November 2011 Bering Sea cyclone

{{storm path|2011 Bering Sea superstorm track.png}}

In early November 2011, an extratropical cyclone developed over the western Pacific Ocean. Gradually intensifying, the system moved rapidly northeastward at {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and reached the southern Aleutian Islands by November 8, with a barometric pressure estimated at 960 mbar (hPa; 28.35 inHg). Though still intensifying, winds associated with the storm were already estimated in excess of hurricane-force.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|publisher=CBS News|date=November 8, 2011|access-date=August 14, 2012|title=Hurricane-force storm bears down on Alaskan coast|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-force-storm-bears-down-on-alaskan-coast/}} By 9:00 p.m. AKST, the system had attained a pressure of around 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg) while it was near the Gulf of Anadyr. This made it one of the most powerful storms on record in the region, comparable to the November 1974 storm in Nome, Alaska, which was regarded as "the most severe in Nome in 113 years of record keeping." According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the system was forecast to have sustained winds of {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} over an area the size of Colorado.{{cite web|author=Jessee Ferrell|date=November 8, 2011|access-date=August 14, 2012|title=Weather Flying Wild in Alaska: 10-Foot Surge, 80 MPH|url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/weathermatrix/weather-flying-wild-in-alaska-10foot-surge-80-mph/57511|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117200521/http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/weathermatrix/weather-flying-wild-in-alaska-10foot-surge-80-mph/57511|archive-date=January 17, 2012|url-status=dead}} After weakening somewhat, the storm crossed the Chukotsk Peninsula around 9:00 a.m. AKST on November 9 before moving over the Chukchi Sea later that day. Once back over water, the extratropical cyclone turned towards the northwest and was last noted as a 975 mbar (hPa; 28.80 inHg) low on November 10, about {{convert|150|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of Wrangel Island, before dissipating on the next day.

On November 7 and 8, the NWS issued hurricane wind warnings, flood warnings and blizzard warnings for most of Western Alaska. The storm came after almost 7,000 people in the Kenai Peninsula lost power in a previous storm the week before.{{cite news|title=Storm leaves thousands without power on Kenai Peninsula|url=http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/storm-leaves-thousands-without-power-kenai-peninsula|access-date=November 8, 2011|date=November 3, 2011}} An Alaskan village called Kivalina built a wall to protect waves from flooding the village. The storm was expected to test the walls sturdiness. In case the wall fell down, people who live in Kivalina would be evacuated. Storm surges were expected to be up to 8–10 feet. The U.S. Coast Guard staged helicopters around the western coast of Alaska in case of any emergencies.{{cite news|last=Dan Whitcomb|first=Peter Bohan|title=Alaskans brace for huge storm to strike western coast|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-alaska-idUSTRE7A787U20111108|access-date=November 9, 2011|work=Reuters|date=November 8, 2011}} People in Unalakleet, Alaska began to board up their windows on November 8.{{cite news|last=Land|first=Ted|title=Western Alaska Braces for Storm|url=http://www.ktuu.com/news/western-alaska-braces-for-storm-20111108,0,5426958.story|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128102908/http://www.ktuu.com/news/western-alaska-braces-for-storm-20111108,0,5426958.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 28, 2013|access-date=November 9, 2011|date=November 9, 2011}} The Alaskan Homeland Security helped villages prepare for the storm.{{cite news|last=Feidt|first=Annie|title=Communities Prepare for Storm|url=http://www.alaskapublic.org/2011/11/08/communities-prepare-for-storm/|access-date=November 9, 2011|date=November 9, 2011}}

From November 8, temperatures around Alaska began decreasing. In Anchorage, temperatures the previous day were {{convert|18|F|C}}, but temperatures began decreasing to {{convert|6|F|C}} during the afternoon. In Nome, AK, tides had risen up to {{convert|7|ft|m}},{{cite news|last=Samenow|first=Jason|title=Alaska storm brings epic wind, waves, coastal flooding and snow|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/alaska-storm-brings-epic-wind-waves-coastal-flooding-and-snow/2011/11/09/gIQA8gNb5M_blog.html|access-date=November 9, 2011|date=November 9, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post}} with waters moving up to bases of people's homes.{{cite news|last=Lendon|first=Brad|title=Arctic 'hurricane' slams Alaska|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/09/arctic-hurricane-slams-alaska/?hpt=hp_t3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109161852/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/09/arctic-hurricane-slams-alaska/?hpt=hp_t3|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2011|access-date=November 9, 2011|date=November 9, 2011|work=CNN}} Windchill temperatures south of Kivalina were {{convert|-14.1|F|C}} with winds gusting to {{convert|70|mph|km/h}}. Many low-lying areas experienced flooding, including Nome.{{cite news|title=Snow, hurricane-force winds batter Alaska coast|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/snow-hurricane-force-winds-batter-alaska-coast/ | work=CBS News}}

Across much of western Alaska's coastline, the storm caused widespread erosion and coastal flooding from a combination of storm surge and waves estimated between {{convert|30|and|40|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The most significant effects were felt in and around Nome where sea levels rose {{convert|8.73|ft|m|abbr=on}} above normal, flooding low-lying areas. The Cape Nome Jetty sustained approximately $500,000 in damage. Although the surge did not over-top the seawall, water from breaking waves washed over and inundated a sewer and water treatment plant. The pumps at the facility were overwhelmed and 165,000 gallons of raw wastewater was discharged into a small harbor. Several other buildings in the area had basement flooding but no significant losses took place. A significant portion of the Nome-Council road was washed out or severely damaged by the storm, and damage was estimated at $24 million. Coastal damage throughout the city of Nome was estimated at $80,000.

The storm caused widespread damage to approximately 37 communities on the Western Alaskan coast. Damage included coastal erosion caused by storm surge, roof and other structural damage to homes and businesses, and loss of heat and electricity.{{cite news|last=D'Oro|first=Rachel|title=Huge storm leaves Alaska's western coast|url=http://juneauempire.com/state/2011-11-11/huge-storm-leaves-alaskas-western-coast#.Tr2DXfQUq7s|access-date=November 11, 2011|date=November 11, 2011}}

A fishing vessel was lost in the severe weather after the crew was ordered to abandon ship. The crew was rescued by the United States Coast Guard.{{cite news|last=Nochlin|first=Erica|title=Enduring 45-foot waves, local man survives storm in Bering Sea|url=http://www.katu.com/news/local/133675323.html|access-date=November 11, 2011|date=November 10, 2011}}

Forecasters at the NWS predicted a second strong storm; however, the forecasted storm was not expected to cause as much damage. Other low-pressure areas spawned by this storm were expected to bring heavy rain to British Columbia and the West Coast of the United States.{{cite news|title=Alaska storm of 'epic proportions' may hit B.C.|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/epic-alaska-storm-effect-downgraded-for-b-c-1.1119370|publisher=CBC | date=November 11, 2011}} On November 11, 2011, the National Weather Service issued hurricane-force wind warnings and storm warnings for Western Alaska with coastal flood warnings for the Alaska Peninsula. The second storm attained a minimum central pressure of {{convert|954|mb|inHg}} on November 12, 2011.

On December 22, President Barack Obama issued a disaster declaration due to the large amount of destruction caused by the storm.{{cite news | url=http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/president-declares-bering-sea-mega-storm-disaster-western-alaska | title=President declares Bering Sea 'mega storm' disaster in Western Alaska | date=December 22, 2011 | agency=Alaska Dispatch | access-date=December 26, 2011}}

Storms analysed below {{convert|948|mb|inHg}} by the National Weather Service occur on average 5 times per year in the Bering Sea area, where one or two per year see their central pressure drop below {{convert|930|mb|inHg}}.{{cite news|last=Burt|first=Christopher C.|title=Super Extra-tropical Storms; Alaska and Extra-tropical Record Low Barometric Pressures|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/super-extratropical-storms-alaska-and-extratropical-record-low-baro|access-date=10 April 2014|newspaper=Wunderground: Weather Historian Blog|date=10 November 2011}} 2011 also saw a low pressure reach {{convert|939|mb|inHg|abbr=on}} on April 6, however this storm was less damaging as the wind-field was strongest out to sea.

• November 2014: An extratropical cyclone that absorbed the remnants of Typhoon Nuri intensified to a minimum central pressure of 920 millibars (mbar),{{cite web|title=Marine Weather Warning for GMDSS Metarea XI 2014-11-08T06:00:00Z|url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/cms/warning/2014/11/08/marine-weather-warning-for-gmdss-metarea-xi-2014-11-08t060000z/|website=WIS Portal – GISC Tokyo|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|access-date=November 8, 2014}} while meteorologists in the United States estimated its minimum pressure to be 924 millibars.{{cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Andrew|title=Alaska storm becomes strongest in Bering Sea history|url=http://mashable.com/2014/11/08/alaska-storm-strongest-bering-sea/|access-date=9 November 2014|publisher=Mashable|date=8 November 2014}}
• September 2005 and October 2004: Two powerful extratropical storms, one of which was the remnants of Typhoon Ma-on that reached a minimum pressure of 941 mb, brought high storm surges to the Alaskan coast.{{cite web|author=National Weather Service Office in Fairbanks, Alaska|work=National Climatic Data Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=2005|accessdate=22 August 2024|title=Alaska Event Report: High Wind|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5426727}}
• October 25–26, 1977: Saw what has been described as the most powerful storm in Alaska in modern times, until it was eclipsed by the November 2014 Bering Sea bomb cyclone. A minimum pressure of {{convert|926|mb|inHg}} was recorded on the island of Unalaska, with winds in the Aleutian islands gusting at {{Convert|130|mph||abbr=on}}. The storm had its origins as a West Pacific Typhoon.
• November 1974: A storm brought the highest storm surge to Nome {{convert|13|ft|m}} above normal.
• February 25, 1951: Recorded Alaska's highest sustained one-minute wind speed of {{convert|93|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} at Kotzebue.
• December 7, 1950: Saw the strongest wind gust ever recorded in Alaska, with a maximum gust of {{convert|159|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} measured at Attu in the far west Aleutian Islands.

Strong Bering Sea storms affecting Alaska typically form as East Asian-northwest Pacific storms, as cold, dry air masses from Siberia meet with mild and moist sub-tropical air masses off the coast of Japan where they can rapidly deepen above the Kuroshio Current, before heading towards Alaska. These storms develop in a similar manner to the formation of extratropical cyclones in the North Atlantic, although they tend not to reach the absolute low pressures recorded there, such as {{convert|913|mb|inHg|abbr=on}} during the Braer Storm of January 1993.

{{Portal|Weather|Alaska}}

• Explosive cyclogenesis
• Great Gale of 1880
• Columbus Day Storm of 1962
• January 2013 Northwest Pacific cyclone
• November 2014 Bering Sea cyclone
• Great Arctic Cyclone of 2012
• Typhoon Merbok (2022)

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{{United States winter storms}}

2011 Bering

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Cyclone,2011-11-04,Bering

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Bering Sea cyclone

Cyclone,2011-11-04,Bering

Category:November 2011 in the United States