Storm Surge/Tide — Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

2003-07-29 · Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 976 millibar low pressure center moved east across the Chukchi Sea on the 28th...continuing on an easterly track about 300 miles north of Barrow on the 29th...with a fetch of over 400 miles of open water over the Chukchi Sea. The storm produced northwest winds which gusted to 58 mph as recorded by the Barrow ASOS. The wind whipped up waves as high as 20 feet, which caused significant beach erosion, eroding portions of Egasik and Stevenson Streets, damaging several boat launches around the Barrow area used by residents for subsistence hunting, and grounding a 47-foot sailboat.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5379079. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.