Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2008
Blizzard Warning 16, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Dec 9, 2008, 6:51 PM AKST. It was in force for 13 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Dec 9, 2008, 6:51 PM AKST (03:51 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 10, 2008, 7:50 AM AKST
- In force
- 13 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WWAK41 PAFG 100351 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 651 PM AKST TUE DEC 9 2008 AKZ203-101500- /X.UPG.PAFG.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T1500Z/ /X.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.081210T0351Z-081210T1500Z/ CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK 651 PM AKST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT. EAST WINDS WILL BE 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH. EXPECT VISIBILITY TO BE REDUCED TO A QUARTER MILE OR LESS BY BLOWING SNOW. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN DIMINISHING TOWARDS MORNING. A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE ANY TRAVEL OR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY HAZARDOUS. $$ AKZ201-101500- /X.EXT.PAFG.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T1500Z/ WESTERN ARCTIC COAST- INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE 651 PM AKST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY... THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY. EAST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED TO A HALF MILE OR LESS AT TIMES BY BLOWING SNOW. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN DIMINISHING TOWARDS MORNING. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING. $$ AKZ202-101500- /X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T1500Z/ NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST- INCLUDING...BARROW...ALAKTAK...PITT POINT...NULAVIK 651 PM AKST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY. EAST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 45 MPH WILL CONTINUE FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE MILE OR LESS AT TIMES BY BLOWING SNOW. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO DIMINISH TOWARDS MORNING. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING. $$ AKZ204-101500- /X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T1500Z/ EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 651 PM AKST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY. EAST WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH WILL CONTINUE FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED BY BLOWING SNOW. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO DIMINISH TOWARDS MORNING. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING. $$ AKZ205-101500- /X.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T2000Z/ NORTHWESTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...SINGILUK...UMIAT 651 PM AKST TUE DEC 9 2008 ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM AKST WEDNESDAY... A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM AKST WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES OF 15 TO 25 BELOW COMBINED WITH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILLS TO NEAR 55 BELOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR THIS REGION OF NORTHERN ALASKA MEANS THAT WIND CHILLS OF AT LEAST 50 BELOW ARE OCCURRING OR ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR. $$
2 follow-up statements
000 WWAK41 PAFG 101236 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 336 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 AKZ201-202-101345- /X.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T1500Z/ WESTERN ARCTIC COAST-NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST- INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE... BARROW...ALAKTAK...PITT POINT...NULAVIK 336 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. $$ AKZ205-101345- /X.CAN.PAFG.WC.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T2000Z/ NORTHWESTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...SINGILUK...UMIAT 336 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY. $$ AKZ203-102100- /X.EXT.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.000000T0000Z-081210T2100Z/ CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK 336 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 ...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY... THE BLIZZARD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH NOON TODAY. EAST WINDS WILL BE 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. EXPECT VISIBILITY TO BE REDUCED TO A QUARTER MILE OR LESS BY BLOWING SNOW. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AFTER NOON. A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE ANY TRAVEL OR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY HAZARDOUS. $$ AKZ204-102100- /X.EXT.PAFG.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T2100Z/ EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 336 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY... THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY. EAST WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NOON TODAY THAN DIMINISH IN THE AFTERNOON. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED BY BLOWING SNOW. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING. $$
000 WWAK41 PAFG 101650 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 750 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 AKZ203-101800- /X.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.000000T0000Z-081210T2100Z/ CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY...ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK 750 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE BLIZZARD WARNING. $$ AKZ204-101800- /X.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-081210T2100Z/ EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 750 AM AKST WED DEC 10 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. $$ ES DEC 08
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this blizzard warning 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 warning went out at Dec 9, 1:35 PM AKST, 5 hours 16 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 9, 1:35 PM AKST, 5 hours 16 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 135 PM AKST TUE DEC 9 2008 .DISCUSSION... MODELS FAIRLY SIMILAR IN THEIR SOLUTIONS. MOST DIFFERENCES RESULT IN TIMING SYNOPTIC FEATURES AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHARPNESS OF UPPER LEVEL RIDGING AND TROUGHING. GFS IS MOST CONSISTENT SO WILL HEDGE TOWARD THIS MODEL. THE LOW IS DEVELOPING OFF THE YK DELTA AND WILL MOVE TO SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND BY THIS EVENING AND THEN TO WRANGEL ISLAND BY WED AFTERNOON. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG LOW PRESSURE NEAR THE KENAI PENINSULA IS CREATING SOME OF THE STRONGEST WINDS TO OCCUR IN THE NORTHERN INTERIOR IN MANY YEARS. MANY ZONES HAVE MET HIGH WIND CRITERIA. THE STRONG WINDS HAVE EVEN BEEN FOUND IN THE VALLEYS AS WELL. STRONG TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL PERSIST OVER THE NORTHERN INTERIOR THROUGH THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. UPPER LEVEL LOW DEVELOPING IN BERING STRAIT WILL BE NEARLY STACKED THROUGH WED MORNING. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL THEN USHER IN MUCH COLDER AIR OVER THE WEST COAST. BY EARLY THU MORNING...NEXT DEEP LOW MOVES INTO WESTERN BERING SEA SUPPLYING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WARMER AIR WITH IT. WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE STATE AND THE LOW IN THE BERING...ANOTHER WIND EVENT IN STORE FOR THE WEST COAST THU AND FRI BUT NOWHERE NEAR WHAT IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING. COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY FOR AKZ222-AKZ223. HIGH WIND WARNING FOR AKZ216-AKZ218-AKZ219. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ218- AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ210. GALE WARNING FOR PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ210. BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225. && CF DEC 08
The office that day
Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 8:38 PM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFG | 7 hr | |
| Dec 10, 2:08 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 15 hr | |
| Dec 10, 2:14 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 15 hr | |
| Dec 10, 2:14 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFG | 15 hr | |
| Dec 10, 2:14 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFG | 15 hr | |
| Dec 10, 2:14 PM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFG | 15 hr |
Nearby
Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2008Every blizzard warning in 2008
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.