By MARY PEMBERTON
A powerful Bering Sea storm hit western Alaska early Wednesday with high winds and surging seas, the National Weather Service said.
Some homes close to ocean have been evacuated, but there are no reports of injuries, he said.
A storm surge could bring more severe flooding later Wednesday in the Nome area, meteorologist Scott Berg said.
Blizzard conditions prevailed overnight in quite a few places with sustained winds of 60 mph (96 kph) and gusts to 80 mph (128 kph).
Berg said big low-pressure systems hit Alaska often, but this one is different because of the track it took and because ice hasn't formed yet to protect the shore.
"Because we don't have shore-fast ice this time of year, that's what's significant," he said. "Just hasn't got cold enough yet. We have open water generally until the first of December."
The unusual storm had western Alaska bracing Tuesday. Tiny coastal communities were at particular risk for damage from wind and expected flooding.
Winds had already reached 80 mph (128 kph) late Tuesday, said Neil Murakami, a National Weather Service forecaster in Anchorage.
The storm surge could produce 7-foot (2.1-meter) rise in sea levels, which would cause heavy flooding, meteorologist Stephen Kearney in Fairbanks said.
State emergency management officials said some residents in the storm's path headed for emergency shelters Tuesday.
State officials warned residents in harm's way to secure home heating fuel tanks in case sea water flooded into communities.
The windows were boarded up Tuesday morning at the Polar Cafe, a popular restaurant that faces the ocean in Nome.
