High Wind in Alaska, November 2 to 5, 2000

An intense 950 mb low 270 miles south of Amchitka Thursday afternoon was centered 270 miles south of Adak at 9 am Friday...showing little change in intensity. The low then weakened and curved north...centering between Umnak Island and Seguam Island as a 956 mb center 3 am Saturday. This low then dissipated northwestward as the day progressed Saturday.A front in advance of the low brought strong easterly winds to much of the central and western Aleutians and southwest Bering Sea Thursday.A low along the front moved to Amchitka as at least a 962 mb center late Thursday evening, drifting slowly in a westward arc thereafter. Strong northerly winds were observed along the west semicircle of this low.Another frontal low developed 240 miles south southeast of Adak early Friday morning, moving by Atka as an intense 958 mb center between 7 and 9 am Friday. This low became the main center, reaching an intensity of 948 mbs as it moved to 180 miles north northeast of Shemya at 9 pm Friday. The low then curved counterclockwise to 100 miles south of Amchitka at 3 pm Saturday, dissipating eastward thereafter. Yet a fourth frontal low moved to 150 miles south of Saint George Island as a 958 mb center at 9 pm Friday. The low deepened a bit more, curving counterclockwise to a position 120 miles northeast of Shemya at 3 pm Saturday. This low continued in a counterclockwise arc, weakening to a 966 mb center near Amchitka Island late Saturday. The front in advance of, and connecting, these lows produced extremely strong east and southeast winds. Strong southeast winds, ahead of the front associated with this low, spread into the south and southeast Bering Sea, the eastern Aleutians, the Alaska Peninsula, and into portions of the southwest Alaskan coast Friday and early Saturday. Wind gusts reached an incredible 143 mph at the Dutch Harbor Spit just before noon Friday.By 3 am Sunday, the entire low complex in the west central Aleutians and south Bering had weakened to 966 mbs or higher with the front, in a greatly weakened form, lying from just north of Saint Matthew Island to King Salmon to 60 miles south of Sitka. Winds had diminished to more or less normal levels at all reporting areas by this time.A look at some of the worst conditions...Shemya - Peak wind northwest 81 mph between 7-8 pm Friday. Heavy snows and occasional heavy rains accompanied the winds.Atka - Peak wind south 82 mph between 1-2 am Sunday.Adak - Peak wind southeast 58 mph between 8-9 pm Thursday. Strongest winds with original front. Site escaped much of the stronger winds. St George - Peak wind east 75 mph between 9-10 pm Friday. These strong winds occurred with the front. Winds were not as strong at Saint Paul, also part of the Pribilof Island group.Dutch HarborAirport - Peak wind east 97 mph at 4:32 pm Friday with the front.Dutch Harbor Spit (handar ultrasonic wind sensor) - Southeast wind gust reached 143 mph between11 and 11:30 am Friday. This was several hours prior to frontal passage.Captain's Bay site (handar ultrasonic wind sensor) - Southeast 101 mph several times between 8:30am and 10 am Friday. These were pre-frontal gusts.Bering SeaBuoy 46035 Peak winds were east 67 mph on the 7 am Saturday observation. Cold Bay - Peak wind southeast 81 mph between 3:53 and 4:53 pm Friday. Strongest windreported on the Alaska Peninsula.King Cove - Peak wind 117 mph. 2 wind related injuries. Considerable damage to roofs, fences, windows (cars and homes), one boat on land flipped over were among reports. City official said that area looked like a "war zone".Mekoryuk - East southeast wind gust reached 68 mph between 5-6 am Saturday.Port Heiden - Southeast wind gust 75 mph between 1:55-2:15 am Saturday. This occurred a few hours before frontal passage.Wasilla Fire Station - Gusts 61 mph between 4:30 pm and 5:00 pm Saturday.Time frames for wind gusts of 60+ mph...Pribilofs - 11:22 am Friday to 11:53 pm FridayWestern Alaska Peninsula - 2 pm Friday to 11:53 pm FridayBristol Bay Coastal - 11:35 pm Friday to around 9 am SaturdayAleutians - 3 pm Thursday to 3:30 am SundayKuskokwim Delta - 4:35 am to 9:35 am Saturday