Alaska, 1998

High Wind and Heavy Rain in Alaska, September 1 to 2, 1998

September 1 to 2, 1998 · NWS AFC · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A very strong low, estimated central pressure of 962 mbs, moved northward into the Gulf of Alaska Sunday and Monday. Strong east and southeast winds were reported across the central North Gulf Coast and Prince William Sound (gusts to 72 mph), channeled areas adjacent to Turnagain Arm (gusts to 81 mph) and across Kodiak island (gusts to 76 mph).

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

A very strong low, estimated central pressure of 962 mbs, moved northward into the Gulf of Alaska Sunday and Monday. Strong east and southeast winds were reported across the central North Gulf Coast and Prince William Sound (gusts to 72 mph), channeled areas adjacent to Turnagain Arm (gusts to 81 mph) and across Kodiak island (gusts to 76 mph). Additionally heavy rains (close to 5 inches locally in 24 hour) prompted Flash Flood Watches around Girdwood and Seward.

Event by event

1 high wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Cook Inlet

When
September 1, 6:00 AM AST to 6:00 PM AST
Where
Cook Inlet forecast zone
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain, Central Gulf Coast

When
September 1, 8:00 AM AST to September 2, 12:00 AM AST
Where
Central Gulf Coast County, Seward
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Alaska in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, September 1998

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: 5658425, 5658426.