High Wind in Alaska, December 3 to 4, 2000

A moderate 980 mb low 300 miles south of Chignik late Saturday moved very close to Chignik at 9 am Sunday, weakening rapidly thereafter as it headed through the extreme northeast corner of Bristol Bay Sunday afternoon. The front associated with this low was also responsible for gusty southeasterly winds. Gusts of at least 64 mph were recorded at the Sitkinak automated site just before noon Sunday as the front passed. Gusts at the Kodiak Coast Guard Base Airport reached 45 mph Sunday morning as the front approached. Reports at the Kodiak ASOS typically under report southeast winds that blow in adjacent areas of town. At the remote Forest Service site at Booth Lake, wind gusts reached 56 mph just prior to frontal passage. At the Augustine Island site, wind gusts reached 61 mph Sunday morning prior to frontal passage. Gusty east winds were also reported at Iliamna. Winds at all of these locations diminished rapidly with the frontal passage.