High Wind — Cape Decision To Salisbury Sound Coastal Area, Alaska

2016-09-09 · Cape Decision To Salisbury Sound Coastal Area, Alaska

Event narrative

Brief wind to 60 MPH occurred for the Sitka area on the afternoon of Friday September 9th. No damage was reported, but there was a big wind shift during a SAR case. Helicopters were grounded and the wind hampered search operations. Cape Decision measured gusts to 62 MPH during the search which was likely the case on Mt. Veristovia.

Wider weather episode

A gale force low developed over the central Gulf of Alaska on the morning of September 9th down to 991 MB. This low went inland that afternoon and rapidly weakened. This system caused gale force winds for the outside and inland waters and brief high wind near Sitka during Search and Rescue operations. No damage was reported, but search

efforts were hampered.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 661288. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.