Tropical storm Merbok formed in the Western Pacific Ocean on September 11 and was moving north as it intensified into a typhoon over the following days. Forecast to weaken in the cooler waters of the Bering Sea, the storm defied expectations.
Crossing relatively warm ocean waters west of Alaska, Merbok retained tropical storm winds which, at times, reached hurricane-force intensity. Massive waves developed north of the Aleutian Island Chain and, over the past two days, high winds, torrential rain and a storm surge approaching 12 feet lashed the West Coast of Alaska. Extensive damage has been reported from small towns spaced along that rugged coastline.
Once again, global warming is primarily responsible for this tragic weather event. Warm seawater fueled the power of this storm as the remnants of Merbok churned eastward. No doubt, fewer tropical storms will die in sub-polar seas as climate change progresses.
