As a large dome of high pressure continues to dominate the weather around here we turn our gaze to an alaskan storm.

This is what the NWS says about the storm:

What NWS forecasters in Fairbanks, Alaska, are calling an “extremely dangerous and life threatening storm of an epic magnitude rarely experienced” is rapidly strengthening and beginning to impact coastal communities and the western Alaska mainland.The brunt of the storm is expected to reach Nome, Alaska, this evening, with hurricane-force winds and tremendous coastal storm surge. Currently, there are 35-foot waves and 100 mph winds in the open waters as the storm moves at 60 mph toward the western Alaska coastline. Storm surge into Norton Sound is expected to raise waters to 10 feet above normal through Wednesday, causing devastating beach erosion. Flooding could push Norton Bay ice on shore. Seas are forecast to rise along the coastline Tuesday afternoon and gain height rapidly at night before cresting in Nome on Wednesday. Coastal Flood and Blizzard Warnings are in effect from Tuesday through Wednesday night for most of the west coast of Alaska.

In 1974 a storm like this stuck the same area with a 5 foot surge inundating the low lying areas of town and with the surge forecasted to top out at 8 FEET these areas could be flooded again.

Here is a surge forecast map:

 

Stay tuned!

 

-Jack