We were going to let this go unheralded so as to not give undue concern to our friends/family back home, but since it appears this is getting national news attention...there is a hurricane force storm moving north through the Bering Sea expected to smash our area tonight and tomorrow. The entire sea is expected to rise 10 feet during the storm as a large amount of Pacific Ocean water moves into the much smaller Bering Sea & Norton Sound. Waves are predicted at 35 feet (that's a 3 story house). WE WILL BE OK! St. Michael is on a sheltered harbor on a north facing coast so we will not get direct hits of water, and most of the community is more than 10 feet above sea level in addition to many buildings, including ours, being an additional 8 feet above ground. However, many other commmunities, including Stebbins on the other side of the hill from us are right on the water with no protection from the sea. So while Nathan and I appreciate everyone's Facebook birthday wishes, we would much more appreciate your prayers for the people of the Bering Sea villages who are facing a potential level of devastation that has only come through the region twice in the last century ('74 and '13). We anticipate losing power during the storm, and depending on damage it could last multiple days. DO NOT PANIC if we don't regain contact with any of you over that time. We have confidence in God's protection, and the preparedness of this community.
Today we were given 45 minutes notice that we were sending students home early. Flora had to call every parent and tell them to come get their kids. School has also been canceled for tomorrow. Right now the wind is blowing so hard that it whistles down the road and the snow has blown away from areas on the ground leaving dirt showing.
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM AKST THURSDAY...
A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM AKST THURSDAY.
* LOCATION...ALONG THE EASTERN NORTON SOUND COAST FROM POINT ROMANOF TO CAPE DARBY.
* IMPACTS...MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION IS EXPECTED ALL ALONG THE COAST. SEA LEVELS RISING 8 TO 10 FEET ABOVE NORMAL COMBINED WITH HIGH WAVES WILL PUSH WATER ONSHORE AND FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS NEAR THE COAST. COASTLINE BORDERED BY SEA ICE MAY HAVE THE ICE PUSHED ONSHORE. THIS MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE. SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 50 TO 70 MPH ARE EXPECTED AS WELL.
* TIMING...WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION ARE EXPECTED FROM EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT RISING SEA WATER THAT CAUSES FLOODING IS EXPECTED. THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE STORMS ON RECORD. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN THE WARNED AREA NEED TO BEGIN TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS NOW TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY...AND BE ON THE ALERT FOR RISING WATER LEVELS. DO NOT DELAY IN TAKING NEEDED PRECAUTIONS FOR THIS UNUSUALLY SEVERE AND LIFE THREATENING STORM.
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM AKST WEDNESDAY...
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM AKST WEDNESDAY.
* SNOW...2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AT LOWER ELEVATIONS. 5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE NULATO HILLS.
* WIND...SOUTHEAST WINDS 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH.
* VISIBILITY...VISIBILITY WILL BE POOR AT TIMES. NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE.
* TIMING...THE HEAVIEST SNOW AND STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY VERY HAZARDOUS.
Here is a picture of our storm from space:
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