninsula brought strong southeasterly winds to that area for almost the entire day Thursday. Wind gusts reached 79 mph at Cold Bay around midday, diminishing with the frontal passage Thursday evening.Further northeast, wind gusts reached 60 mph at the Mekoryuk AWOS Thursday evening.As the front progressed further east, conditions favorable for strong easterly winds developed near the Portage Visitor Center. Just after noon, wind gusts coming down from Portage Glacier peaked at 70 mph. Gusts diminished to less than 60 mph immediately thereafter.By Friday afternoon, the front extended from Cape Douglas southeastward through the Gulf of Alaska. A developing frontal low 450 miles south of Middleton Island moved north northwest to about 90 miles southwest of Middleton Island early Saturday. In advance of this low, minimal easterly storm winds developed around Cordova and the southern entrance to Prince William Sound. Gusts reached 62 mph at Middleton Island Friday afternoon.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5129725. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.