Alert archive / Alaska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK

June 22, 2008

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 22, 2008, 12:26 PM AKDT. It was in force for 34 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jun 22, 2008, 12:26 PM AKDT (20:26 UTC)
Expired
Jun 22, 2008, 1:00 PM AKDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK
Area
Storm-based polygon

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Fairbanks, (PFAI), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 111 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Fairbanks, at 12:00Z on 2008-06-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 50 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Fairbanks, at 12:00Z on 2008-06-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 14 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
50 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-233 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1925 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
4 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000
WUAK59 PAFG 222026
SVRAFG
AKZ220-224-222100-
/O.NEW.PAFG.SV.W.0002.080622T2026Z-080622T2100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1226 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY AREA OF ALASKA...
  YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS AREA OF ALASKA...

* UNTIL 100 PM AKDT

* AT 1225 PM AKDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS
  STORM WAS LOCATED OVER YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS...OR 9
  MILES EAST OF TWELVEMILE SUMMIT. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL    
  AREAS OF THE INDICATED AREA.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 6526 14600 6546 14590 6543 14547 6525 14552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2026Z 028DEG 1KT 6535 14568

$$

CB
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWAK59 PAFG 222046
SVSAFG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1246 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

AKZ220-224-222100-
/O.CON.PAFG.SV.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080622T2100Z/
YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS AK-
UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY AK-
1246 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM AKDT
FOR UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY AND YUKON FLATS AND
SURROUNDING UPLANDS...

AT 1246 PM AKDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED OVER YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS...OR 
9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TWELVEMILE SUMMIT. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY 
STATIONARY.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS
OF THE INDICATED AREA. 

LAT...LON 6526 14600 6546 14590 6543 14547 6525 14552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 028DEG 1KT 6535 14569

$$

CB
000 
WWAK59 PAFG 222059
SVSAFG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1259 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

AKZ220-224-222107-
/O.EXP.PAFG.SV.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080622T2100Z/
YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS AK-
UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY AK-
1259 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE
FORTYMILE COUNTRY AND YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS HAS
EXPIRED...

THE THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES EAST OF TWELVEMILE SUMMIT HAS WEAKENED AND
IS NO LONGER SEVERE.  THE THUNDERSTORM WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...AND SMALL HAIL. 
WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. 

LAT...LON 6526 14600 6546 14590 6543 14547 6525 14552 
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 028DEG 1KT 6535 14569

$$

CB

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 22, 2:29 AM AKDT, 9 hours 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 22, 2:29 AM AKDT, 9 hours 57 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
229 AM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THROUGH 60 HOURS FOR THE MOST PART.
MODELS HAVE INTRINSIC DIFFERENCES WHICH DO NOT GREATLY AFFECT
OVERALL PATTERN PROGS.

UPPER LEVEL RIDGE ORIENTED IN AN EAST TO WEST AXIS WILL CONTINUE
TO MOVE NORTHWARD OVER THE NORTHERN INTERIOR NEAR THE BROOKS RANGE
BY TONIGHT. THIS IS BEING FORCED NORTHWARD BY A MODERATELY WEAK
LOW IN THE GULF OF ALASKA.

CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS FOR SATURDAY WERE WELL ADVERTISED BY THE
CONVECTIVE INDICES FROM THE NGM AND THE NAM PROGS. AGAIN...THESE 2
MODELS ARE INDICATING ANOTHER POTENTIALLY ACTIVE CONVECTIVE DAY
OVER THE CENTRAL INTERIOR. THE SHOWALTER INDEX SUGGESTS MODERATELY
INSTABILITY FROM ABOUT FAIRBANKS NORTHWARD TO THE BROOKS RANGE.
ALSO WITHIN THIS AREA DELTA T VALUES ARE BETWEEN 30 AND 32.
THE SAME TYPE OF SCENARIO WILL BE EXPERIENCED TODAY...BELIEVE
THERE IS A DECENT POTENTIAL FOR DRY THUNDERSTORMS ONCE AGAIN OVER
THE INTERIOR. THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL UNDER A SUBSIDENCE REGIME WHICH
WILL ENHANCE FIRE POTENTIAL WITH STRIKES.

THE SAME MODELS DIVERGE A BIT FOR MONDAY BUT CONTINUE TO INDICATE
THAT THE MOST ACTIVE CONVECTIVE LOCATIONS WILL BE IN THE NORTHERN
INTERIOR ALONG THE BROOKS RANGE FROM ZONE 217 EASTWARD. THE
CENTRAL INTERIOR WILL BEGIN TO COOL AT LOWER LEVELS WHICH WILL
KNOCK DOWN THE DELTA T VALUES AND CREATE A MORE STABLE AIR MASS
OVER THE AREA.

THE LOW MOVING INTO NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA WILL SPREAD MOISTURE
INTO THE LOWER LEVELS IN THE CENTRAL INTERIOR. THIS WILL INCREASE
RH VALUES OVER THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL INTERIOR TODAY BUT THE
NORTHERN INTERIOR WILL CONTINUE TO SEE LOWER RH VALUES. AN
EMBEDDED SHORT WAVE IN THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL SERVE AS AN
ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL TRIGGER FOR CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL TODAY OVER
THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR.

THE WEST COAST WILL SEE THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH RETURN TO THEM BY
THE FIRST OF THE WEEK WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES MOVING BACK IN AND
THEY WILL REMAIN IN THAT PATTERN THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. THE
STORM TRACK WILL REMAIN WELL THE SOUTH OF THE ZONES THEREFORE
LIMITING SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION EVENTS.

THE ARCTIC COAST WILL SEE WARMING OVER MOST OF THE AREA THROUGH
ABOUT WEDNESDAY AND IN PARTICULAR THE EASTERN ARCTIC WITH THE
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE MOVING NORTHWARD. IN FACT...IT WOULD NOT BE OUT
OF THE QUESTION TO SEE DECENT CONVECTION DEVELOPMENT ON THE ARCTIC
PLAIN FROM PRUDHOE BAY EASTWARD ON TUESDAY AS CURRENT PROGS SUGGEST.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...BELIEVE THERE IS DECENT POTENTIAL FOR DRY
THUNDERSTORMS ONCE AGAIN TODAY OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN INTERIOR.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...NONE.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ245.
&&

CF JUN 08

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 22, 3:34 AM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG10 hr
Jun 22, 12:08 PM AKDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAFG37 min
Jun 22, 12:36 PM AKDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAFG6 hr
Jun 22, 2:39 PM AKDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAFG36 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alaska, 2008Every severe thunderstorm 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.