Blizzard Warning 18, NWS Fairbanks, AK

000 
WWAK42 PAFG 131934
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1034 AM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

AKZ208-140300-
/X.UPG.PAFG.WW.Y.0067.000000T0000Z-081214T0300Z/
/X.EXB.PAFG.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-081214T1000Z/
LOWER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...NOATAK...KIANA...RED DOG MINE
1034 AM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST SUNDAY. THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 65
MPH WILL COMBINE WITH FALLING SNOW TO PRODUCE VISIBILITIES NEAR
ZERO AT TIMES TODAY AND THIS EVENING. THE SNOW AND WIND ARE
EXPECTED TO DIMINISH LATE THIS EVENING. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
2 TO 3 INCHES IS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING.

THE MOST SEVERE CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR IN AND AROUND RED DOG MINE
WHERE THE CHANNELING OF THE WINDS WILL SERVE TO INCREASE THE WIND
SPEEDS. 


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.

$$

AKZ209-140300-
/X.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-081214T0300Z/
BALDWIN PENINSULA AND SELAWIK VALLEY-
INCLUDING...KOTZEBUE...SELAWIK...NOORVIK
1034 AM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON...

SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL
COMBINE WITH FALLING SNOW TO PRODUCE VISIBILITIES NEAR ZERO AT
TIMES TODAY. THE SNOW AND WIND ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH THIS
EVENING. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 3 INCHES IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MOST SEVERE IN AND AROUND THE
KOTZEBUE AREA.

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.

$$

AKZ210-140300-
/X.EXB.PAFG.WW.Y.0067.000000T0000Z-081214T1000Z/
NORTHERN AND INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA-
INCLUDING...BUCKLAND...DEERING...CANDLE...COUNCIL...HAYCOCK...
PILGRIM SPRINGS...SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS...TAYLOR
1034 AM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST SUNDAY.

SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH COMBINED WITH
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO BE BELOW ONE HALF
MILE AT TIMES. THESE CONDITIONS ARE MOST SEVERE AT HIGHER
ELEVATIONS. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LESSEN AND IMPROVE LATER THIS
EVENING. 

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING.

$$

AKZ207-140300-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0067.000000T0000Z-081214T0900Z/
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG
1034 AM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT FROM CAPE KRUSENSTERN NORTHWARD...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT. 

SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH COMBINED WITH
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO BE BELOW ONE HALF
MILE AT TIMES. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LESSEN AND IMPROVE LATER
THIS EVENING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING.

$$

000 
WWAK42 PAFG 132342
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
242 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

AKZ209-140045-
/X.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-081214T0300Z/
BALDWIN PENINSULA AND SELAWIK VALLEY-
INCLUDING...KOTZEBUE...SELAWIK...NOORVIK
242 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE
BLIZZARD WARNING. 


$$

AKZ208-140600-
/X.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-081214T1000Z/
LOWER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...NOATAK...KIANA...RED DOG MINE
242 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST SUNDAY...

SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 55
MPH WILL COMBINE WITH FALLING SNOW TO PRODUCE VISIBILITIES NEAR
ZERO AT TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE SNOW AND WIND ARE EXPECTED TO
DIMINISH LATE THIS EVENING. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 3
INCHES IS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING.

THE MOST SEVERE CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR IN AND AROUND RED DOG MINE
WHERE THE CHANNELING OF THE WINDS WILL SERVE TO INCREASE THE WIND
SPEEDS.

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.

$$

AKZ207-140600-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0067.000000T0000Z-081214T0900Z/
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG
242 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT FROM CAPE KRUSENSTERN NORTHWARD...

SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH COMBINED
WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO BE BELOW ONE
HALF MILE AT TIMES. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LESSEN AND IMPROVE LATER
THIS EVENING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING.

$$

AKZ210-140600-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0067.000000T0000Z-081214T1000Z/
NORTHERN AND INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA-
INCLUDING...BUCKLAND...DEERING...CANDLE...COUNCIL...HAYCOCK...
PILGRIM SPRINGS...SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS...TAYLOR
242 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST
SUNDAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST
SUNDAY. 

SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH COMBINED
WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO BE BELOW
ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES. THESE CONDITIONS ARE MOST SEVERE AT
HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LESSEN AND IMPROVE LATER
THIS EVENING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING.

$$

000 
WWAK42 PAFG 140116
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
416 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

AKZ208-140230-
/X.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-081214T1000Z/
LOWER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...NOATAK...KIANA...RED DOG MINE
416 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE
BLIZZARD WARNING. 

$$

AKZ207-140715-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0067.000000T0000Z-081214T0900Z/
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG
416 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT FROM CAPE KRUSENSTERN NORTHWARD...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT. 

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING.

$$

AKZ210-140715-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0067.000000T0000Z-081214T1000Z/
NORTHERN AND INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA-
INCLUDING...BUCKLAND...DEERING...CANDLE...COUNCIL...HAYCOCK...
PILGRIM SPRINGS...SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS...TAYLOR
416 PM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST
SUNDAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM AKST
SUNDAY. 

SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH COMBINED
WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO BE BELOW
ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES. THESE CONDITIONS ARE MOST SEVERE AT
HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LESSEN AND IMPROVE LATER
THIS EVENING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING.

$$
RT DEC 08

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
553 AM AKST SAT DEC 13 2008

.DISCUSSION...
AN ACTIVE AND ENERGETIC PATTERN ACROSS THE HIGH LATITUDES FOR THE
NEXT FEW DAYS.  A STRONG RIDGE BUILDING ACROSS WESTERN AK TODAY WILL
SLIDE EAST WITH THE RIDGE AXIS FROM ABOUT PANC-PAFA-PARC BY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.

INTERIOR...THE BIGGEST FORECAST CHALLENGE THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE
THE TEMPERATURES AS VERY STRONG INVERSIONS SET UP THIS WEEKEND AND
PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. A STRONG RIDGE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE
AREA WITH 500 MB HEIGHTS WELL INTO THE 560S (DAM)...SOME 400 DAM
ABOVE SEASONAL NORMS.  850 MB TEMPS CLIMB TO AOA 0C ACROSS MUCH OF
THE INTERIOR BY SUNDAY OR SUNDAY NIGHT.  THIS WILL PRODUCE
SIGNIFICANT SUBSTANCE INVERSIONS WITH TEMPERATURES TO TAKE A RUN
TOWARD FREEZING ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND TO REMAIN WELL
BELOW ZERO IN THE DEEPER VALLEYS.  WILL CERTAINLY SEE TEMPERATURE
SPREADS IN EXCESS OF 50F FROM VALLEYS TO HILLS...AND IT IS NOT
OUT OF THE QUESTION THAT SOME SPOT IN THE YUKON VALLEY IS 40 BELOW
WHILE IT IS PUSHING FREEZING ON THE HILLS. WILL TRY TO ADDRESS
THIS WITH SOME LARGER RANGES IN THE ZONES. SOME FLURRIES AND
POCKETS OF VERY LIGHT SNOW ACROSS PARTS OF THE CENTRAL INTERIOR
THIS MORNING ASSOCIATED WITH THE OLD OCCLUDED FRONT AND A FAST
MOVING SHORTWAVE TROUGH. LITTLE CHANCE OF ANYTHING MORE THAN
FLURRIES IN THE WAKE OF THIS TROUGH UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT OR TUESDAY
WHEN A SHORT WAVE SMASHES DOWN THE RIDGE AND BRINGS A SHOT OF
COLDER AIR AND LIKELY A PERIOD OF SNOW TO MUCH OF THE INTERIOR.

NORTH SLOPE....A SIGNIFICANT MODERATION OF THE AIRMASS IS EXPECTED
THIS WEEKEND.  THERE WILL BE SOME ISSUES WITH WIND AND BLOWING
SNOW.  MOST NOTABLY ALONG THE NW COAST AND WESTERN BROOKS RANGE
TODAY...WITH SOME STRONGER WIND IN THE EASTERN BROOKS RANGE BY
SUNDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ZONE 201 WAS EXPANDED TO
INCLUDE ZONE 205 AS WELL. WOULD EXPECT SOME GUSTS APPROACHING 50
MPH THROUGH THE PASSES AND SUMMITS IN THE WESTERN BROOKS RANGE
TODAY INTO TONIGHT.

WEST COAST...THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WEATHER THIS WEEKEND WILL BE ALONG
THE WEST COAST.  THE OCCLUDED FRONT THAT SWEPT THROUGH YESTERDAY HAS
SCOURED OUT ALL OF THE COLD AIR AND IS NICELY CONTRASTED ON THE POES
IMAGERY WITH THE COLD AIR IN THE INTERIOR VALLEYS.  ANOTHER FRONT
WILL AFFECT MAINLY THE NORTHWEST ZONES FROM ABOUT PAOT NORTH TODAY
WITH SOME WIND AND BLOWING SNOW. WILL EXPAND THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORIES TO COVER ZONES 207-208-209.  FURTHER TO THE SOUTH THERE
WILL BE ENOUGH WIND FOR A HIGH WIND WARNING ON SAINT LAWRENCE
ISLAND. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL LIKELY BE AT SAVOONGA AND WALES.
THE HIGH WIND WARNING THAT WAS ISSUED EARLIER ON SHIFT IS WORKING
OUT WELL SO FAR WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AT
SAVOONGA...WALES...AND TELLER. THE WIND WILL LIKELY PEAK OUT
DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. TEMP WILL BE UP NEAR FREEZING SO NOT
EXPECTING ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH BLOWING SNOW. WILL NEED TO
KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON KOTZEBUE AS THERE IS STILL SOME COLD AIR AND
THE POTENTIAL FOR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATER THIS MORNING INTO
THIS EVENING. BY LATE SUNDAY AN UPPER TROUGH AND FRONTAL
BOUNDARY WILL LIKELY BRING MORE WIND AND SNOW TO MUCH OF THE WEST
COAST...AND WITH THE MILD AIR IN PLACE ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR
AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN.

THE MID RANGE WILL BE DOMINATED BY HIGH AMPLITUDE BUT SHORT
WAVELENGTH...IE BIG BUT SKINNY...RIDGE CENTERED ALONG 150-155W
TUE/WED. THE EXTENT TO WHICH SHORTWAVES ARE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH OR
OVER THE TOP OF THE RIDGE WILL BE A MAJOR FORECAST PROBLEM...AND ONE
THAT WILL NOT BE RESOLVABLE UNTIL ITS WITHIN A FEW DAYS. ESPECIALLY
IN EASTERN INTERIOR...TEMPS LIKELY TO BE CHILLY IN VALLEYS BUT MILD
AIR ALOFT WILL KEEP IT FROM ANY EXTREMES. BIG INVERSIONS WILL BE THE
RULE. EVENTUALLY THE RIDGE IS LIKELY TO RETROGRADE..THO THIS IS NOT
EVIDENT YET IN THE OPERATIONAL MODELS OR ENSEMBLE MEANS THRU DAY
10.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ201-AKZ205-AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ209.

HIGH WIND WARNING FOR AKZ213.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-
PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

CB/RT DEC 08