Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2011

Blizzard Warning 14, NWS Fairbanks, AK

February 21, 2011

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Feb 21, 2011, 6:37 AM AKST. It was in force for 3 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 21, 2011, 6:37 AM AKST (15:37 UTC)
Expired: Feb 21, 2011, 9:41 AM AKST
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

712 
WWAK42 PAFG 211537
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
637 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

AKZ210-211900-
/X.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0014.110221T1537Z-110221T1900Z/
NORTHERN AND INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA-
INCLUDING...BUCKLAND...DEERING...CANDLE...COUNCIL...HAYCOCK...
PILGRIM SPRINGS...SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS...TAYLOR
637 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKST THIS MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS REISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM AKST THIS MORNING. 

LOCAL BLIZZARD CONDITIONS HAVE REDEVELOPED AND ARE EXPECTED
TO CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING. WEST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING THEN START TO DIMINISH
SLOWLY. VISIBILITY WILL REDUCED TO A QUARTER MILE OR
LESS AT TIMES IN SNOW SHOWERS AND BLOWING SNOW. THE
WORST CONDITIONS WILL BE ALONG OR NEAR THE COAST...INCLUDING
THE VILLAGES OF DEERING AND BUCKLAND.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND
EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND
MAKE ANY TRAVEL OR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY HAZARDOUS.

&&

$$

AKZ217-212000-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0027.000000T0000Z-110221T2100Z/
UPPER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...AMBLER...SHUNGNAK...KOBUK
637 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
TODAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
TODAY. 

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
1 TO 2 INCHES IS EXPECTED. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO BE
6 TO 8 INCHES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. USE CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING.

&&

$$

1 follow-up statement

518 
WWAK42 PAFG 211841
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
941 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

AKZ210-211945-
/X.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0014.000000T0000Z-110221T1900Z/
NORTHERN AND INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA-
INCLUDING...BUCKLAND...DEERING...CANDLE...COUNCIL...HAYCOCK...
PILGRIM SPRINGS...SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS...TAYLOR
941 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE
BLIZZARD WARNING. 


$$

AKZ217-211945-
/X.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0027.000000T0000Z-110221T2100Z/
UPPER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...AMBLER...SHUNGNAK...KOBUK
941 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. 


$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this blizzard 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 blizzard warning went out at Feb 21, 2:01 AM AKST, 4 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 21, 2:01 AM AKST, 4 hours 36 minutes before

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
201 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

.DISCUSSION...
996 MB LOW JUST EAST OF CAPE LISBURNE AT 06Z MON WILL TRACK
RAPIDLY EASTWARD...REACHING THE MACKENZIE DELTA AREA BY EARLY MON
EVENING AS IT CONTINUES TO FILL SLOWLY. BRISK WEST WINDS WITH POOR
VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW DEVELOPING EARLY THIS EVENING IN AKZ204
AS THE LOW EXITS INTO CANADA.

FAST WESTERLY FLOW AND SNOW OR SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUING
OVER THE INTERIOR TODAY...SNOW AND SHOW SHOWERS TAPERING OFF
TONIGHT. GOES IR AND WATER VAPOR SHOWING THE MAIN MOISTURE
FEED IS OVER THE NORTHERN INTERIOR AREAS...BUT SNOW SHOWERS WILL
CONTINUE OVER OVER THE SOUTHERN INTERIOR. STRONG WEST WINDS
CONTINUING OVER HIGHER SUMMITS THROUGH TONIGHT. HIGHER SUMMITS ON
THE DALTON...STEESE...AND ELLIOTT HIGHWAYS WILL EXPERIENCE
CONSIDERABLE DRIFTING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND NEAR
ZERO VISIBILITY. THESE AREAS ON THE HIGHWAYS WILL BE IMPASSABLE...AND
HAZARDOUS TO IMPASSABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY OCCUR ON
OTHER SECTIONS OF THESE HIGHWAYS AS WELL DUE TO BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW.

WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUING THROUGH 6 PM TODAY IN ZONE 222
FOR HEAVY SNOW..BUT HIGHER SUMMITS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE STRONG
WINDS AND SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW TONIGHT. SEVERAL
REPORTS OF TOTAL SNOWFALL ABOUT 7 INCHES IN THE AREA HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED LATE SUN EVENING OR AND EARLY MON MORNING. WINDS AT LOWER
ELEVATIONS IN THE INTERIOR RAPIDLY INCREASING THIS MORNING AS THE
SURFACE LOW MOVES EAST...WITH RAPID PRESSURE RISES ADDING
TO THE WIND SPEEDS AND GUSTINESS. WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW
EXPECTED IN AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ222- PARTS OF AKZ223 TODAY.

AREAS OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUING THROUGH NOON TODAY
IN AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ210 WITH BRISK WEST WINDS BEHIND THE
EXITING SURFACE LOW.

UPPER RIDGE BUILDING OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALASKA MAINLAND
TODAY AND TONIGHT...WITH A STRONG SHORT WAVE AND SURFACE LOW
MOVING UP THE BACK SIDE OF THE RIDGE. TRACK OF THE NEXT SYSTEM
WILL BE FARTHER TO THE NORTH AND WEST THAN THE PRECEDING
SYSTEMS...CURRENT GFS/EURO HAVE SOME TIMING DIFFERENCES...LOW
CENTER POSITION FOR 12Z WED LIKELY TO BE NEAR TO 100-200 MILES
NORTH OF THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA. SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS
BEGINNING TO INCREASE OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND TUE...35-45 KT WINDS
OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND/BERING STRAIT AREAS...CHUKCHI COAST BY TUE
EVE...LOCAL GUSTS TO 60 KT POSSIBLE NEAR THE BERING STRAIT
AND CAPE LISBURNE. BLIZZARD LIKELY BEGINNING THESE AREAS TUE
EVENING OR TUE NIGHT WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND SNOW SPREADING
EAST. WATCHES FOR THIS STORM SYSTEM MAY NEED TO BE PUT UP
ON THE FORECASTS ISSUED THIS AFTERNOON.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ222.

BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ210-AKZ213.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ217-AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ223-
AKZ224-AKZ225.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ245.
&&

RF FEB 11

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 21, 5:59 AM AKST, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
559 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

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

0558 AM     HEAVY SNOW       NORTH POLE              64.75N 147.36W
02/21/2011  M13.8 INCH                          AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            REPORTED FROM LAKE DRIVE

&&

PWEIMER

Local storm report, Feb 21, 6:00 AM AKST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
600 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

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

0510 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 E FAIRBANKS           64.84N 147.51W
02/21/2011  M8.3 INCH                           AK   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SINCE 940 PM, STORM TOTAL SO FAR 13.8 INCHES

&&

PWEIMER

Local storm report, Feb 21, 6:01 AM AKST, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
601 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

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

0100 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ESTER                   64.86N 148.02W
02/21/2011  M7.5 INCH                           AK   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

PWEIMER

Local storm report, Feb 21, 6:02 AM AKST, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
602 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

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

0601 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 NE FAIRBANKS          64.90N 147.50W
02/21/2011  M5.5 INCH                           AK   CO-OP OBSERVER

            AS OF 1147 PM

&&

PWEIMER

Local storm report, Feb 21, 6:04 AM AKST, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
604 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

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

0500 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 ESE COLLEGE           64.85N 147.69W
02/21/2011  M7.7 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            12 HOUR ACCUMULATION WITH W.E. 0.42 INCHES...36 HOUR
            STORM TOTAL 10.1 INCHES WITH W.E. 0.55 INCHES.

&&

PWEIMER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Feb 20, 7:13 PM AKST	Winter Storm Warning	AFG	16 hr
Feb 21, 3:24 AM AKST	Brisk Wind Advisory	AFG	59 hr
Feb 21, 3:29 AM AKST	Brisk Wind Advisory	AFG	59 hr
Feb 21, 4:13 AM AKST	Winter Weather Advisory	AFG	34 hr
Feb 21, 1:56 PM AKST	Brisk Wind Advisory	AFG	48 hr
Feb 21, 1:58 PM AKST	Gale Warning	AFG	5 days
Feb 21, 2:52 PM AKST	Blizzard Warning	AFG	22 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.