High Wind in Alaska, May 9 to 11, 1999

A moderate low deepened to 979 mbs about 300 miles south of King Salmon Sunday, drifting northeast and beginning to slowly weaken thereafter.On the back side of the low, brisk north to northwest winds were observed along the Alaska Peninsula.Adjusted ASOS/AWOS gusts above 40 mph were reported at Cold Bay Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, reaching 52 mph Sunday around 10 pm ADT and several times between 1 am and 5 am ADT Monday.The weather front associated with this low was preceded by brisk east to northeast winds. The front extended in an eastward arc from the low early Sunday and by 4am ADT Monday extended in an arc from near Chignik (along the southeast side of the Alaska Peninsula) to Kodiak then east southeast.Easterly winds ahead of the front reached:AWOS adjusted 50 mph at Chignik (zone 19) Sunday morning between 10 am ADT and noon ADT. Frontal passage occurred at around 10 pm ADT Sunday dropping winds to less than 10 mph.In zone 16 (Bristol Bay) winds locally reached ASOS adjusted values of 50 mph at Iliamna between 10 pm ADT Sunday and 2 am ADT Monday.Across zone 18 (Kodiak Island) adjusted ASOS gusts Sunday reached 63 mph between 4 pm ADT and 6 pm ADT. Frontal passage about 3 am ADT Monday brought a rapid decrease in wind. Additionally, heavy rains were reported around Kodiak, with 1.04 inches reported from 10 am ADT Sunday to 10 am ADT Monday. In zone 15 (Cook Inlet), local adjusted wind gusts at the Portage ASOS were above 40 mph from Sunday at about noon ADT through Monday afternoon. Highest gusts Sunday reached adjusted speeds of 59 mph between 10 pm ADT and midnight ADT. Gusts continued through Monday, peaking at 82 mph between 4 am ADT and 6 am ADT. Heavy rain, first starting as snow, also accompanied the strong winds with 3/4 inch in a 12 hour period ending at 10 am ADT Monday.Across the southern part of zone 17 (Central North Gulf Coast), adjusted ASOS gusts above 40 mph began at Middleton Island late Sunday, peaking at 59 mph Monday morning.