Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Watches in 2007

Blizzard Watch 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK

January 28, 2007

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard watch at Jan 28, 2007, 8:59 AM AKST. It took effect at Jan 29, 2007, 3:00 PM AKST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 28, 2007, 8:59 AM AKST (17:59 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 29, 2007, 3:00 PM AKST
Expired
Jan 29, 2007, 3:41 AM AKST
In force
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

000 
WWAK42 PAFG 282259
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
159 PM AST SUN JAN 28 2007

AKZ213-290600-
/X.NEW.PAFG.BZ.A.0002.070130T0000Z-070130T1800Z/
/X.CON.PAFG.BS.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-070129T0600Z/
ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST-
INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER...
WALES...DIOMEDE
159 PM AST SUN JAN 28 2007

...BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AST THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING. A BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AST
THIS EVENING. 

NORTH WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 45 MPH COMBINED WITH
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY OCCASIONALLY TO LESS
THAN A HALF MILE THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
WILL DIMINISH A LITTLE LATER THIS EVENING...BUT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON AS ANOTHER WEATHER
FRONT MOVES NORTHWARD. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO
40 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

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

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.

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWAK42 PAFG 290551
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
851 PM AST SUN JAN 28 2007

AKZ213-291400-
/X.EXT.PAFG.BS.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-070129T1500Z/
/X.CON.PAFG.BZ.A.0002.070130T0000Z-070130T1800Z/
ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST-
INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER...
WALES...DIOMEDE
851 PM AST SUN JAN 28 2007

...BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AST MONDAY AT GAMBELL...
...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING...

THE BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AST MONDAY
FOR GAMBELL. A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.

NORTH WINDS GUSTING TO 45 MPH AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW
CONTINUE AT GAMBELL AND WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT. THESE CONDITIONS
WILL IMPROVE BY EARLY MONDAY. CONDITIONS ALREADY IMPROVED IN THE
BERING STRAIT AND AT SAVOONGA WHERE WINDS HAVE DECREASED.

BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP AGAIN MONDAY
AFTERNOON AND LAST INTO TUESDAY MORNING...AND POSSIBLY LONGER.

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

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.

$$
000 
WWAK42 PAFG 291241
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
341 AM AST MON JAN 29 2007

AKZ213-292045-
/X.CAN.PAFG.BS.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-070129T1500Z/
/X.UPG.PAFG.BZ.A.0002.070130T0000Z-070130T1800Z/
/X.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.070130T0000Z-070131T0000Z/
ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST-
INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER...
WALES...DIOMEDE
341 AM AST MON JAN 29 2007

...BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 3 PM
AST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS UPGRADED THE BLIZZARD
WATCH TO A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 3 PM AST TUESDAY. TH BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

NORTH WINDS GUSTING TO 45 MPH AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING
SNOW WILL RE-DEVELOP OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND
WILL CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. CONDITIONS WILL ALSO DETERIORATE OVER 
THE BERING STRAIT THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE TONIGHT.

THE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON...
AND POSSIBLY LONGER.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR
VISIBILITIES WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE ANY TRAVEL
OR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY HAZARDOUS.

$$

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 Jan 28, 8:15 AM AKST, 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 28, 8:15 AM AKST, 44 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
115 PM AST SUN JAN 28 2007

.DISCUSSION...
MODERATE TO STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
FORECAST AREA WITH A BLOCKING RIDGE PERSISTING ALONG THE WEST
COAST OF NORTH AMERICA. THE RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD...BY
WEDNESDAY THE RIDGE WILL EXTEND NORTHWESTWARD TO WRANGEL
ISLAND...WITH STANDARDIZED 500 MB HEIGHT ANOMALIES OF +1.5 TO
OVER +2.0 STANDARD DEVIATIONS OVER MUCH OF THE STATE. IN THE
RIDGE...ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES AT 850 MB MAY EXTEND AS FAR
NORTH AS THE BROOKS RANGE BY WEDNESDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE
HILLY TERRAIN ARE LIKELY TO MAX OUT IN THE 40S.

THIS FLOW PATTERN WILL RESULT IN THE CONTINUATION OF THE ACTIVE
WAVE TRAIN OVER THE EAST CENTRAL PACIFIC AND THE BERING SEA.

A 984 MB LOW NORTH OF THE PRIBILOFS AT 18Z WILL RAPIDLY WEAKEN
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS IT CURVES WEST THEN SOUTHWEST.
BY 00Z THE LOW WILL WEAKEN INTO TROUGH NEAR 55N/180W. MODELS
ARE IN REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE FORECAST FOR THIS
SYSTEM. WIND SPEEDS AT GAMBELL HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH DURING
THE LAST 12 HOURS...BUT VISIBILITY HAS IMPROVED...FLUCTUATING
MAINLY BETWEEN 1/2 AND 3/4 MILE. WE HAVE DOWNGRADED THE BLIZZARD
WARNING FOR AKZ213 TO A BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY.

THE NEXT LOW IN THE SERIES...WITH A CENTRAL PRESSURE
AROUND 955 MB...IS LOCATED NEAR 44N/162 W AT 18Z...AND
IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO NEAR DUTCH HARBOR BY 06Z TUESDAY
WEAKENING TO 975-980 MB. NAM/GFS/UKMET SOLUTIONS FOR
THIS SYSTEM THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY AGREE REASONABLY WELL.
WINDS OVER THE NORTHERN BERING...ESPECIALLY EAST OF SAINT
LAWRENCE ISLAND AND THE BERING STRAIT...WILL DIMINISH
SOME THIS EVENING AS THE FIRST LOW WEAKENS...BUT INCREASE
TO GALE FORCE AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON AS THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT RE-TIGHTENS. SNOW AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES
ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTHERN BERING AND ALTHOUGH
TEMPERATURES ARE PROGGED TO BE SOMEWHAT WARMER...IN
THE TEENS TO LOW 20S...THERE APPEARS TO BE A GOOD THREAT
OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS REDEVELOPING AND WE WILL POST A
BLIZZARD WATCH FOR AKZ213 BEGINNING MONDAY AFTERNOON.

ANOTHER DEEP LOW WILL FOLLOW...LIKELY REACHING THE
EASTERN ALEUTIANS TUESDAY AFTERNOON...PROBABLY BOTTOMING
OUT BETWEEN 940-950 MB. MODEL FORECASTS FOR THIS SYSTEM
DO NOT AGREE AS WELL AS ON THE FIRST TWO LOWS...BUT ALL
SOLUTIONS INDICATING ANOTHER ROUND OF GALES OVER THE
NORTHERN BERING...WITH GALES LIKELY AS FAR NORTH AS THE
NORTHWEST COAST OF ALASKA...INCLUDING NORTON AND KOTZEBUE
SOUNDS. STORM FORCE WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE WESTERN
PARTS OF PKZ210. THE LULL BETWEEN PERIODS OF GALES WILL
LIKELY BE SHORT...AND THIS LOW WILL LIKELY GENERATE YET
ANOTHER PERIOD OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER AKZ213.

HIGH PRESSURE OVER EASTERN RUSSIA WILL CONTINUE TO
BUILD...MAXING OUT NEAR 1050 MB OVER THE BEAUFORT
SEA TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL SET UP A STRONG
PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE WESTERN ARCTIC COAST BY
TUESDAY...SPREADING EASTWARD WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL
PRESENT A THREAT OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER THE
WESTERN ARCTIC COAST TUESDAY AND OVER THE ENTIRE
ARCTIC COAST WEDNESDAY.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
BLIZZARD WATCH FOR AKZ213.

BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FOR AKZ213.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.
&&

RF JAN 07

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 27, 4:50 PM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFG18 hr
Jan 27, 4:52 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG6 days
Jan 27, 11:50 PM AKSTWind AdvisoryAFG11 hr
Jan 28, 5:52 AM AKSTBlowing Snow AdvisoryAFG22 hr
Jan 28, 8:30 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG5 days

Nearby

Blizzard Watches in Alaska, 2007Every blizzard watch in 2007

Sources

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