High Wind in Alaska, October 17 to 18, 2001

An intensifying low, just south of Atka early Tuesday, moved to the Pribilof Islands at 969 mbs late Tuesday afternoon. The low then turned east northeast weakening near Cape Newenham along the northwest corner of Bristol Bay late Wednesday morning. Strong southwest winds were observed along the south side of this low across the eastern Aleutians and Alaska Peninsula.Southwest winds close to 60 mph were also reported at the Dutch Harbor airport 2100 AST Tue through 0330 AST Wed.Southwest winds at Cold Bay reached 60 mph just after 1408 AST Tue, peaked at 63 mph at 1553 AST Tuesday. Wind gusts close to 60 mph were reported through 1500 AST Wednesday at the site. Winds at Sand Point were just shy of 60 mph Wednesday morning. Strong winds were also observed at Chignik through Thursday morning, peaking briefly at 62 mph very early Thursday morning.At Cold Bay, southwest winds continued to gust into the mid and upper 50 mph range throughout the night and into early Wednesday. The Coast Guard had a SAR case early Wednesday, between 3 and 4 am, when a fisherman was reported overboard in the storm. While responding, when they opened the hanger door, the wind ripped the door off the hanger and injured a crewman in the process. The individual sprained his ankle. The door looked to be beyond repair, however no other damage was reported.