Alaska faces one of its worst storms ever, forecasters say

[Bosonic]

Source: CNN

Alaska is facing a life threatening winter storm with near hurricane force winds, more than a foot of snow and severe coastal flooding, the National Weather Service says.

"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," NWS forecasters said in a bulletin Monday afternoon.

The storm was about 600 miles southwest of Shemya in the far western Aleutian Islands on Monday afternoon and was expected to move over the Bering Sea toward Alaska's west coast on Tuesday.

Winds near hurricane force of 74 mph were expected to generate seas as high as 25 feet in the northern Bering Sea, forecasters said. The winds were expected to raise sea levels as much as 9 feet in the Norton Sound. Those levels combined with the high waves were expected to cause significant coastal erosion and major flooding. The winds may also push sea ice on shore, adding to the dangers, NWS forecasters said.

Read more: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/08/alaska-faces-one-of-its-worst-storms-ever-forecasters-say/

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Isn't it around this time of year that these guys start King Crab season?

[Crowman1979]

1. Looks like Sarah Palin's gawd got pissed off at her and is taking his rage on Alaska.

:evilgrin:

[progressoid]

3. Yep

there must be a lot of homersexials and fornercaters out there that pissed off gawd.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I just bought a DeLorme

Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer at a Goodwill thrift store yesterday evening, so at least I can where this will be taking place. I had no idea I would be using it so soon.

[babydollhead]

8. that looks great!

[Scuba]

19. I like my DeLorme for the NOAA coastal and other waterway maps....

... and for the terrain maps, but it sucks for navigating in the car. I have a Garmin for that.

[Po_d Mainiac]

21. And Maine thanks you for that..n/t

[SpiralHawk]

4. Hurricane Hermy (R)

...anything to distract from the massive moral failings of Republicons...

[ensho]

5. global warming is so much fun - wishing them well

nt

[dipsydoodle]

6. Global warming is real

but attributing everything to it gives the issue a credibility problem.

Given that its ONE of the worst on record implies there are previous examples. Were they due to global warming too ?

[lunatica]

9. Global warming makes the weather more severe

When the temperature rises, even by just a couple of degrees more water evaporates into the atmosphere. This results in all aspects of weather to become more severe. It rains harder and longer, moisture laden hurricanes grow bigger, it snows more, tornadoes are stronger and more frequent.

It's not about weather happening that didn't happen before. It's about weather getting far more severe and dangerous.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Thank you! nt

[AverageJoe90]

13. Wouldn't quite say FAR worse just yet...........

but yes, obviously, human influence is a serious issue that MUST be dealt with.

[Po_d Mainiac]

23. Ayuh, we had 6-7 Twenty-five year rain events last June. n/t

[Iliyah]

7. Remain safe!

Will we hear Pat Robertson say it's Obama's fault, the gays' fault, unions and pro-choice fault for the devil storm striking Alaska?

[xxqqqzme]

11. It would be better if we heard

nothing at all!

[freshwest]

16. They'll probably blame Occupy Anchorage for this next, huh?

[KamaAina]

12. Looks like it's actually 600 miles northwest of the Aleutians

not southwest. Bad CNN! :spank:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

14. Alaska storm to produce “historic” hurricane-like conditions

Source: Washington Post

A ferocious, dangerous storm in the north Pacific is on a collision course with the west coast of Alaska. Referred to as the “Bering Sea Superstorm” by the National Weather Service Office in Fairbanks (NWS), damaging winds, severe beach erosion and major coastal flooding are expected. In some locations, heavy snow and blizzard conditions are also forecast.

“This will be one of the most severe Bering Sea storms on record,” the NWS wrote today.

The storm is predicted to deepen at an incredible rate, with its central pressure crashing from 973 mb this morning to 945-950 mb tonight.

snip

A direct hit is forecast for Nome, Alaska where the conditions will resemble a snow hurricane. Sustained winds of 45-60 mph (with higher gusts) and 8-14 inches of snow are forecast along with a storm surge as high as 8 feet early Wednesday evening (local time) at the coast. The NWS likens the storm to the November 11-12, 1974 storm which is the strongest in that city’s 113 years of records.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/historic-alaska-storm-to-produce-hurricane-conditions/2011/11/08/gIQAaiqy0M_blog.html#pagebreak

[SpiralHawk]

15. Precisely what scientists said would happen with global climate change

I am sure the Republicons can see their forthcoming lies & denial about this from their kitchen windows.

[freshwest]

17. Poor guys. Ah, but will it veer south and hit the rest of us? I'll be watching this one.

:scared: :scared: :scared:

[happyslug]

18. Up to the Jet Stream

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/global/jet.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_stream

Typical winter Jet Stream pattern over North America:


http://snowball.millersville.edu/~lead/JS_Polar_Jet_Stream.html

The winter flow of the Polar Jet Stream seems to run from Southern Alaska (Where this storm is hitting) Southeast then North East across the Canadian Rockies, then south to the Great Lakes then east over Pennsylvania (Also Quebec, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, New York New Jersey, West Virginia and New England, maybe hitting parts of Kentucky and Virginia on the south edge of the Jet Stream.

Thus, depending on how the Jet Stream is flowing today, this storm will affect weather in the US.

NOAA is saying the Jet Stream as of 11-8-2011 is flowing SOUTH from Alaska then East to Seattle. South to Denver, then it is affected by the Sub Tropical Jet Stream that is today going from St Louis to Quebec.

The Jet Stream today from the National Weather Service (NWS)

[freshwest]

20. Yup, I noticed checking that yesterday that it might dip low. Right now, all is sunny and calm.

But damned, but that is close by. Wouldn't take much to stir it up. We're prepared for gales, etc. Thanks for the maps there.

[happyslug]

22. National Weather Service has changed since 5:00 EST,

Now it looks like the Jet Stream is heading EAST from Alaska then south to Salt Lake City.

The Tropic Jet Steam applies unchanged, From New Orleans to Atlanta then Right up the Appalachian Mountains to Upstate New York and Quebec.