High Surf, Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills
- When
- September 1, 12:00 AM AKST to 4:36 PM AKST
- Where
- Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
High Surf in Alaska, September 1, 2014
Event continued from August. A weather front moving east across the Seward Peninsula and Norton Sound brought southwest winds around 30 mph over Norton Sound with gusts as high as 40 kt (46 mph).
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 AFG wrote it up.
Event continued from August. A weather front moving east across the Seward Peninsula and Norton Sound brought southwest winds around 30 mph over Norton Sound with gusts as high as 40 kt (46 mph). The resulting high surf produced erosion of the Beach Road at Unalakleet, according to the Alaska State Trooper contact at Unalakleet.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 31, 11:31 AM AKST, 12 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 11:31 AM AKST, 12 hours 29 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1231 PM AKDT SUN AUG 31 2014 .DISCUSSION... CURRENT UPPER AIR PROGS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT OUT THROUGH 4 PM THU. A DEEP WINTER DEPTH UPPER LOW...ABOUT 506 DAM AT 500 MB...IS LOCATED NEAR 74N/165W...ABOUT 200 NM NORTHWEST OF BARROW. THE UPPER LOW WILL MOVE ON A CYCLONIC LOOPING TRAJECTORY TO BE ABOUT 50 NM NORTHEAST OF BARROW BY 4 AM WED...THEN MOVING RAPIDLY EASTWARD TO ABOUT 100 NM NORTH OF DEMARCATION POINT BY 4 PM WED...WHILE WEAKENING SLIGHTLY TO A STILL LOW 516 DAM CENTER. A SERIES OF SHORT WAVE TROUGHS ROTATING AROUND THE UPPER LOW WILL SWEEP ACROSS NORTHERN ALASKA DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE NEXT INCOMING SHORT WAVE...WHICH WILL BE RATHER STRONG...WILL ARRIVE IN NORTHWEST ALASKA LATE TONIGHT AND MOVE RAPIDLY EASTWARD TO THE ALCAN BORDER BY TUE AFTERNOON WHILE SMOOTHING OUT IN AMPLITUDE...MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PICK OUT IN THE 500 MB HEIGHT FIELD. WITH STRONG UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS...A 998-1000 MB SURFACE LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP NEAR THE BERING STRAIT OR OVER THE SEWARD PENINSULA BY MON MORNING. THE FAST UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL CARRY THE SURFACE SYSTEM RAPIDLY EASTWARD. BY TUE AFTERNOON THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN TO ABOUT A 995 MB CENTER ABOUT 50 NM NORTHWEST OF HUSLIA...AND TO THE BROOKS RANGE NEAR THE ALCAN BORDER BY 4 AM TUE. THE ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT WILL SWEEP EASTWARD AND STALL OUT ALONG THE ALASKA RANGE TUE AND TUE NIGHT. STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE 0.25 TO 1 INCH OVER THE WEST COAST...WESTERN AND NORTHERN INTERIOR WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS OVER AN INCH. OVER THE ARCTIC COAST AND BROOKS RANGE...RAINFALL TOTALS OF 0.25 TO 0.5 INCH ARE EXPECTED. THE HEAVIEST EVENT TOTAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED IN THE FOLLOWING ZONES... CENTRAL INTERIOR...0.75 TO 1+ INCHES ZONE 222...1 TO 2 INCHES. DENALI...1 TO 2 INCHES...LOCAL AMOUNTS TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE. UPPER KUSKOKWIM VALLEY...1 TO 2+ INCHES. MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY...1 TO 2 INCHES. LESSER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN INTERIOR. IN THE ALASKA RANGE...THE SNOW LEVEL IS EXPECTED TO BE 4000-5000 FT MON AFTERNOON AND MON NIGHT...LOWERING TO 3500-4000 FT BY TUE AFTERNOON...AND TO AROUND 2500 FT BY WED AFTERNOON. THIS SHOULD REDUCE THE RAINFALL RUNOFF INTO SMALL STREAMS SO SMALL STREAM FLOODING DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A STRONG THREAT AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION ABOVE THE PASS LEVEL IN THE WESTERN ALASKA RANGE. IN THE BROOKS RANGE...SNOW LEVELS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE ANY HIGHER THAN 3000 FT MON AFTERNOON THROUGH WED. OVER THE ARCTIC SLOPE...SNOW LEVELS WILL BE MOSTLY FROM THE SURFACE TO 1000 FT MON NIGHT THROUGH WED. STRONG 850 MB WINDS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS SHORT WAVE...AS HIGH AS 45 TO 70 KT OVER THE SOUTHERN INTERIOR AREAS MON AND MON NIGHT. EXPECT STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER INTERIOR HIGHWAY SUMMITS AND PASSES MON AND MON NIGHT. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE IN THE FAST UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERN WILL ARRIVE IN NORTHWEST ALASKA TUE...MOVING TO THE ALCAN BORDER BY WED AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WITH THIS SHORT WAVE ARE EXPECTED TO BE MUCH LESS...AND BE LIMITED MAINLY TO THE NORTH SLOPE AND BROOKS RANGE. A THIRD SHORT WAVE WILL ARRIVE OVER NORTHWEST ALASKA THU MORNING...MOVING EASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN PARTS OF NORTHERN ALASKA THROUGH THU NIGHT. PRECIPITATION WITH THIS WAVE IS AGAIN EXPECTED TO BE RELATIVELY LIGHT AND BE RESTRICTED MAINLY TO THE ARCTIC SLOPE. COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL... SEA ELEVATIONS OF 1.5 TO A LITTLE OVER 3 FEET EXPECTED IN NORTON SOUND LATE SUN NIGHT THROUGH LATE MON NIGHT. THE HIGHEST SEA LEVEL RISES...A LITTLE OVER 3 FEET...WILL BE OVER EASTERN NORTON SOUND MON AFTERNOON AND MON EVENING. SEAS COULD BE AS HIGH AS 8 FEET OFFSHORE OVER EASTERN NORTON SOUND...BUT LOWER NEAR SHORE. WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS TO 25 KT TUE THROUGH TUE EVENING COULD PRODUCE ELEVATED SURF ON THE ARCTIC COAST FROM BARROW WESTWARD. SEAS COULD BE AS HIGH AS 6-8 FEET NOT TOO FAR OFFSHORE. MAXIMUM SEA LEVEL ELEVATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 1.5 FEET AT ICY CAPE AND ABOUT 1 FOOT AT BARROW. && .HYDROLOGY... SEE MAIN DISCUSSION FOR EXPECTED PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. NO SMALL STREAM FLOOD ISSUES ARE EXPECTED IN THE ALASKA RANGE AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE LOWERING FREEZING AND SNOW LEVELS. IN THE MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY...FORECAST RAINFALL COULD RESULT IN THE UPPER CHENA RIVER RISING TO ACTION STAGE BY EARLY WED MORNING. && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245. WIND ADVISORY...OVER SUMMITS IN AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ222. && RF AUG 14
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 8:44 PM AKST, 3 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 944 PM AKDT SUN AUG 31 2014 AKZ221>223-225-020000- CENTRAL INTERIOR-MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY-DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS- DENALI- INCLUDING...NENANA...ANDERSON...TANANA...MINTO... MANLEY HOT SPRINGS...RAMPART...LAKE MINCHUMINA...LIVENGOOD... FAIRBANKS...FORT WAINWRIGHT...EIELSON AFB...ESTER...NORTH POLE... MOOSE CREEK...TWO RIVERS...FOX...CHATANIKA...CHENA HOT SPRINGS... SOURDOUGH CAMP...SALCHA...DELTA JUNCTION...FORT GREELY... HARDING/BIRCH LAKE...DRY CREEK...DOT LAKE...HEALY LAKE...HEALY... DENALI NATIONAL PARK...CARLO CREEK...KANTISHNA 944 PM AKDT SUN AUG 31 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AND HIGH RIVER LEVELS THIS WEEK... HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED OVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN INTERIOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY AS A STRONG WEATHER SYSTEM SWEEPS EAST ACROSS NORTHERN ALASKA. A WIDESPREAD SWATH OF RAINFALL TOTALING 1 INCH OR MORE IS FORECAST FROM THE NULATO HILLS EAST TO THE FAIRBANKS AREA...AND ALONG THE ALASKA RANGE. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL FROM DENALI NATIONAL PARK TO FAIRBANKS WHERE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN IS LIKELY. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE ALASKA RANGE MAY SEE RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES. RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE INTERIOR WILL RISE SHARPLY ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY DUE TO RUNOFF FROM THE RAINFALL. THE CHENA...LITTLE CHENA...AND CHATANIKA RIVERS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO BANKFULL LEVELS. RIVERS WILL ALSO RISE RAPIDLY IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND THE WESTERN ALASKA RANGE...AND SOME SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY FLOW OVERBANK IN LOW LYING AREAS. IN ADDITION...THE HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE ROCK AND MUDSLIDES IN AREAS OF STEEP TERRAIN. EWP
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 9:48 PM AKST, 2 hours 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1048 PM AKDT SUN AUG 31 2014 AKZ212-216-227-020000- EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS- LOWER KOYUKUK AND MIDDLE YUKON VALLEYS-UPPER KUSKOKWIM VALLEY- INCLUDING...UNALAKLEET...STEBBINS...ST MICHAEL...ELIM...KOYUK... SHAKTOOLIK...GALENA...NULATO...HUSLIA...KALTAG...RUBY...KOYUKUK... MCGRATH...NIKOLAI...TAKOTNA...FAREWELL LAKE 1048 PM AKDT SUN AUG 31 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AND HIGH RIVER LEVELS THIS WEEK... HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED OVER THE WESTERN INTERIOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY AS A STRONG WEATHER SYSTEM SWEEPS EAST ACROSS NORTHERN ALASKA. A WIDESPREAD SWATH OF RAINFALL TOTALING 1 INCH OR MORE IS FORECAST FROM THE NULATO HILLS EAST TO THE KUSKOKWIM MOUNTAINS AND THE ALASKA RANGE. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL OVER THE NULATO HILLS AND THE WESTERN ALASKA RANGE WHERE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN IS LIKELY. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WESTERN ALASKA RANGE MAY SEE RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES. RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE WESTERN INTERIOR WILL RISE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY DUE TO RUNOFF FROM THE RAINFALL. IN THE ALASKA RANGE...SOME SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY FLOW OVERBANK IN LOW LYING AREAS. IN ADDITION...THE HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE ROCK AND MUDSLIDES IN AREAS OF STEEP TERRAIN. EWP
Event by event
1 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- High Surf
- Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Rip Current in Florida, September 1, 2014
- Drought in Texas, September 1 to 30, 2014
- Tornadoes and Hail in Missouri, September 1, 2014
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Georgia, September 1 to 3, 2014
- Tornado and Hail in Oklahoma, September 1, 2014
- Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Michigan, September 1, 2014
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, September 1, 2014
- Wildfire in California, September 1 to 30, 2014
- Drought in Texas, September 1 to 30, 2014
- Flood and Heavy Rain in Iowa, September 1 to 2, 2014
- Drought in Oklahoma, September 1 to 30, 2014
- Flooding in Iowa, September 1 to 2, 2014
More
Every storm in Alaska in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, September 2014
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: 543149.