Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2009

Storm Warning 34, NWS Anchorage, AK

February 19, 2009

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this storm warning at Feb 19, 2009, 4:00 AM AKST. It was in force for 24 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
Feb 19, 2009, 4:00 AM AKST (13:00 UTC)
Expired
Feb 20, 2009, 3:45 AM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

000 
FZAK62 PAFC 191257
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ499-200300-
400 AM AKST THU FEB 19 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 980 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL BE NEAR 50N 177E FRI AFTERNOON AND
MOVE TO NEAR 58N 175E AT 975 MB SAT MORNING. 
$$

PKZ411-200300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...E WIND 45 KT INCREASING TO 55 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
22 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 25 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SUN AND MON...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 

$$

PKZ412-200300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING SE 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
18 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 35 KT INCREASING TO 55 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 19 FT.
SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 24 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-200300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 15 KT INCREASING TO SE 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 50 KT INCREASING TO 60 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 23 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 23 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-200300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 14 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT.
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO SE 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 14 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 45 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT.  

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 200043
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
343 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ499-201245-
343 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 975 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE TO NEAR 51N 176E FRIDAY
AFTERNOON AT 983 MB...THEN STRENGTHEN TO 975 MB NEAR 58N 173E
FRIDAY NIGHT. AN ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE
ALEUTIANS THROUGH SATURDAY.


$$

PKZ411-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
343 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT BECOMING E 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 18 FT.
.FRI...SE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT BECOMING SW 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
25 FT. RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
343 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 40 KT BECOMING SE 55 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 19 FT.
RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT. SEAS 27 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
343 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 15 KT BECOMING SE 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 60 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT BECOMING S 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
27 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
343 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. AREAS OF
FOG. 
.FRI...SE WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 14 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 50 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. SNOW AND
RAIN. 
.SAT...S WIND 45 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT. 

$$
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 200210
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ499-201245-
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 975 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE TO NEAR 51N 176E FRIDAY
AFTERNOON AT 983 MB...THEN STRENGTHEN TO 975 MB NEAR 58N 173E
FRIDAY NIGHT. AN ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE
ALEUTIANS THROUGH SATURDAY.


$$

PKZ411-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT BECOMING E 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 18 FT.
.FRI...SE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT BECOMING SW 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
25 FT. RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 40 KT BECOMING SE 55 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 19 FT.
RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT. SEAS 27 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 15 KT BECOMING SE 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 60 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT BECOMING S 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
27 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. AREAS OF
FOG. 
.FRI...SE WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 14 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 50 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. SNOW AND
RAIN. 
.SAT...S WIND 45 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT. 

$$
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 200058 CCA
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ499-201245-
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 975 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE TO NEAR 51N 176E FRIDAY
AFTERNOON AT 983 MB...THEN STRENGTHEN TO 975 MB NEAR 58N 173E
FRIDAY NIGHT. AN ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE
ALEUTIANS THROUGH SATURDAY.


$$

PKZ411-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT BECOMING E 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 18 FT.
.FRI...SE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT BECOMING SW 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
25 FT. RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 40 KT BECOMING SE 55 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 19 FT.
RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT. SEAS 27 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 15 KT BECOMING SE 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 60 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 55 KT BECOMING S 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
27 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-201245-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST THU FEB 19 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. AREAS OF
FOG. 
.FRI...SE WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 14 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 50 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. SNOW AND
RAIN. 
.SAT...S WIND 45 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT. 

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this storm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this storm warning went out at Feb 18, 1:40 PM AKST, 14 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 18, 1:40 PM AKST, 14 hours 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
140 PM AKST WED FEB 18 2009

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

IN THE UPPER LEVELS...
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER EASTERN SIBERIA ACTS AS A PIVOT POINT FOR
WAVES MOVING ACROSS THE BERING. THE FIRST TROUGH EXTENDS SOUTH INTO
THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS AND IS MOVING EAST. THE SECOND WEAKER WAVE IS
DEVELOPING SOUTH AND WEST OF THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA AND WILL BE THE
FOCUS FOR THE NEXT SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE AREA EARLY THIS WEEKEND. AN
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN MAINLAND EXTENDS SOUTHWEST INTO
THE GULF AND CONTINUES WEAKEN AND MOVE TO THE EAST.

AT THE SURFACE...
HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE INTERIOR WITH A NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST AXIS
EXTENDING OVER THE GULF CONTINUES TO WEAKEN AND SLIDE TO THE EAST. A
973 MB SURFACE LOW CONTINUES TO FILL AND MOVE FURTHER NORTH OVER THE
BERING. A STRONG WEATHER FRONT EXTENDS FROM THIS LOW NORTHEAST
TOWARDS NOME AND THEN SHARPLY DIVES SOUTH THROUGH NORTON SOUND AND
INTO THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MODELS ALL SEEM TO INITIALIZE WELL IN THE SHORT TERM AND HANDLE THE
FRONTAL PASSAGE WITH THE SAME SPEED AND INTENSITY THROUGH
SOUTHCENTRAL THURSDAY. ALL MODELS BUILD IN A WEAK SURFACE LOW OVER
EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE FRONT MOVES
THROUGH AND WEAKENS. THE SURFACE LOW THEN MOVES SOUTHEAST OVER THE
PANHANDLE WHERE IT WILL DISSIPATE BY SATURDAY MORNING. AS THE SURFACE
TROUGH SHIFTS EASTWARD TODAY ALL MODELS BUILD IN A TRANSIENT RIDGE
OVER THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS AND INTO THE AKPEN EARLY THIS WEEKEND.
BEYOND THAT MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE AS THEY ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT
TIME HANDLING WAVES MOVING WITH THE PROGRESSIVE SOUTHWEST FLOW.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
.SOUTHCENTRAL...
A TRICKY FORECAST IN STORE FOR SOUTHCENTRAL WITH A COMPLEX SYSTEM
MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST ALASKA TODAY. PRECIPITATION WILL SPREAD OVER
THE AREA TONIGHT AS WARM AIR ALOFT OVERRUNS THE COLD AIR AT THE
SURFACE. THE RESULT WILL BE A WIDE RANGE OF PRECIPITATION TYPE...FROM
SNOW TO RAIN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET IN MANY
AREAS. ANCHORAGE ESPECIALLY WILL BE TRICKY BECAUSE OF THE STRONG
SOUTHEASTERLY WIND COMING OUT OF TURNAGAIN ARM. SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL
INCREASE ALONG THE ARM AND MOVE ACROSS THE ANCHORAGE BOWL.
TYPICALLY...THIS WARMS TEMPERATURES UP ENOUGH TO CHANGE PRECIP TYPE
TO RAIN BUT MANY OTHER VARIABLES WILL FACTOR INTO THE FORECAST
OVERNIGHT AND TOMORROW. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A SUBTROPICAL FETCH OF
MOISTURE...SURFACE TEMPERATURES HAVE REMAINED NEAR FREEZING ALONG THE
WEST COAST. THE DEEP MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM IS ALSO
HELPING TO COOL THE COLUMN UNTIL IT IS NEARLY ISOTHERMAL...A GOOD
SETUP FOR HEAVY SNOWFALL. SO WHERE TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING
LIKE THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUSITNA VALLEY WE ARE EXPECTING HEAVY
SNOWFALL. COASTAL SECTIONS WILL LIKELY SEE A RAIN AND SNOW MIX WHILE
INTERIOR SECTIONS LIKE ANCHORAGE AND THE MATANUSKA VALLEY WILL SEE A
MIX.

OUR CURRENT THINKING IS THAT PRECIP WILL BEGIN AS A RAIN SNOW MIX BUT
AS THE INTENSITY INCREASES...PRECIP WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW. THE
INTENSITY WILL HELP EVAPORATIVE COOLING RESULTING IN A NEAR
ISOTHERMAL SOUNDING. AT THIS POINT...WE CAN NOT RULE OUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF A PERIOD OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN BUT WITH SOUTHEAST
WINDS EXPECT THAT TO BE A VERY SHORT LIVED EVENT IF IT DOES HAPPEN.
WILL TREND THE SNOW AMOUNTS UP BUT STILL NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO PUT
SIGNIFICANT SNOW FALL TOTALS IN ANCHORAGE AND THE MATANUSKA VALLEY.

A WEAK SURFACE LOW WILL DEVELOP THURSDAY AFTERNOON JUST SOUTH OF
SEWARD...CUTTING OFF THE SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW THROUGH TURNAGAIN ARM.
THIS IS A RESULT OF COLD AIR ADVECTING ACROSS THE REGION. LIGHT SNOW
WILL REMAIN A POSSIBILITY UNTIL THE UPPER TROUGH SWINGS THROUGH LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT.

AS THE TROUGH SWINGS THROUGH...EXPECTING STRONG WINDS THROUGH THE
NORMAL CHANNELED TERRAIN LIKE SEWARD...WHITTIER...AND THOMPSON PASS.
IN ADDITION...WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER NEAR HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA
ACROSS KODIAK ON FRIDAY. COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A
150 KT UPPER LEVE JET WHICH WOULD HELP BRING SOME STRONGER GUSTS DOWN
TO THE SURFACE. AGAIN...WILL BE BUMPING WINDS UP ACROSS KODIAK ISLAND
BUT NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO PUT OUT ANY WATCHES OR WARNINGS AT THIS
TIME.

.SOUTHWEST...
ACTIVE WEATHER IS OUT WEST THIS MORNING WITH NUMEROUS WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORIES FOR SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN...PLUS A BLIZZARD WARNING FOR
THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA. TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN VERY SLOW TO WARM UP
RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALONG THE
DELTA COASTLINE. INLAND...FREEZING RAIN MIXED WITH SLEET IN BETHEL
WILL CONTINUE SPREADING EAST OVERNIGHT. MCGRATH IS ALREADY SEEING
LIGHT SNOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. THE UPPER
KUSKOKWIM WILL SEE A BREAK BEFORE THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION MOVES
OVER THE AREA OVERNIGHT. WILL LIKELY SEE A HEAVY MIX OF FREEZING
RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW FROM BRISTOL BAY TO THE UPPER KUSKOKWIM. 18Z
SOUNDINGS FROM KING SALMON AND BETHEL SHOW THE WARM NOSE ALOFT WHICH
WILL RESULT IN THE CONTINUED MIX OF PRECIPITATION. THANKS TO THE TWO
WSOS FOR GETTING THE 18Z SOUNDINGS UP SO FAST.

COLD AIR WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA LATE TONIGHT CHANGING THE MIX OF
PRECIPITATION BACK TO ALL SNOW BEFORE TAPERING OFF. SNOW WILL LINGER
THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT UNTIL THE UPPER TROUGH MOVES THROUGH. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL QUICKLY BUILD OVER THE AREA BUT WILL ONLY SEE A BRIEF
BREAK BEFORE THE NEXT SYSTEM IMPACTS THE COAST ON SATURDAY.

.BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...
STRONG SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS OVER BRISTOL BAY AND THE ALASKA PENINSULA
WILL SUBSIDE AS THE FRONT MOVES INLAND TONIGHT. BEHIND THE
FRONT...WIDESPREAD SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST UNDER THE BROAD UPPER
TROUGH. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND
AMPLIFY AHEAD OF ANOTHER DEVELOPING LOW SOUTH OF THE WESTERN
ALEUTIANS. THIS LOW WILL FOLLOW THE SAME PATH AS THE PREVIOUS
SYSTEMS...MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE ANCHOR LOW NEAR THE KAMCHATKA
PENINSULA WHILE THE ASSOCIATED FRONTAL BOUNDARY SPREADS GALE AND
STORM FORCE WINDS ACROSS THE ALEUTIANS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
COPIED FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST DISCUSSION...

A STRENGTHENING RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER SOUTHWESTERN ALASKA
FRIDAY...MOVING ACROSS THE INTERIOR THROUGH THE WEEKEND. MEANWHILE
SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL ENCOMPASS THE ALEUTIANS...WITH A SERIES OF
SURFACE LOWS EXPECTED TO MOVE FROM THE NORTH PACIFIC INTO THE BERING
SEA. GENERALLY EXPECT COOLER AND MORE TRANQUIL WEATHER ACROSS THE
MAINLAND...WITH CONTINUED UNSETTLED WEATHER ACROSS THE ALEUTIANS FOR
THE WEEKEND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...WINTER STORM WARNING...145
         FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY...161
         WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN...151
MARINE...GALE WARNING...130 132 138 150 155 172 175 176 180 185
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

AB/SSS FEB 09

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 18, 4:00 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Feb 18, 4:00 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Feb 18, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 18, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Feb 18, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Feb 18, 4:22 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 18, 11:11 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 hr
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC3 days
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC58 hr
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC3 days
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC41 hr
Feb 19, 4:00 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC24 hr

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2009Every storm warning in 2009

Sources

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