NASA Observes Uncommon Arctic Polar Storm Churning Near Alaska

Buzzline

NASA's satellites have detected an unusual polar storm swirling off the southern coast of Alaska — a hurricane-like Arctic system that draws cold air over warmer ocean waters. This concentrated low has generated sea-effect snowstorms throughout the Bering Sea area, causing whiteout conditions for coastal towns. Experts indicate that polar lows like this are becoming increasingly important as Arctic conditions change.

Transcript

00:00NASA just captured something Alaskans have rarely seen this late in the season.

00:04A massive polar storm spinning off the southern Alaskan coast.

00:08With cold Arctic air clashing into warmer ocean waters

00:11and creating long bands of swirling clouds visible from orbit,

00:15satellite imagery shows a tight, compact polar low.

00:19A rare meteorological event for this part of the year.

00:22Hurricane-like in structure, but powered by Arctic air,

00:26these storms can produce blinding snow, sea-effect blizzards,

00:30and dangerous wind chills along the Alaskan coast.

00:33The Bering Sea bore the brunt.

00:36Boats grounded, communities reporting whiteout conditions,

00:39and temperatures plunging below seasonal averages.

00:42Polar storms like this are getting more attention from climate scientists.

00:46As Arctic temperatures shift, the conditions that produce them are changing too,

00:51and NASA's images give Americans a rare window into a storm most will never see from the ground.

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