Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2011

Blizzard Warning 47, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 17, 2011

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this blizzard warning at Dec 17, 2011, 4:14 PM AKST. It took effect at Dec 17, 2011, 6:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 23 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 17, 2011, 4:14 PM AKST (01:14 UTC)
In effect from: Dec 17, 2011, 6:00 PM AKST
Expired: Dec 18, 2011, 5:00 PM AKST
In force: 23 hr
Issued by: NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

005 
WWAK41 PAFC 180114
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
414 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

AKZ131-181515-
/X.UPG.PAFC.BZ.A.0023.111218T0300Z-111219T0200Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.111218T0300Z-111219T0200Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
414 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 5 PM
AKST SUNDAY FOR THOMPSON PASS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST SUNDAY. THE BLIZZARD
WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* LOCATION...THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS OF 16 TO 24 INCHES THROUGH THE PASS FROM
  SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

* VISIBILITY...WILL BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE. 

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE THIS EVENING IN BLOWING
  SNOW AS SOUTHERLY WINDS INCREASE. VISIBILITIES WILL IMPROVE
  LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AS WINDS DIMINISH.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE VERY
  DIFFICULT.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

5 follow-up statements

470 
WWAK41 PAFC 181431
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
531 AM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

AKZ131-190200-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.000000T0000Z-111219T0200Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
531 AM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THOMPSON PASS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* LOCATION...THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES THROUGH THE PASS TODAY.

* VISIBILITY...WILL BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE DUE TO
  BLOWING SNOW..

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH WILL DIMINISH 15 TO 25 MPH BY
  LATE AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUE UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON TODAY WHEN
  THE WIND WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE VERY 
  DIFFICULT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

701 
WWAK41 PAFC 181711
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
811 AM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

AKZ125-182200-
/X.EXB.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.000000T0000Z-111218T2200Z/
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...
MOOSE PASS
811 AM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
NORTH OF MOOSE PASS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON. 

* LOCATION...NORTH OF MOOSE PASS. 

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* VISIBILITY...WILL BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE DUE TO
  FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW. 

* WIND...EAST WIND 55 TO 70 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 100 MPH NEAR
  WHITTIER TUNNEL. TURNAGAIN PASS AREA WILL SEE EAST WIND 25 TO 40
  MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

* TIMING...CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS
  PRECIPITATION ENDS.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE VERY 
  DIFFICULT. 

* CURRENT REPORTS...UP TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW HAS FALLEN THROUGH
  TURNAGAIN PASS WITH WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. ALONG TURNAGAIN
  ARM...TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE FREEZING BUT SNOW IS STILL FALLING
  REDUCING VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. PRECIPITATION IS VERY
  HEAVY AROUND EASTERN KENAI PENINSULA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ131-190200-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.000000T0000Z-111219T0200Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
811 AM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THOMPSON PASS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* LOCATION...THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES THROUGH THE PASS TODAY.

* VISIBILITY...WILL BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE DUE TO 
  BLOWING SNOW.. 

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH
  DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 MPH BY LATE AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUE UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON 
  TODAY WHEN THE WIND WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE VERY 
  DIFFICULT. 

* CURRENT CONDITIONS...DOT REPORTS OVER A FOOT OF SNOW OVERNIGHT
  AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. AVALANCHE DANGER IS HIGH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

595 
WWAK41 PAFC 182204
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
104 PM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

AKZ125-182315-
/X.EXP.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.000000T0000Z-111218T2200Z/
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...
MOOSE PASS
104 PM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTH OF MOOSE PASS...

THE BLIZZARD WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED AROUND THE AREA AS HAS THE INTENSITY OF THE
PRECIPITATION. LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE BUT THE THREAT
FOR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS HAS ENDED.

$$

AKZ131-190200-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.000000T0000Z-111219T0200Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
104 PM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THOMPSON PASS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* LOCATION...THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES THROUGH THE PASS TODAY.

* VISIBILITY...WILL BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE DUE TO 
  BLOWING SNOW.. 

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH 
  DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 MPH BY LATE AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUE UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON 
  TODAY WHEN THE WIND WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE VERY 
  DIFFICULT. 

* CURRENT CONDITIONS...DOT REPORTS OVER A FOOT OF SNOW OVERNIGHT 
  AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. AVALANCHE DANGER IS HIGH. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

003 
WWAK41 PAFC 190056
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
356 PM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

AKZ131-190200-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.000000T0000Z-111219T0200Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
356 PM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THOMPSON PASS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THOMPSON PASS.

* LOCATION...THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES THROUGH THE PASS TODAY.

* VISIBILITY...WILL BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE DUE TO 
  BLOWING SNOW.. 

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH 
  DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 MPH BY EVENING. 

* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON 
  TODAY WHEN THE WIND WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE VERY 
  DIFFICULT. 

* CURRENT CONDITIONS...DOT REPORTS OVER A FOOT OF SNOW OVERNIGHT 
  AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. AVALANCHE DANGER IS HIGH. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

335 
WWAK41 PAFC 190211
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
511 PM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

AKZ131-190315-
/X.EXP.PAFC.BZ.W.0047.000000T0000Z-111219T0200Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
511 PM AKST SUN DEC 18 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR THOMPSON PASS...

THE BLIZZARD WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

CONDITIONS ARE BEGINNING TO IMPROVE IN THE PASS. VISIBILITIES WILL
STILL BE REDUCED IN BLOWING SNOW FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS..BUT
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER EXPECTED.

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Dec 17, 3:59 PM AKST	High Wind Warning	AFC	23 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKST	Gale Warning	AFC	48 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKST	Gale Warning	AFC	4 days
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKST	Gale Warning	AFC	60 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKST	Storm Warning	AFC	24 hr
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKST	Gale Warning	AFC	48 hr
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKST	Gale Warning	AFC	12 hr
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKST	Small Craft Advisory	AFC	36 hr
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKST	Storm Warning	AFC	12 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2011 Every blizzard warning in 2011

Sources

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