Alert archive / Alaska / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 4, NWS Fairbanks, AK

June 22, 2008

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 22, 2008, 4:33 PM AKDT. It was in force for 27 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, 4:33 PM AKDT (00:33 UTC)
Expired
Jun 22, 2008, 5:00 PM AKDT
In force
27 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 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 100 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 00:00Z on 2008-06-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 9 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 00:00Z on 2008-06-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -31 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
9 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-124 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2091 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-31 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
90 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 230034
SVRAFG
AKZ221-230100-
/O.NEW.PAFG.SV.W.0004.080623T0033Z-080623T0100Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL INTERIOR AREA OF ALASKA...

* UNTIL 500 PM AKDT

* AT 430 PM AKDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED OVER
  CENTRAL INTERIOR...OR 42 MILES NORTHWEST OF NENANA...AND MOVING
  WEST AT 11 MPH.

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

LAT...LON 6516 15000 6515 14963 6506 14954 6501 14989
TIME...MOT...LOC 0033Z 079DEG 10KT 6510 14969

$$

ES
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWAK59 PAFG 230045
SVSAFG

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

AKZ221-230100-
/O.CON.PAFG.SV.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080623T0100Z/
CENTRAL INTERIOR AK-
444 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM AKDT
FOR CENTRAL INTERIOR...

AT 439 PM AKDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS 
LOCATED SOUTH OF THE ELLIOTT HIGHWAY NEAR HUTLINANA CREEK...OR 
43 MILES  NORTHWEST OF NENANA...MOVING WEST AT 11 MPH.

LAT...LON 6516 15000 6515 14963 6506 14954 6501 14989 
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 079DEG 10KT 6509 14976

$$

ES/JB
000 
WWAK59 PAFG 230100
SVSAFG

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

AKZ221-230110-
/O.EXP.PAFG.SV.W.0004.000000T0000Z-080623T0100Z/
CENTRAL INTERIOR AK-
500 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL INTERIOR HAS
EXPIRED...

THE THUNDERSTORM SOUTH OF THE ELLIOTT HIGHWAY OVER HUTLINANA CREEK 
HAS WEAKENED AND IS NO LONGER PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. THE STORM CAN 
STILL PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH.

LAT...LON 6516 15000 6515 14963 6506 14954 6501 14989
TIME...MOT...LOC 0100Z 079DEG 10KT 6508 14986

$$

ES

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, 12:58 PM AKDT, 3 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 22, 12:58 PM AKDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1258 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

.DISCUSSION...

ALOFT...
A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE ALOFT CURRENTLY EXTENDS FROM THE CENTRAL
BROOKS RANGE EASTWARD TO GREAT BEAR LAKE THEN SOUTHEAST TO GREAT
SLAVE LAKE...WITH LIGHT EASTERLY FLOW OVER THE SOUTHERN INTERIOR
AND THE ALASKA RANGE. A WEAK SHORT WAVE TROUGH ALOFT NOW OVER THE
SOUTHERN YUKON TERRITORY WILL MOVE WESTWARD ALONG THE BOTTOM
SIDE OF THE RIDGE...EXTENDING FROM CENTRAL SOUTHWARD BY 00Z MON
AND MOVING TO THE SOUTHWEST INTERIOR BY 12Z MON. FORECASTS
FOR LATER IN THE WEEK BECOME MORE UNCERTAIN AS THE UPPER AIR
SOLUTIONS DIVERGE...GFS PICKING UP TWO MORE WEAK SHORT WAVES
MOVING AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE RIDGE WHILE THE NAM AND ECMWF
SHARPEN A RIDGE LINE OVER ALASKA...BUT WITH RIDGE LINE POSITIONS
OVER ALASKA DIFFERING CONSIDERABLY BY 00Z THU.

SURFACE...
UNSTABLE AIR COVERS MOST OF THE INTERIOR AND BROOKS RANGE TODAY...
WITH THE AXIS OF A BROAD THERMAL TROUGH EXTENDING EAST-WEST ACROSS
THE CENTRAL INTERIOR. THE THERMAL TROUGH SHOULD PROVIDE SOME
LARGE-SCALE LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE...WITH AN ASSIST FROM UPPER
DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WESTWARD MOVING SHORT WAVE.
THE MOST ACTIVE AREA FOR CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
IS EXPECTED TO BE IN ZONES 216-221-222-223-224...WHERE GFS MODEL
FORECAST LIFTED INDEXES ARE TYPICALLY 0 T0 -2 WITH A FEW
SPOTS OF -3...AND CAPES TO 400-800 J/KG. BY LATER THIS
EVENING...THE AREA OF CONVECTION WILL SHIFT A LITTLE FARTHER
TO THE NORTH AND WEST...WITH THE AIRMASS BEGINNING TO
STABILIZE OVER THE ALASKA RANGE AND NEARBY AREAS IN THE SOUTHERN
INTERIOR. WITH THE SHORT WAVE MOVING EASTWARD THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...CONVECTION MAY LAST WELL INTO THE NIGHT. SEVERAL
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY MET SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
CRITERIA BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR DATA.

SOUTHERLY GAP WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN THE ALASKA
RANGE LATER TODAY...CONTINUING OVERNIGHT AS THE THERMAL
LOW CENTER GRADUALLY MIGRATES WESTWARD AND RIDGING BUILDS
OVER THE EASTERN NORTH GULF COAST. SUPPORT ALOFT IS
NONEXISTENT...SO WINDS WILL BE LIMITED TO LOW LEVELS...
MAX GUSTS PROBABLY AROUND 25 KT.

FOR MONDAY...THE MOST UNSTABLE AIRMASS IS EXPECTED TO BE
OVER ZONES 205-206-216-217-218-220-224. THE AXIS OF THE
BROAD SURFACE TROUGH WILL EXTEND FROM EAGLE TO CHANDALAR
LAKE AND WESTWARD.

EXCEPT FOR AREAS OF MINIMUM BRISK WINDS EXPECTED IN PKZ245...MARINE
AREA WINDS WILL REMAIN BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH 12Z TUE.

DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE WEST AND NORTHWEST
COASTS...AND MAINLY EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE
ALONG THE ARCTIC COAST. WITH RIDGING ALOFT AND LOW RH PROGGED
AT LOW LEVELS ALONG THE ARCTIC COAST...LATE NIGHT AND EARLY
MORNING FOG COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO BE MINIMAL. THE MOST
LIKELY AREA FOR ANY FOG DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE ALONG THE
ARCTIC COAST...GOES VIS LOOP SHOWING AREAS OF OPEN WATER
IN EASTERN PKZ245...AND MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE FARTHER TO THE
EAST IN CANADIAN WATERS. BARTER ISLAND REPORTED A FEW INTERVALS
OF FOG OVERNIGHT...BARROW AND DEADHORSE WERE FOG-FREE.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
NO PROBLEM AREAS.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS LIKELY IN HEAVIER
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING MAY BRING
SMALL STREAMS UP TO BANK FULL OR OVER BANK FULL
STAGES.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ245.
SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR AKZ220-AKZ224

&&

RF JUN 08

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 22, 4:07 PM AKDT, 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
407 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

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

0406 PM     HAIL             EIELSON AFB             64.68N 147.09W
06/22/2008  E0.25 INCH                          AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

PWEIMER
Local storm report, Jun 22, 4:13 PM AKDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
413 PM AKDT SUN JUN 22 2008

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

0406 PM     HAIL             EIELSON AFB             64.68N 147.09W
06/22/2008  E0.50 INCH                          AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

PWEIMER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 23, 2:38 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Jun 23, 2:39 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG24 hr

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.