Blizzard Watch 22, NWS Anchorage, AK

800 
WWAK41 PAFC 100108
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
408 PM AKST FRI DEC 9 2011

AKZ145-101415-
/X.NEW.PAFC.WS.A.0004.111211T0300Z-111211T1500Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
408 PM AKST FRI DEC 9 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH FOR HEAVY SNOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY
EVENING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT. 

* SNOW...POSSIBLE AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES.

* TIMING...BEGINNING SATURDAY EVENING AND TAPERING OFF BY LATE
  SATURDAY NIGHT.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE SEVERELY LIMITED IN
  HEAVY SNOWFALL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...
SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. PEOPLE ARE
ENCOURAGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS WEATHER SITUATION. PREPARATION
FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER EVENT SHOULD BEGIN NOW.

&&

$$

AKZ131-101415-
/X.EXB.PAFC.BZ.A.0022.111211T0900Z-111211T1500Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
408 PM AKST FRI DEC 9 2011

...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT LATE SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT FOR THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WATCH FOR THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON...WHICH IS IN EFFECT LATE
SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

* LOCATION...THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON.

* SNOW...2 TO 6 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...MAY BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WIND 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MAY BEGIN LATE SATURDAY EVENING AND
  LAST THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. DRIVING MAY BECOME 
  DANGEROUS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

&&

$$

AKZ125-101415-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.A.0022.111211T0300Z-111211T1400Z/
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...
MOOSE PASS
408 PM AKST FRI DEC 9 2011

...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT FOR TURNAGAIN ARM AND PORTAGE VALLEY...

A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT FOR TURNAGAIN ARM AND PORTAGE VALLEY.

* LOCATION...TURNAGAIN ARM AND PORTAGE VALLEY.

* SNOW...4 TO 8 INCHES POSSIBLE.

* VISIBILITY...MAY BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND...EAST WINDS 50 TO 60 MPH.

* TIMING...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE SATURDAY EVENING WITH THE 
  ONSET OF WINDS AND PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL. 
  CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY IMPROVE SUNDAY MORNING AS WINDS 
  DIMINISH AND SNOW BECOMES MIXED WITH RAIN. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. DRIVING MAY BECOME 
  DANGEROUS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

&&

$$

841 
WWAK41 PAFC 101405
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
505 AM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

AKZ125-110315-
/X.UPG.PAFC.BZ.A.0022.111211T0300Z-111211T1400Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.W.0045.111211T0300Z-111211T1400Z/
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...
MOOSE PASS
505 AM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM AKST
SUNDAY FOR TURNAGAIN PASS AND NORTH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM AKST
SUNDAY. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 


* LOCATION...TURNAGAIN PASS AND NORTH.

* SNOW...7 TO 16 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND...EAST WINDS 40 TO 60 MPH...STRONGEST THROUGH PORTAGE
  VALLEY AND EASTERN TURNAGAIN ARM.

* TIMING...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE THIS EVENING WITH THE ONSET
  OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS. VISIBILITIES IN
  BLOWING SNOW WILL IMPROVE SUNDAY MORNING AS THE SNOW BECOMES
  MIXED WITH RAIN. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. DRIVING WILL BECOME
  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.

&&

$$

AKZ145-110315-
/X.UPG.PAFC.WS.A.0004.111211T0300Z-111211T1500Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.WW.Y.0035.111211T0300Z-111212T0100Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
505 AM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS
EVENING TO 4 PM AKST SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW..WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS
EVENING TO 4 PM AKST SUNDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* LOCATION...HIGHEST AMOUNTS WEST AND NORTH OF TALKEETNA.

* SNOW...POSSIBLE AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 13 INCHES WEST AND NORTH OF TALKEETNA.

* TIMING...BEGINNING THIS EVENING AND CONTINUING INTO SUNDAY
  AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE SEVERELY
  LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE LIMITED IN HEAVY
SNOWFALL.

&&

$$

AKZ131-110315-
/X.EXT.PAFC.BZ.A.0022.111211T0900Z-111211T2100Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
505 AM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

...BLIZZARD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING FOR THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON...

THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING. 

* LOCATION...THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON.

* SNOW...6 TO 13 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...MAY BE REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WIND 20 TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MAY BEGIN AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
  AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. DRIVING MAY BECOME
  DIFFICULT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DIFFICULT.

&&

$$

589 
WWAK41 PAFC 110106
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
406 PM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

AKZ131-111415-
/X.UPG.PAFC.BZ.A.0022.111211T0900Z-111211T2100Z/
/X.EXB.PAFC.BZ.W.0045.111211T0900Z-111211T2100Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
406 PM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON AKST
SUNDAY FOR THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON AKST
SUNDAY FOR THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* LOCATION...THOMPSON PASS AND KEYSTONE CANYON.

* SNOW...6 TO 13 INCHES.

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

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

* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT 
  AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. DRIVING MAY BECOME 
  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 EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ125-111400-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0045.111211T0300Z-111211T1400Z/
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...
MOOSE PASS
406 PM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM AKST SUNDAY FOR
TURNAGAIN PASS AND NORTH...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM AKST SUNDAY FOR
TURNAGAIN PASS AND NORTH. 

* LOCATION...TURNAGAIN PASS AND NORTH.

* SNOW...12 TO 24 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND...EAST WINDS 35 TO 60 MPH...STRONGEST THROUGH PORTAGE 
  VALLEY AND EASTERN TURNAGAIN ARM. 

* TIMING...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE THIS EVENING WITH THE ONSET
  OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS. VISIBILITIES IN
  BLOWING SNOW WILL IMPROVE SUNDAY MORNING AS THE WIND DIMINISHES.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. DRIVING WILL BECOME 
  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.

&&

$$

AKZ145-111415-
/X.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0035.111211T0300Z-111212T0100Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
406 PM AKST SAT DEC 10 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM
AKST SUNDAY FOR NORTH AND WEST OF TALKEETNA...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM
AKST SUNDAY FOR NORTH AND WEST OF TALKEETNA.

* LOCATION...HIGHEST AMOUNTS WEST AND NORTH OF TALKEETNA.

* SNOW...POSSIBLE AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 16 INCHES WITH GREATEST AMOUNTS
  NORTH AND WEST OF TALKEETNA.

* TIMING...BEGINNING THIS EVENING AND CONTINUING INTO SUNDAY 
  AFTERNOON. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE 
  SEVERELY LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE LIMITED IN HEAVY
SNOWFALL.

&&

$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN OVER THE STATE
REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED. THE LONG WAVE TROUGH OVER THE KAMCHATKA
PENINSULA REMAINS ENTRENCHED. THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE AXIS HAS PUSHED A
LITTLE FARTHER EASTWARD FROM YESTERDAY LEAVING ZONAL UPPER LEVEL FLOW
OVER THE ALEUTIANS WHICH TURNS NORTHEAST OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA.
AT THE SURFACE THE LOW NEAR THE BERING STRAIT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
NORTHWARD AND WEAKEN AS THE NEXT LARGE LOW IS RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING
SOUTHWEST OF ATTU. A FRONT EXTENDING OUT OF THE BERING STRAIT FRONT
IS OVER THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA AND BRISTOL BAY REGION WHICH IS MOVING
EASTWARD INTO SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA OVERNIGHT. FARTHER EAST THE FRONT
THAT WAS BRINGING PRECIPITATION INTO SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA YESTERDAY
HAS MOVED NEAR THE ALCAN BORDER.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...MODELS ARE DOING WELL IN THE SHORT TERM. THEY
HAVE COALESCED INTO A REASONABLE COMMON SOLUTION WITH THE LARGE STORM
IN THE BERING SEA. WHAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT TO WATCH
IS THE FORMATION OF A LOW THAT THE NAM GFS AND ECMWF HAVE IN THE
NORTHERN GULF ON SUNDAY. THESE MODELS EACH HAVE A LOW THERE BUT THE
GFS AND NAM DEVELOP IT ABOUT 200 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KODIAK ISLAND ON
SATURDAY WHILE THE ECMWF DEVELOPS THE MAIN LOW WELL SOUTHWEST OF THE
AREA AND THEN MOVES IT VERY QUICKLY INTO THE GULF. THE NAM/GFS
SOLUTION LOOKS LIKE THE MORE REASONABLE SOLUTION FOR THIS LOW.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...THE FRONT IN THE BRISTOL BAY AND KUSKOKWIM
VALLEY IS BRINGING A RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW SHOWERS TO THOSE AREAS. AS
THIS FRONT MOVES EASTWARD OVERNIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL MOVE THROUGH
THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION AND DIMINISH IN SOUTHWEST ALASKA.

THE FRONT NEAR THE ALCAN BORDER BROUGHT A SNOW ADVISORY TO THE COPPER
RIVER BASIN TODAY. THE SNOW HAS LARGELY MOVED INTO THE EASTERN PART
OF THE BASIN THOUGH THERE WILL BE SOME FOG THAT DEVELOPS BEHIND IT.

THE STRONG LOW SOUTHWEST OF ATTU WILL MOVE INTO THE NORTHWESTERN
BERING SEA AND BRING GALES AND STORM FORCE WINDS TO THE ALEUTIANS AND
THE MAJORITY OF THE BERING SEA. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION IN THE
ALEUTIANS WILL BE IN THE FORM OF RAIN WITH THIS SYSTEM UNTIL THE COLD
AIR WRAPS AROUND AND BRINGS IN SNOW SHOWERS IN NORTHWEST FLOW.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...THE LONG WAVE PATTERN DOES NOT CHANGE A LOT
THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THE DOMINANT UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL
REMAIN OVER THE WESTERN BERING SEA WITH A LARGE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
OVER THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA. THERE WILL BE SOME WAVES THAT
MOVE THROUGH OVER THAT PERIOD BUT THE FLOW REMAINS STRONG
SOUTHWESTERLY OVERT HE STATE WHICH WILL KEEP THE AREA IN AN ACTIVE
STORM TRACK WITH MOSTLY ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE 130 150 155 160 165 170 172 179 180 185.
         STORM 175 176. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

DEC 11