That massive "extratropical cyclone" that walloped Bering Sea and Northwestern Alaska communities with high winds and blizzard conditions last month was named one of the eight significant climate events to strike the United States in November, according to NOAA's latest update.
"Winds gusted to over 80 mph and the storm surge topped 8 feet, marking the strongest storm to impact the region in decades," NOAA said.
Other startling U.S. weather developments that month included a tornado that struck Oklahoma, record warmth in some New England states and the third most active hurricane season on record.
Alaska's storm began as an intense low pressure system that formed southeast of Japan on Nov. 7 and grew stronger and more intense as it rolled across the North Pacific toward Alaska's Aleutian frontier.
As this cyclone whirled into position, the storm's interior pressure dropped 50 millibars in 24 hours to a minimum of 944 millibars — comparable to a Category 1 hurricane.
"Waves to 35 feet and 100 mph winds were recorded offshore as the storm approached," NOAA reported. "Hurricane force winds and blizzard conditions affected coastal Alaska. Storm surges of up to 10 feet affected communities along Alaska's west coast -- causing flooding, some structural damage and property loss. … An ice zone connected to land had not yet developed to lessen the impact of large waves striking the coast."
In other ways, November didn't go down as particularly remarkable for Alaska — a somewhat cool month in a thoroughly average year. NOAA reported the state saw the sixth coolest temperatures since 1918.
Overall, 2011 has delivered almost exactly average temperatures to the Far North state — the 43rd coldest of the past 94 years. Despite lots of snow in southern Alaska, November was the 41st driest in the record, with 2011 giving the state the 41st driest January-November since 1918.
