Cliff Mass keeps us up to date on the Gulf of Alaska:
Gulf of Alaska Storm Season Begins
Some of the most ferocious storms of the planet develop in our backyard: the Gulf of Alaska.
Storms that are not hurricanes or typhoons but capable of producing winds and waves comparable to Category 3 tropical storms.
And one will occur in a few days
The satellite imagery of these storms is remarkable, as illustrated by a powerful example from September 26, 2012. Masses of frontal clouds swirl into the low center, not unlike water circling into a drain. The low center is in the center of the swirl.
And how big?
This is a rapidly intensifying storm (it was 992 hPa only 24 h before) and thus is called an atmospheric BOMB. Atmospheric bombs must deepen by at least 24 hPa in 24 h. This one doubles that. Impressive. Very impressive.
Yowsa. Fall is definitely in the air.
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