EPIC Winter Storm Nome Alaska

Here is the latest statement this morning from the National Weather Service on the storm situation in western Alaska.  It is a lot to read but worth it if you have the time.

A POWERFUL AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM OF NEAR RECORD OR RECORD MAGNITUDE IS BEARING DOWN ON THE WEST COAST OF ALASKA. AT 9 AM THIS MORNING THE STORM CENTER WAS LOCATED ABOUT 600 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. THE STORM IS FORECAST TO MOVE RAPIDLY NORTHEAST TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH THE CENTER MOVING ACROSS THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA TONIGHT. ON WEDNESDAY THE STORM WILL TAKE A NORTHWESTWARD TRACK INTO THE CHUKCHI SEA. THE STORM WILL BRING EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS TO ALL OF THE ALASKA WEST COAST BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BEGINNING THIS EVENING OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE WEST COAST...ACCOMPANIED BY WIDESPREAD MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION OVER MANY PARTS OF THE COASTLINE. THE WIND WILL PUSH LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER INTO NORTON SOUND...RAISING SEA LEVELS TO 7 TO 9 FEET ABOVE NORMAL IN NORTON SOUND AND ALONG THE BERING STRAIT COAST. THE EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE HIGH WAVES WHICH WILL PUSH THE HIGH WATER FARTHER INLAND. OVER THE BERING STRAIT COAST AND ST LAWRENCE ISLAND... SUSTAINED WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 75 MPH WITH MAXIMUM GUSTS OF 90 TO 100 MPH. ALONG THE CHUKCHI COAST...WIND SPEEDS OF 65 TO 70 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 90 MPH ARE EXPECTED. IN THE NOME AREA...SUSTAINED WINDS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH ARE EXPECTED...WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH. ALMOST ALL OTHER AREAS OF THE WEST COAST WILL EXPERIENCE MAXIMUM WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 50 TO 60 MPH. WIDESPREAD MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION IS EXPECTED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: 1. THE BERING SEA COAST FROM CAPE ROMANZOF TO POINT ROMANOF...ESPECIALLY THE WEST FACING SHORES. 2. ALL AREAS ALONG THE EASTERN AND NORTHERN SHORE OF NORTON SOUND WESTWARD TO AND INCLUDING THE BERING STRAIT COAST AND LITTLE DIOMEDE ISLAND. 3. SOUTH AND WEST FACING COASTLINE OF ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. 4. THE CHUKCHI SEA COAST FROM CAPE KRUSENSTERN TO POINT HOPE. THIS INCLUDES THE VILLAGES OF NOME AND KIVALINA WHERE MAJOR DAMAGE FROM COASTAL FLOODING AND STRONG WINDS IS EXPECTED. THE VILLAGE OF SAVOONGA ON THE NORTH SHORE OF ST LAWRENCE ISLAND WILL BE PROTECTED FROM COASTAL FLOODING BUT WILL EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY STRONG AND DAMAGING WINDS. ADDITIONALLY...HIGH SEA LEVELS IN NORTON SOUND WILL CAUSE COASTAL FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORE. THE STORM WILL PRODUCE BLIZZARD OR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER MOST AREAS OF THE WESTERN ALASKA MAINLAND...WITH VISIBILITY REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. PEOPLE ARE URGED TO SEEK SHELTER NOW AND POSTPONE TRAVEL INTO THE BACK COUNTRY UNTIL THE STORM ABATES. ALL BOAT OPERATORS SHOULD SEEK SAFETY IN PORT IMMEDIATELY IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. IN AREAS WHERE BEACH EROSION AND COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED...SMALL BOATS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY SHOULD BE MOVED WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE AND TO HIGHER GROUND. AGAIN...THIS WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING STORM OF AN EPIC MAGNITUDE RARELY EXPERIENCED. ALL PEOPLE IN THE AREA SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR LIVES AND PROPERTY.