Special Weather Statement

A strengthening storm system is expected to move across the central Bering Sea Thursday morning through Friday morning. A front will move over the Pribilofs Thursday morning bringing southeasterly gales and rain through Thursday afternoon. Southeasterly wind gusts of 50 mph are possible as the front moves over the Pribilof Islands.

Winds will turn westerly behind the low as it moves east Thursday night into Friday. West-northwesterly gusts to of 55 to 65 mph are expected Friday morning through Friday evening before slowly diminishing. Wave heights could reach as high as 15 to 20 ft.

The duration and magnitude of the westerly winds will be highly dependent on storm track. A more southerly track will allow for a lull in the strongest winds late Thursday through early Friday morning before the winds shift to the west. A more northerly storm track will allow for a quick wind shift from southeast to west and a longer duration of stronger winds. If the northerly track takes shape, wind gusts could be stronger, closer to 60 to 70 mph. However, confidence in this storm track and the higher wind gusts is low.