The F/V Cornelia Marie diverted to Unalaska today to avoid an oncoming storm. (Annie Ropeik/KUCB)

Update, 12 p.m.: The sun is shining today in Unalaska. But it’s a different story further west, where a high-powered storm system is touching down in the Aleutian chain.

Shemya Island reported the first heavy gusts from Typhoon Nuri this morning. At around 97 miles an hour, they’re slightly stronger than predicted. But besides some military instruments and a few personnel, Shemya is mostly unpopulated.

The National Weather Service expects the front to blow east this afternoon. The forecast still calls for seas of up to 50 feet in the central Aleutians near Adak. Those conditions aren't unheard of. But the low pressure associated with this storm is -- and it could break a long-standing record in the Bering Sea.

That was enough for the crew of the F/V Cornelia Marie. The crab boat diverted to Unalaska, even though it meant postponing a vacation before starting their next round of fishing.

"Regardless of what we had going on in our personal lives and where we wanted to be, we all have a job to do," says engineer Travis Lofland. "[We] didn't want to be out on the ocean during this."

Unalaska is mostly out of the path of the storm, but it won't be spared entirely. Moderate gusts will build to about 50 miles per hour tonight into Saturday. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.