High Wind in Alaska, September 15 to 17, 1997

Name: High Wind in Alaska, September 15 to 17, 1997
Start: 1997-09-15T18:00
End: 1997-09-17T21:00
Location: Alaska

September 15 to 17, 1997 · NWS AFC · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

then moved toward Hooper Bay, along the southwest Alaskan coast, midday Wednesday as a 972 mb center. causing brisk southeast winds from 40 to 55 mph.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AFC wrote it up.

An intensifying low moved northeastward into the central Aleutians midday Tuesday...then moved toward Hooper Bay, along the southwest Alaskan coast, midday Wednesday as a 972 mb center. The system was preceded by a vigorous front...causing brisk southeast winds from 40 to 55 mph. Gusty westerly wind were observed behind the low across the Aleutians, Pribilofs and western Alaska Peninsula...where speeds of up to 55 mph were recorded.

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Eastern Aleutians

When: September 15, 6:00 PM AST to September 17, 3:00 PM AST
Where: Eastern Aleutians forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph)

High Wind, St. Paul Island

When: September 16, 12:00 PM AST to September 17, 12:00 PM AST
Where: St. Paul Island forecast zone
Measured: 47 kt (54 mph)

High Wind, Western Alaska Peninsula

When: September 16, 3:00 PM AST to September 17, 9:00 PM AST
Where: Western Alaska Peninsula forecast zone
Measured: 47 kt (54 mph)

High Wind, Bristol Bay Coastal

When: September 16, 3:00 PM AST to September 17, 3:00 PM AST
Where: Bristol Bay Coastal forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph)

High Wind, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta

When: September 16, 3:00 PM AST to September 17, 3:00 PM AST
Where: Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alaska in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, September 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5618033, 5618035, 5618034, 5618036, 5618037.