![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/images\/2024\/01\/240102_240103_goes18_airMassRGB_Gulf_of_Alaska_anim.gif\")
<\/a>GOES-18 Air Mass RGB images, from 1530 UTC on 02 January to 1900 UTC on 03 January [click to play animated GIF]<\/p><\/div>10-minte Full Disk scan GOES-18 (GOES-West)<\/em> Air Mass RGB<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0images\u00a0(above)<\/strong><\/em> showed a large cyclone as it deepened to a 936 hPa Hurricane Force Low while approaching the Aleutian Islands of Alaska on 02-03 January 2024 (surface analyses<\/strong><\/a>). The Sea Level Pressure dropped to at least 945.6 hPa at Dutch Harbor\/Unalaska (METAR identifier PADU), which set a new record January minimum pressure for that site.<\/p>\n As the low passed near Buoy 46072<\/strong><\/a> (located just east of PAAK), the pressure there dropped to 942.7 hPa at 1940 UTC on 02 January (below)<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n Plot of wind speed, wind gust and air pressure at Buoy 46072<\/p><\/div>\n GOES-18 Air Mass RGB images with plots of Metop ASCAT winds at 2150 UTC on 02 January and 0730 UTC on 03 January (below)<\/strong><\/em> depicted wind speeds in the 50-60 knot range to the south and southwest of the low center.<\/p>\n GOES-18 Air Mass RGB images with Metop ASCAT winds plotted in cyan, at 2150 UTC on 02 January and 0730 UTC on 03 January [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>A toggle between GCOM-W1 AMSR2 Wind Speeds (source<\/strong><\/a>) at 1332 UTC on 02 January and 0042 UTC on 03 January (below)<\/strong><\/em> showed several small pockets of Hurricane Force magnitude (>64 knots, shades of magenta) within the expanding field of strong winds south of the low center on 03 January.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>