Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Watches in 2006

Blizzard Watch 13, NWS Fairbanks, AK

October 21, 2006

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard watch at Oct 21, 2006, 9:03 AM AKDT. It took effect at Oct 22, 2006, 4:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 21, 2006, 9:03 AM AKDT (17:03 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 22, 2006, 4:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Oct 22, 2006, 10:44 AM AKDT
In force
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWAK41 PAFG 212203
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
203 PM ADT SAT OCT 21 2006

AKZ206-221630-
/X.NEW.PAFG.WW.Y.0051.061022T0900Z-061023T1500Z/
NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE-
INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE...
SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS
203 PM ADT SAT OCT 21 2006

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM ADT
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM
ADT MONDAY. 

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL
INTERACT WITH COLD AIR OVER INTERIOR ALASKA AND THE BROOKS RANGE
TONIGHT. THIS WILL PRODUCE SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES
LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION...NORTH TO NORTHEAST
WINDS WILL GUST TO 35 MPH THROUGH PASSES AND OVER HIGHER TERRAIN.
THIS WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH REDUCED
VISIBILITIES LATE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. 

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT SEVERAL WINTER HAZARDS ARE
EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. MOTORISTS ON THE DALTON
HIGHWAY SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO
REACH DESTINATIONS.

$$

AKZ204-221630-
/X.NEW.PAFG.BZ.A.0013.061022T1800Z-061023T1500Z/
EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND
203 PM ADT SAT OCT 21 2006

...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING. 

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA
TODAY WILL MOVE NORTH ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER TONIGHT AND
OVER MACKENZIE BAY SUNDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST
WINDS TO DEVELOP SUNDAY MORNING ALONG WITH FALLING SNOW. BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WITH NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY.

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

$$

AKZ203-221630-
/X.NEW.PAFG.BZ.A.0013.061023T0000Z-061023T1500Z/
CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK
203 PM ADT SAT OCT 21 2006

...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING. 

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA
TODAY WILL MOVE NORTH ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER TONIGHT AND
OVER MACKENZIE BAY SUNDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST
WINDS TO DEVELOP SUNDAY AFTERNOON ALONG WITH FALLING SNOW. BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WITH NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY
SUNDAY EVENING AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. 

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

$$

MAR OCT 06
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWAK41 PAFG 221159
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
359 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

AKZ206-222200-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0051.000000T0000Z-061023T1500Z/
NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE-
INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE...
SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS
359 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM ADT
MONDAY...

1 TO 4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IS EXPECTED TO FALL OVER THE
NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL BE EAST OF THE DALTON HIGHWAY.
ALSO...SOUTHWEST WINDS GUSTING AS MUCH AS 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED
STARTING LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE WIND WILL CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING
SNOW WITH CONSIDERABLE DRIFTING OF SNOW AND FREQUENTLY LOW
VISIBILITY TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT SEVERAL WINTER HAZARDS ARE
EXPECTED. MOTORISTS ON THE DALTON HIGHWAY SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION.

$$

AKZ204-222200-
/X.EXT.PAFG.BZ.A.0013.061023T0000Z-061023T1900Z/
EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND
359 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

...BLIZZARD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY MORNING...

WEST WINDS GUSTING UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE
EASTERN ARCTIC COAST THIS AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS...ALONG WITH NEW
SNOWFALL...WILL CAUSE FREQUENTLY POOR VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW.
THESE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY MORNING.

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITY. THIS CAN LEAD
TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS.

$$

AKZ203-222200-
/X.EXT.PAFG.BZ.A.0013.061023T0600Z-061023T1900Z/
CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK
359 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

...BLIZZARD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING...

WEST WINDS GUSTING UP TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE THIS
AFTERNOON. NEW SNOWFALL WILL COMBINE WITH THESE WINDS TO CAUSE
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW FROM
THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITY. THIS CAN LEAD
TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS.

$$
000 
WWAK41 PAFG 221844
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1044 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

AKZ204-230600-
/X.UPG.PAFG.BZ.A.0013.061023T0000Z-061023T1900Z/
/X.NEW.PAFG.BS.Y.0035.061022T1844Z-061024T0100Z/
EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND
1044 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

...BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM ADT MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLOWING
SNOW ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM ADT MONDAY. THE
BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES NORTH TO THE ARCTIC OCEAN BY THIS
EVENING IT WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD SNOW OVER THE AREA THROUGH
MONDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AND GUST TO 40 MPH THIS
AFTERNOON AND PERSIST THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY ON MONDAY. THIS WILL
CAUSE BLOWING SNOW REDUCING VISIBILITIES DOWN TO ONE HALF MILE.

A BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED
DUE TO BLOWING SNOW. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING.

$$

AKZ203-230600-
/X.UPG.PAFG.BZ.A.0013.061023T0600Z-061023T1900Z/
/X.NEW.PAFG.BS.Y.0035.061023T0600Z-061024T0100Z/
CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK
1044 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

...BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
5 PM ADT MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLOWING
SNOW ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
5 PM ADT MONDAY. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES NORTH TO THE ARCTIC OCEAN BY THIS
EVENING IT WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD SNOW OVER THE AREA THROUGH
MONDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AND GUST TO 35 MPH THIS
EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY ON MONDAY. THIS WILL
CAUSE BLOWING SNOW REDUCING VISIBILITIES DOWN TO ONE HALF MILE.

A BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED
DUE TO BLOWING SNOW. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING.

$$

AKZ206-230600-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0051.000000T0000Z-061023T1500Z/
NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE-
INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE...
SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS
1044 AM ADT SUN OCT 22 2006

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM ADT
MONDAY...

A LOW PRESSURE MOVING NORTHWARD TO THE ARCTIC COAST WILL CONTINUE
TO SPREAD SNOW OVER THE AREA EAST OF THE DALTON HIGHWAY THROUGH
MONDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE
LIKELY OVER THIS AREA THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.
ADDITIONALLY...SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO NEAR 35
MPH OVER THIS AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING. THIS WILL CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND POOR VISIBILITIES.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT SEVERAL WINTER HAZARDS ARE
EXPECTED. MOTORISTS ON THE DALTON HIGHWAY SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this blizzard watch went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this blizzard watch went out at Oct 21, 8:07 AM AKDT, 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 21, 8:07 AM AKDT, 56 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
107 PM ADT SAT OCT 21 2006

.DISCUSSION...

THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE SYSTEMS CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE FORECAST
AREA. A 988 MB LOW MOVING UP THE ALCAN BORDER WILL BE THE WEATHER
MAKER FOR THE INTERIOR AND NORTH SLOPE FOR THE WEEKEND...BRINGING
THE CENTRAL INTERIOR ITS FIRST NOTEABLE SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON.
A 995 MB LOW OFF THE COAST OF THE YUKON DELTA IS KICKING UP RAIN AND
DRIZZLE OVER THE SEWARD PENINSULA AND LOWER KOYUKUK VALLEY.

THE NAM AND THE GFS ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE MOVEMENT
AND TIMING OF THE ALCAN BORDER LOW. THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT IN
HOW THE WEST COAST LOW TRAVELS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. WE
WOULD PREFER THE GFS SOLUTION DUE TO ITS HANDLING OF PAST BERING
SEA LOWS.

THE ALCAN BORDER LOW HAS TAKEN A TRACK THAT WILL RESULT IN THE
LARGER SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EAST OF FAIRBANKS. BUT FAIRBANKS WILL
SILL RECEIVE ITS MUCH ANTICIPATED BASE TODAY AND TONIGHT. ONCE
THE LOW HEADS NORTH INTO MACKENZIE BAY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON...IT
WILL LEAVE BEHIND WESTERLY FLOW...THAT COMBINED WITH ADEQUATE
MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING SNOW TO MUCH OF THE INTERIOR...BUT
IN SMALLER AMOUNTS THAN ANTICIPATED TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

THE EASTERN HALF OF THE NORTH SLOPE CAN EXPECT QUITE AN EXCITING
WEEKEND FROM THIS SYSTEM. THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP AND
STRENGHTEN ONCE IT HITS MACKENZIE BAY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON...
RESULTING IN A FAIRLY SHARP GRADIENT THAT WILL BRING GALE FORCE
WINDS AND MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL ON MONDAY.

THE WEST COAST CAN EXPECT TO BE AFFECTED BY THE 995 MB LOW FOR THE
REST OF THE WEEKEND AS IT SLOWLY WEAKENS AND MOVES EAST OVER THE
SEWARD PENINSULA. FOR THE SOUTHERN SEWARD PENINSULA COAST...THE BULK
OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. THERE IS A CHANCE
OF SOME SNOW MIXING IN WITH THE RAIN TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING AS
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO HOVER RIGHT AROUND FREEZING. KOTZEBUE
CAN EXPECT TO SEE SOME SNOW BY THIS EVENING.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAY 3 AND 4...NONE.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...NIL.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...NIL.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
BLIZZARD WATCH FOR AKZ203-AKZ204.

SNOW ADVISORY FOR AKZ223-AKZ224-AKZ226.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ206-AKZ218-AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ222.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ240-PKZ245.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ245.
&&

KA/MAR OCT 06

In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 21, 5:38 AM AKDT, 3 hours 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1038 AM ADT SAT OCT 21 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1033 AM     SNOW             16 NE MANSFIELD VILLAGE 63.60N 143.00W
10/21/2006  M0.0 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW AND STILL SNOWING

1033 AM     SNOW             16 NE MANSFIELD VILLAGE 63.60N 143.00W
10/21/2006  M4.0 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STILL SNOWING

&&

SBERG
Local storm report, Oct 21, 6:44 AM AKDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1144 AM ADT SAT OCT 21 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1141 AM     SNOW             DELTA JUNCTION          64.06N 145.71W
10/21/2006  E1.5 INCH                           AK   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ROADS HAVE ICED OVER VERY SLICK

&&

SBERG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 20, 10:59 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG10 hr
Oct 21, 5:06 AM AKDTSnow AdvisoryAFG23 hr
Oct 21, 9:00 AM AKDTGale WarningAFG24 hr
Oct 21, 9:00 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG48 hr
Oct 21, 9:03 AM AKDTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG39 hr
Oct 21, 9:15 AM AKDTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG25 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Watches in Alaska, 2006Every blizzard watch in 2006

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.