Some of you who have been around here a while might remember my Nome photos.

[Blue_In_AK]

Well, Nome and ALL of Western Alaska is under a severe storm watch tonight. Please keep everyone out there in your thoughts. Alaska doesn't get much press when it comes to storms, but this is a biggie and could be disastrous for several Native villages (which are already in danger from global warming erosion) and for Nome, which is a great little town that I love to visit.

http://news.yahoo.com/alaska-braces-epic-storm-evacuations-begin-020349170.html

<snip>

The storm, moving inland from the Aleutian Islands, was expected to bring hurricane-force winds with gusts up to 100 miles per hour, heavy snowfall, widespread coastal flooding and severe erosion to most of Alaska's west coast, the National Weather Service said.

"This will be an extremely dangerous and life threatening storm of an epic magnitude rarely experienced," the service said in a special warning message.

<snip>

Posing an additional threat is the lack of sea ice off northwestern Alaska, forecasters said.

The last time a storm of a similar magnitude was sent in the same northward direction was 1974, but the sea surface was much more frozen then, Brown said.

"History tells that the sea ice helps subdue the storm surge," Brown said. "With no sea ice there, we could see the full brunt of that 6- to 9-foot storm surge."

Arctic sea ice this year reached the second-lowest coverage since satellite records began in 1979, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.

"Forty years ago, a big storm like this would come through and the sea ice would act as sort of a buffer," said Mark Serreze, director of the Snow and Ice Data Center.

"The Bering Sea has and always will have these strong storms. What is different now is their potential destructiveness as you lose the sea ice cover," he added.

<snip>

Nome pics:

http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Vacation/Theres-No-Place-Like-Nome/7808721_bDJhx3#505531056_EUw7Z

http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Vacation/Nome-Again-Nome-Again-Jiggity/11791256_h9WDQc#832796130_ojocT


The storm is currently 948 mb, and extends from Nome down through the Aleutians, a distance of over 900 miles.

[Mira]

1. The Nome photos show us what is in danger. I remember them,

and I just looked at them again.
The are a wealth of memories for you and a wonderland for me, and so perfect.
I am aware there is real danger, and I'm thinking of all of you with wishes for the best possible outcome.

[alfredo]

2. It's like a hurricane with 100 mph winds.

[blueraven95]

3. actually it has been getting press, at least here in Maryland

Thinking safe thoughts for Alaska.

[CC]

4. Your photos

have made it a place I want to see someday. Definitely am keeping the area and living beings whether human, furred or feathered in my thoughts. It has gotten coverage both locally (MD) and on the nightly news. Let us know who would be best to donate to once it all quiets down since it sounds like major damage is unavoidable.