Cyclones

Alaskan Mega . . .

Andrew Farnsworth The Cornell Lab Nov 09, 2014

Storm!

There has been much discussion of the remains of Super Typhoon Nuri as it rips up the Pacific. The remnants of the storm gathered some serious strength and bombed to an anomalously low central pressure in the low 920s. This is epic proportion for any extratropical storm, especially in the Pacific Ocean. And presently, the storm is barreling through the Bering Sea with near hurricane force winds and multi-story high waves.

sfc

As is the case with all cyclonic systems, many birds become entrained in the storms circulation and displaced ahead of the circulation. This storm system has most certainly captured and is moving/will move many birds, with the primary questions being will anyone be present to see these birds (40 foot waves and hurricane force winds while sheltering on a small island don’t sound terribly fun) and how many birds will survive such a strong storm (we know birds are good at surviving and moving with these pressure centers, but this question is perhaps better phrased as how many passerines will survive this?).

Of course, it goes without saying that if you are in Alaska, safety is your ultimate concern, always; but for those present in some far corner of the Bering Sea hearing your reports of what lurks after the passage of this system, we all await your reports!

POWERED BY