A potent storm that will cross the Aleutian Islands of Alaska this weekend could become the strongest recorded storm to impact the region.
This storm comes a little over a year after ex-Super Typhoon Nuri became the most powerful system on record to cross Dutch Harbor, Alaska, which is located in the Aleutian Islands, with a central low pressure of 924 millibars (27.29 inches of Hg).
The intensity of a storm is measured by the central pressure, with lower pressure equating to a stronger system.
Accuweather
Previous to Nuri, the old record stood at 925 millibars (27.32 inches of Hg) at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, from a strong storm that hit on Oct. 25, 1977.
To put this in perspective, Hurricane Katrina made landfall at 920 millibars (27.17 inches of Hg).
A storm is forecast to race to the northeast and reach the western Aleutian Islands by Saturday evening, rapidly intensifying in the process.
By the time it reaches the Aleutian Islands, the storm's pressure could dip below 930 millibars (27.46 inches of Hg).
Further strengthening is forecast to occur once the storm enters the Bering Sea, potentially rivaling the intensity reached by ex-Super Typhoon Nuri in November of 2014.
NASA
The Aleutian Islands and west coast of Alaska will experience impacts regardless of whether the storm reaches near-record strength.
