Look how deceptively peaceful it looks today. The calm before the storm.
Here is the weather statement that NOAA has issued:
Here is the weather statement that NOAA has issued:
Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 414 PM AKST MON NOV 7 2011 AKZ207>214-090115- CHUKCHI SEA COAST-LOWER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS- BALDWIN PENINSULA AND SELAWIK VALLEY- NORTHERN AND INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA- SOUTHERN SEWARD PENINSULA COAST- EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS- ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST-YUKON DELTA- INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG... NOATAK...KIANA...RED DOG MINE...KOTZEBUE...SELAWIK...NOORVIK... BUCKLAND...DEERING...CANDLE...COUNCIL...HAYCOCK... PILGRIM SPRINGS...SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS...TAYLOR...NOME... WHITE MOUNTAIN...GOLOVIN...UNALAKLEET...STEBBINS...ST MICHAEL... ELIM...KOYUK...SHAKTOOLIK...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION... TELLER...WALES...DIOMEDE...MOUNTAIN VILLAGE...EMMONAK... ALAKANUK...KOTLIK...PILOT STATION...ST MARYS...SCAMMON BAY... MARSHALL...NUNAM IQUA...PITKAS POINT 414 PM AKST MON NOV 7 2011 ...SEVERE BERING SEA STORM EXPECTED TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY... A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING STORM LOCATED ABOUT 600 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SHEMYA THIS AFTERNOON WILL INTENSIFY INTO ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE BERING SEA STORMS ON RECORD AS IT MOVES NORTHWARD ACROSS THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. THE STORM WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD WINDS OF 40 TO 55 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS OVER THE WEST COAST TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. STRONG WEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. GUSTS TO 70 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA AND IN AREAS NEAR KOTZEBUE. WINDS OF 60 TO 75 MPH ARE EXPECTED OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND THE BERING STRAIT COAST. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO APPROACH HURRICANE FORCE OVER THE CHUKCHI SEA AND NORTHERN BERING SEA. THE STRONG WINDS WILL GENERATE SEAS TO AS HIGH AS 20 FEET OVER THE CHUKCHI SEA...AND TO 15 TO 25 FEET OVER THE NORTHERN BERING SEA. THE STRONG WINDS WILL PUSH LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER INTO NORTON SOUND...RAISING SEA LEVELS TO AS HIGH AS 8 TO 9 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE HIGH SEA LEVELS COMBINED WITH HIGH WAVES WILL PRODUCE SEVERE BEACH EROSION AND MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SHORES OF NORTON SOUND AND ALONG THE BERING STRAIT COAST. HIGH WATER LEVELS WILL PRODUCE COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF NORTON SOUND. STRONG WINDS AND WAVE ACTION MAY PUSH ICE IN NORTON BAY ON SHORE. MODERATELY ELEVATED SEA LEVELS AND HIGH WAVES WILL CAUSE SEVERE BEACH EROSION AND MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE SOUTH AND WEST FACING COASTS OF ST LAWRENCE ISLAND TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. ALONG THE CHUKCHI SEA COAST FROM CAPE KRUSENSTERN NORTHWEST... SOUTHEAST WINDS GUSTING TO A HIGH AS 70 MPH WILL PRODUCE HIGH WAVES AND SOME ELEVATION OF SEA LEVELS...RESULTING IN SEVERE BEACH EROSION AND MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING. THE VILLAGE OF KIVALINA WILL BE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY BEACH EROSION AND COASTAL FLOODING. THE STORM WILL ALSO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER ALMOST ALL OF THE WEST COAST TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF AS MUCH AS 14 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTHERN SEWARD PENINSULA COAST AND IN PARTS OF THE INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA. AGAIN...THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING STORM WHICH WILL BE ONE OF THE WORST ON RECORD OVER THE BERING SEA AND THE WEST COAST.
Wow! Wish I were up there for the excitement! =) Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteI thought about the calm before the storm too today when we were on a walk. Had to get a walk in today before all the craziness hits! Sure is nice out right now :)
ReplyDeletegood luck!!! sounds terrifying. :(
ReplyDelete^Yeah, like a hurricane and a blizzard all rolled into one.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't be as horrible of a storm if it was later in the winter and the sea ice was already frozen. I think it is the open water that will be the biggest problem. But the wind is gonna be whippin' too--so its a good time to stay indoors I guess!
ReplyDeleteStay safe!
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely beautiful here too. It's almost like the movies that show the big bad clouds coming in terror as the villagefolk run for their lives. I sure really really sure hope it's not like that. My husband stalks NOAA too! haha. So, we've been stocking up on propane for the heaters and slowly filling the three tubs and bunches of totes with water. Sigh... Let's hope it comes and goes, and we go on with life as usual up here!
ReplyDelete