High Wind — St. Paul Island, Alaska

1997-05-14 · St. Paul Island, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A moderate low and front moved through the central Aleutians late Monday and early Tuesday. By 4am Wednesday, the low had reached a 990mb center and was located between Saint Matthew Island and Nunivak Island...with the front in an arc through Emmonak and just east of Port Heiden. Brisk southeast winds were observed in advance of the front. Brisk westerly winds were also observed south of the low center. By 4pm Wednesday the low had begun to weaken near Emmonak with the front extending in a large arc through Galena A.F.B. and into Resurrection Bay. Wind gusts reached 48 mph in advance of the front at 1:12 pm Tuesday at Cold Bay...however even stronger gusts reached 54 mph from the west at 12:22 pm Wednesday on the south side of the low. On the south side of the low on Tuesday...wind gusts reached 48 mph at Saint Paul from 4am to 2pm, 53 mph at Cape Newenham between 5:30 am and 6:00 pm, and 41 mph at Mekoryuk (on Nunivak Island) between 4 pm and 7:30 pm. On Wednesday, wind gusts reached 43 mph at King Salmon.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5601431. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.