High Wind in Alaska, May 12 to 14, 2000

An intense low deepened to 972 mbs as it moved into the central Aleutians from the North Pacific Saturday morning. The low then rotated counterclockwise in a small circle and began to weaken. Strong westerly winds were observed along the 'back side' of the storm.The frontal system ahead of the storm was preceded by strong east and southeast winds. Strongest winds were observed across the eastern Aleutians and western Alaska Peninsula Friday afternoon through early Saturday. As the front continued to elongate north and east, further away from the storm center, it began to weaken with pre-frontal winds diminishing. By Saturday evening, with the front extending from just south of Saint Matthew Island to near Chignik, significant pre-frontal winds were no longer observed.Along the southwest semicircle of the storm, southwest wind gusts reached 60 mph just after 11:30 am ADT Saturday at Atka, peaking at 76 mph around midnight Saturday and 90 mph between 2:00 am ADT and 2:35 am ADT Sunday. Wind gusts diminished below 60 mph there just before 3 am ADT Sunday. Winds at the Adak observation site, somewhat sheltered from strong westerly winds, were reported much less than at Atka. Brisk northwest wind gusts from 40 to 55 mph were also reported at Shemya through early Sunday. Prior to frontal passage, southeast wind gusts began to exceed 60 mph at the Captain's Bay remote site near Dutch Harbor early Saturday, peaking at 66 mph there just before 4 am ADT Saturday. Wind gusts diminished below 60 mph there several hours later.