Strong storm in the Bering Sea
Himawari-8 Lower-level (7.3 µm), Mid-level (6.9 µm) and Upper-level (6.2 µm) Water Vapor images (above) showed a strong storm as it was rapidly intensifying south of the Aleutian Islands and moving into the Bering Sea during the 25-26 November 2017 period (surface analyses), producing hurricane force winds. Hourly surface wind gusts (knots) are plotted in red on the images.GOES-15 (GOES-West) Visible (0.63 µm) images during the daylight hours of 25 and 26 November (below) offered a more detailed view of the storm. As with the water vapor images above, hourly surface wind gusts (knots) are plotted in red on the images.
A plot of hourly surface observations from Adak Island in the Aleutians is shown below. Peak wind gusts of 91 mph were reported on Adak Island and at Unalaska.Aqua and Terra MODIS satellite imagery of #hurricane force low that has lashed the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands for the past 36 hours. Buoy 46075 (pink star) measured phenomenal seas for several hours (circled), with significant wave heights peaking at 52.2 ft (15.9 m) #akwx pic.twitter.com/uYcdXkdkWN
— NWS OPC (@NWSOPC) November 27, 2017
Also of note: the surface pressure at St. Paul Island dropped to unusually low levels as the storm moved into the Bering Sea.
This morning’s altimeter pressure setting of 27.95″ at St. Paul Island, Alaska, is the 3rd lowest since 1949 at that station. [27.67 on Oct 25, 1977 & 27.82″ on Dec 26, 1973]. @AlaskaWx
— Brian Brettschneider (@Climatologist49) November 26, 2017