Rare hurricane-force wind warnings were announced for parts of the Gulf of Alaska. That’s word from the National Weather Service in Anchorage, which issued the rare advisory late Saturday.
Officials initially said parts of the gulf could experience hurricane-force winds and waves as high as a three-story building on Sunday into early Monday. The system was forecasted to intensify into Sunday, with peak winds approaching 75mph in the afternoon, this as waves could reach as high as 27 feet.
In a Monday update from the National Weather Service, there were no major damage or injuries following the large storm. Forecasters say the storm system weakened overnight after bringing wind gusts of 81 miles per hour to Middleton Island yesterday morning.
The storm system brought 2.5 inches of rain to Ketchikan and 1.2 inches to Juneau.
According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Force Wind Warnings mean winds of at least 73mph, which aren’t common in the Gulf of Alaska, but more common in further west locations such as the Bearing Sea and along the Aleutian Islands.
One category removed from that are Storm Force Wind Warnings, which are more common in the Gulf, which have sustained winds of at least 55mph, and occur up to twice a year, on average.
(Image courtesy of National Weather Service in Anchorage)