Coastal Flood — Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

2015-08-26 to 2015-08-28 · Northern Arctic Coast, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A low pressure center tracked northeast over the Chukchi Sea on the night of August 25th, deepening to 983 mb by 2100AKST on August 26th, approximately 275 miles north-northwest of Barrow. The low pressure center was nearly stationary through the morning of the 28th then began to weaken and drift south toward Barrow, reaching that community the early morning of the 29th, at a weaker central pressure of 992 mb.

Winds began increasing out of the west on the 26th. For more than 48 hours winds gusted at least 30 mph, starting the afternoon of the 26th until 1400AKST on the 28th. The highest winds reported by the Barrow ASOS was a peak wind of 47 mph around 1300AKST on the 27th. On the 28th, winds began to decrease and gusts of 30 mph ended by 1400AKST.

High Surf developed on the 26th as winds increased, and continued through the 27th, eventually diminishing on the 28th. At one point on the 27th, a resident NWS staff estimated the nearshore sea water had a 4 foot swell with 6 foot waves on top, all above the normal tidal levels.

NWS staff from Fairbanks, on a scheduled visit for a community meeting, observed high waves and inundation of the nearshore area at Stevenson Street, as well as the road to Browerville which was closed beginning early in the morning of the 27th. The road to Point Barrow also had debris from the ocean on it in places, and the berm the city of Barrow had in place to protect the road was breached in spots the morning of the 27th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 599360. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.