Wind Chill Advisory 6, NWS Anchorage, AK

933 
WWAK41 PAFC 270120
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
420 PM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

AKZ131-271430-
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.W.0019.110227T0120Z-110228T0300Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
420 PM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST SUNDAY FOR THOMPSON PASS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST SUNDAY FOR THOMPSON PASS.

NORTHEAST WINDS OF 65 TO 85 MPH WITH GUSTS WELL IN EXCESS OF 100
MPH ARE CONTINUING THROUGH THOMPSON PASS. THESE EXTREME WINDS ARE
CAUSING BLOWING SNOW AND HAS RESULTED IN VISIBILITIES DROPPING TO
LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. WIND CHILLS TO 40 BELOW
THROUGH THOMPSON PASS WILL ALSO CONTINUE UNTIL WINDS BEGIN TO
SUBSIDE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

CAR DAMAGE HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED DUE TO THE EXTREME WINDS. TRAVEL
THROUGH THOMPSON PASS IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED UNTIL CONDITIONS
BEGIN TO IMPROVE LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

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 DANGEROUS. ALL TRAVEL AND
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ141-271430-
/X.EXB.PAFC.WC.Y.0006.110227T0900Z-110227T1900Z/
COPPER RIVER BASIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLENNALLEN...EUREKA...MCCARTHY...
PAXSON...SLANA
420 PM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM
AKST SUNDAY THROUGH PASSES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM AKST
SUNDAY THROUGH PASSES. 

TEMPERATURES OF 5 BELOW TO 15 BELOW WILL COMBINE WITH NORTH WINDS
OF 15 TO 30 MPH TO PRODUCE WIND CHILLS 20 BELOW TO 40 BELOW
THROUGH PASSES. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BEGIN TO WARM BY LATE SUNDAY
MORNING AND MODERATE WIND CHILLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROSTBITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

&&

$$

AKZ145-271430-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0006.110227T1000Z-110227T1900Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
420 PM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM AKST
SUNDAY...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM AKST
SUNDAY. 

COLD AIR IS SPILLING ACROSS THE ALASKA RANGE TODAY. AS TEMPERATURES
CONTINUE TO DROP AND WINDS ARE FUNNELED THROUGH TERRAIN
TONIGHT...WIND CHILLS WILL REACH 20 BELOW TO 40 BELOW ZERO MAINLY
NORTH OF TALKEETNA. TEMPERATURES WILL REBOUND LATE IN THE MORNING
AS WINDS ALSO DIMINISH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROSTBITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

&&

$$

436 
WWAK41 PAFC 271351
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
451 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

AKZ131-280300-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110228T0300Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
451 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING THROUGH THOMPSON PASS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING. 

NORTHEAST WINDS OF 45 TO 65 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 90 MPH CONTINUES
THROUGH THOMPSON PASS. THESE DANGEROUS WINDS ARE CAUSING BLOWING 
AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH VISIBILITIES DROPPING TO LESS THAN ONE
QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH THIS AFTERNOON
FROM THESE VERY HIGH LEVELS...ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG
FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW WILL BECOME MORE
LOCALIZED WITH TIME.

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 DANGEROUS. ALL TRAVEL AND
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ141-271900-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-110227T1900Z/
COPPER RIVER BASIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLENNALLEN...EUREKA...MCCARTHY...
PAXSON...SLANA
451 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKST THIS
MORNING THROUGH PASSES...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKST THIS
MORNING. 

TEMPERATURES OF 5 BELOW TO 15 BELOW COMBINED WITH NORTH WINDS OF
15 TO 30 MPH WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILLS OF 20 BELOW TO 40 BELOW
THROUGH PASSES THIS MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN TO WARM AND
WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH BY LATE THIS MORNING...ALLOWING WIND
CHILLS TO MODERATE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROSTBITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

&&

$$

AKZ145-271900-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-110227T1900Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
451 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKST THIS
MORNING NORTH OF TALKEETNA...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKST THIS
MORNING. 

TEMPERATURES OF 5 BELOW TO 15 BELOW COMBINED WITH NORTH WINDS OF
15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILLS OF 20
BELOW TO 40 BELOW NORTH OF TALKEETNA THIS MORNING. TEMPERATURES
WILL BEGIN TO WARM AND WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH BY LATE THIS
MORNING...ALLOWING WIND CHILLS TO MODERATE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROSTBITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

&&

$$

022 
WWAK41 PAFC 271901
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1001 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

AKZ141-145-272015-
/X.EXP.PAFC.WC.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-110227T1900Z/
COPPER RIVER BASIN-SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLENNALLEN...EUREKA...MCCARTHY...
PAXSON...SLANA...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
1001 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...

THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

$$

AKZ131-280300-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110228T0300Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
1001 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING THROUGH THOMPSON PASS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING THROUGH THOMPSON PASS. 

NORTHEAST WINDS OF 45 TO 65 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 90 MPH CONTINUES
THROUGH THOMPSON PASS. THESE DANGEROUS WINDS ARE CAUSING BLOWING
AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH VISIBILITIES DROPPING TO LESS THAN ONE
QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH THIS
AFTERNOON FROM THESE VERY HIGH LEVELS...ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL
REMAIN STRONG FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW
WILL BECOME MORE LOCALIZED WITH TIME.

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 DANGEROUS. ALL TRAVEL AND
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
500 AM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

.MODEL DISCUSSION...BIG CHANGE UNDERWAY TO OMEGA BLOCK PATTERN...AND
SO FAR MODELS ARE KEEPING UP WITH IT...EXHIBITING UNUSUALLY GOOD
AGREEMENT WITH EACH OTHER...AND GOOD CONTINUITY. SOME DIFFERENCES ARE
BEGINNING TO CROP UP AFTER 120 HOURS BETWEEN THE ECMWF AND GFS...SO
OPTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE GFS IN THE EXTENDED WITH IT'S SLIGHTLY
BETTER CONTINUITY. FOR THE SHORT TERM...NAM WAS USED FOR IT'S BETTER
TERRAIN RESOLUTION...IMPORTANT NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WITH EVOLVING STRONG
NRLY WIND PATTERN.

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...STRONG UPPER SHORT-WAVE IS CURRENTLY
EXITING FAR SE MAINLAND AK...WITH BRISK COLD NW TO N FLOW BEHIND
IT. 1053 MB SURFACE HIGH CENTRE IS LOCATED OVER ERN BERING BETWEEN
ST MATTHEW AND NUNIVAK ISLES. A 1003 MB SURFACE LOW/TROUGH HAS FORMED
OFFSHORE OF CAPE SPENCER...S OF YAKUTAT. NW TO N SURFACE PRESSURE
GRADIENTS ARE TIGHTENING UP AS A RESULT...AND WITH STRONG NW TO N
FLOW ALOFT...SURFACE WINDS OVER MUCH OF THE MAINLAND ARE ALREADY
INCREASING...HELPED ALSO BY SIGNIFICANT COLD AIR ADVECTION. UPPER
RIDGING IS BUILDING N INTO THE BERING SEA FROM THE PACIFIC...CENTERED
OVER THE ERN ALEUTIANS AND AK PEN. THE ONLY PRECIP. OF ANY CONSEQUENCE
FOR THE AOR IS RAIN OVER THE CENTRAL AND ERN ALEUTIANS FROM A WEAKENING
OCCLUDED FRONTAL SYSTEM LIFTING N AHEAD OF A 979 MB LOW 500 NM S OF
KISKA.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...UPPER RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY TODAY
AND TONIGHT...FORMING A CLOSED 565 DM OR SO HIGH SUN CENTERED OVER
THE ERN BERING WHICH WILL PERSIST THROUGH TUE. STRONG CONSOLIDATED
NRLY LOW TO MID LEVEL FLOW AHEAD OF THIS OVER MAINLAND AK WILL ALIGN
WITH STRONG SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN 1050 MB HIGH THAT MOVES
INLAND OVER INTERIOR TODAY/TONIGHT...AND DEEPENING LOW OVER SE AK THAT
SLOWLY DROPS S ALONG THE PANHANDLE AND BC COASTS THROUGH MON. THE GFS
FORECASTS IT TO REACH A MINIMUM PRESSURE OF AROUND 987 MB SUN AFTERNOON
OVER THE QUEEN CHARLOTTES.

ALEUTIANS: RAIN TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING WITH GALES E TO SEGUAM ISLAND.
FOR ERN ALEUTIANS LOW CLOUDS AND PATCHY -RA. VERTICALLY STACKED LOW
LIFTING N JUST W OF PASY SUN WITH ANOTHER WAVE MON WILL CONTINUE PERIODS
OF RAIN AND GALES FROM SEGUAM ISLAND W. ERN ALEUTIANS WILL JUST SEE LOW
CLOUDS AND SMCR TO MIN GALE ERLY WINDS THROUGH MON/TUE.

SW AK: WITH SURFACE HIGH MOVING INLAND JUST TO N TONITE AND CLOSED UPPER
HIGH FORMING OFF COAST SUN...DRY WEATHER WITH OFFSHORE NRLY FLOW WILL
DEVELOP TODAY AND PERSIST THROUGH TUE. TEMPS. NOT AS COLD AS FURTHER E...
BUT WITH CLEAR SKIES...WILL BE AT LEAST SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE. STRONGEST
WINDS WILL BE FURTHER E ALONG AK AND ALEUTIAN RANGES S INTO NRN AK PEN
TODAY THROUGH MON...BUT BELOW HIGH WIND CRITERIA.

S AND E OF THE AK RANGE: STRONG WINDS DEVELOPING TODAY/TONIGHT ALL ZONES
EXCEPT WRN KENAI AND COPPER RIVER BASIN AS NRLY WINDS ALOFT...STRONG N TO
NE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENTS...AND COLD ADVECTION COME TOGETHER. 90-130 KT
NRLY UPPER JET WILL OVERLAY ENTIRE CENTRAL AK MAINLAND TONIGHT THROUGH SUN
AND INTO MON. HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS LIKELY THOMPSON PASS/VALDEZ TOWN
...WHITTIER...AND COPPER RIVER DELTA...WHERE HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN
EFFECT. STRONG WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH LIKELY MATANUSKA VALLEY...AND
45 MPH W ANCHORAGE AND NRN SUSITNA VALLEY. WINDS WILL BEGIN EASING MON
AND WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LIGHTER TUE AS STRONG SURFACE HIGH OVER INTERIOR
SHIFTS E INTO YUKON...LIGHTENING UP THE N TO E SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENTS.
WELL BELOW-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES TONIGHT THROUGH TUE ALL AREAS...AND ENOUGH
WIND WITH THESE FOR WIND CHILL ADVISORY NRN SUSITNA VALLEY.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...THE CLOSED UPPER HIGH OVER THE ERN BERING WITH
STRONG CONSOLIDATED NRLY FLOW AHEAD OF IT OVER MAINLAND AK IS FORECAST
BY BOTH ECMWF AND GFS TO REMAIN IN PLACE INTO THU. THEREAFTER...THE
GFS WEAKENS IT SLIGHTLY AS AN UPPER LOW BEGINS TO FORM OVER SE AK THU
NIGHT. THE ECMWF SHOWS THIS PATTERN...BUT HAS A DEEP UPPER LOW FORMING
IN THE GULF...PUTTING MOST OF MAINLAND AK IN AN ERLY FLOW BETWEEN IT
AND A CLOSED UPPER HIGH OVER THE ARCTIC. EITHER WAY...AT LEAST THROUGH
FRI...COLD DRY WEATHER WITH STRONG GUSTY N TO E WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER
ALL MAINLAND AK...WITH HIGH WIND EVENTS POSSIBLE IN FAVORED GAPS. HIGH
PRESSURE RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP DRY WEATHER IN PLACE AS WELL FOR
ERN ALEUTIANS AND AK PEN. LOWS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE N OVER WRN AND CENTRAL
ALEUTIANS IN THE SRLY OMEGA-BLOCK FLOW THROUGH AT LEAST THU...IF NOT
LONGER...FOR PERIODS OF RAIN AND GALES.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WARNINGS: 125-NEAR WHITTIER 131-ALL 135-COPPER R. DELTA
         WIND CHILL ADVISORY 145 NORTH OF TALKEETNA
MARINE...STORMS: 120 127 130 132
          GALES: 121 125 126 128 129 138 140 141 150 170 172 175 176 179
                 185 351-352 411-414
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY: 120 121 125-130 132 138 140 141 150 165 185 414

MAR FEB 11