High Wind in Alaska, February 17 to 19, 2000

Name: High Wind in Alaska, February 17 to 19, 2000
Start: 2000-02-17T00:00
End: 2000-02-19T09:00
Location: Alaska

February 17 to 19, 2000 · NWS AFC · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A complex frontal system south of the Alaska Peninsula brought strong southeasterly winds to that area for almost the entire day Thursday. As the front progressed further east, conditions favorable for strong easterly winds developed near the Portage Visitor Center.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 complex frontal system south of the Alaska Peninsula brought strong southeasterly winds to that area for almost the entire day Thursday. Wind gusts reached 79 mph at Cold Bay around midday, diminishing with the frontal passage Thursday evening.Further northeast, wind gusts reached 60 mph at the Mekoryuk AWOS Thursday evening.As the front progressed further east, conditions favorable for strong easterly winds developed near the Portage Visitor Center. Just after noon, wind gusts coming down from Portage Glacier peaked at 70 mph. Gusts diminished to less than 60 mph immediately thereafter.By Friday afternoon, the front extended from Cape Douglas southeastward through the Gulf of Alaska. A developing frontal low 450 miles south of Middleton Island moved north northwest to about 90 miles southwest of Middleton Island early Saturday. In advance of this low, minimal easterly storm winds developed around Cordova and the southern entrance to Prince William Sound. Gusts reached 62 mph at Middleton Island Friday afternoon.

Event by event

4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Aleutian Islands

When: February 17, 12:00 AM AST to 11:59 PM AST
Where: Aleutian Islands forecast zone
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Kuskokwim Delta

When: February 17, 12:00 PM AST to 11:59 PM AST
Where: Kuskokwim Delta forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Cook Inlet

When: February 18, 12:00 AM AST to 11:59 PM AST
Where: Cook Inlet forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Central Gulf Coast

When: February 18, 12:00 PM AST to February 19, 9:00 AM AST
Where: Central Gulf Coast forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

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 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Alaska, February 2000

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: 5129725, 5129726, 5129727, 5129809.