Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2011

Gale Warning 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

January 2, 2011

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Jan 2, 2011, 6:04 AM AKST. It was in force for 20 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
Jan 2, 2011, 6:04 AM AKST (15:04 UTC)
Expired
Jan 3, 2011, 1:37 AM AKST
In force
20 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

128 
FZAK51 PAFG 021504 AAA
CWFNSB

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR ARCTIC ALASKA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
604 AM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

ARCTIC ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

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

UPDATED PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240

PKZ298-030415-
604 AM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 958 MB LOW 150 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST LAWRENCE ISLAND WILL
MOVE TO THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA BY 4 AM MON WEAKENING TO 980
MB. THE LOW WILL MOVE TO 300 MILES NORTHWEST OF BARROW
BY 4 AM TUE WEAKENING TO 992 MB. A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE
NORTHERN BEAUFORT SEA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY NORTHWARD
WHILE A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE CENTER BEGINS TO BUILD NORTH
OF BANKS ISLAND.

$$

PKZ225-030415-
CAPE THOMPSON TO CAPE BEAUFORT-
604 AM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E WINDS 30 KT. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.  
.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.MON...S WINDS 25 KT.   
.MON NIGHT...S WINDS 20 KT BECOMING W.   
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT.   
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT.   
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ230-030415-
CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN-
604 AM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E WINDS 45 KT. LOCAL GUSTS 60 KT. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.MON...SE WINDS 30 KT BECOMING S 20 KT.   
.MON NIGHT...SW WINDS 15 KT.   
.TUE...NW WINDS 15 KT.   
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ235-030415-
POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT-
604 AM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E WINDS 40 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.MON...E WINDS 25 KT.   
.MON NIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT.   
.TUE...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.THU...NW WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ240-030415-
CAPE HALKETT TO FLAXMAN ISLAND-
604 AM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E WINDS 40 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.  
.MON...E WINDS 25 KT.   
.MON NIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT.   
.TUE...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.THU...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ245-030415-
FLAXMAN ISLAND TO DEMARCATION POINT-
604 AM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.  
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.  
.MON...E WINDS 25 KT.   
.MON NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT.   
.TUE...E WINDS 25 KT.   
.TUE NIGHT...E WINDS 10 KT.   
.WED...W WINDS 15 KT.   
.THU...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

RF/JK JAN 11
2 follow-up statements
371 
FZAK51 PAFG 022317
CWFNSB

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR ARCTIC ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
217 PM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

ARCTIC ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

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

PKZ298-031245-
217 PM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 965 MB LOW 50 NW SOUTHWEST OF GAMBELL WILL MOVE TO THE CHUKOTSK
PENINSULA BY 3 AM MON AS A 976 MB LOW AND TO THE NORTHERN CHUKCHI
SEA AS A 990 MB LOW BY 3PM MON AND THEN CONTINUE NORTH AND WEAKEN.
STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER BANKS ISLAND WILL PERSIST.
 
$$

PKZ225-031230-
CAPE THOMPSON TO CAPE BEAUFORT-
217 PM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY LESS THAN 1NM.
.MON...S WINDS 25 KT. SNOW. BLOWING SNOW. 
.MON NIGHT...S WINDS 15 KT BECOMING NW. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.WED...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...E WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ230-031245-
CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN-
217 PM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 40 KT BECOMING SE 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY
1 NM OR LESS. 
.MON...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...W WINDS 15 KT BECOMING N. 
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...E WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ235-031245-
POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT-
217 PM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 40 KT DECREASING TO 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY
1 NM OR LESS. 
.MON...E WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.MON NIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...NW WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI...S WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ240-031245-
CAPE HALKETT TO FLAXMAN ISLAND-
217 PM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 35 KT DECREASING TO 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY
1 NM OR LESS. 
.MON...E WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.MON NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.TUE...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED...SE WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...NW WINDS 10 KT. 
.THU...W WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ245-031245-
FLAXMAN ISLAND TO DEMARCATION POINT-
217 PM AKST SUN JAN 2 2011

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.
.MON...E WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.MON NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.TUE...E WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.TUE NIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...E WINDS 10 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU...W WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

JAN 11
951 
FZAK51 PAFG 031037
CWFNSB

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR ARCTIC ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
137 AM AKST MON JAN 3 2011

ARCTIC ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

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

PKZ298-040145-
137 AM AKST MON JAN 3 2011

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 978 MB LOW CURRENTLY NEAR THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA WILL CONTINUE
TO MOVE NORTH TODAY AND WEAKEN. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER BANKS
ISLAND WILL PERSIST.

$$

PKZ225-040145-
CAPE THOMPSON TO CAPE BEAUFORT-
137 AM AKST MON JAN 3 2011

.TODAY...SE WINDS 20 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SW WINDS 15 KT BECOMING NW. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...E WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ230-040145-
CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN-
137 AM AKST MON JAN 3 2011

.TODAY...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 15 KT BECOMING N. 
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI...SE WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ235-040145-
POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT-
137 AM AKST MON JAN 3 2011

.TODAY...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI...W WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ240-040145-
CAPE HALKETT TO FLAXMAN ISLAND-
137 AM AKST MON JAN 3 2011

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE
THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...E WINDS 25 KT BECOMING 20 KT AFTER NOON.
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED...SE WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...NW WINDS 10 KT. 
.THU...W WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI...W WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ245-040145-
FLAXMAN ISLAND TO DEMARCATION POINT-
137 AM AKST MON JAN 3 2011

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE
THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E WINDS 25 KT. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU...W WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI...W WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

JK/RF JAN 11

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this gale 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 gale warning went out at Jan 1, 4:10 PM AKST, 13 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 1, 4:10 PM AKST, 13 hours 54 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
410 PM AKST SAT JAN 1 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
ALOFT...
THE LONG WAVE PATTERN CONSISTING OF A TROUGH OVER THE BERING SEA
AND A RIDGE OVER MAINLAND ALASKA WILL BECOME PROGRESSIVE AS A
SERIES OF STRONG SHORTWAVES MAKE THEIR WAY NORTH ACROSS ALASKA.

850 MB TEMPERATURES NEAR 0C SOUTHEAST OF BETHEL TO RUBY TO DENALI
WILL COOL SUN AS THE AIR IS PINCHED ALOFT AS IT IS FORCED EAST
AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THIS IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE AREAS OF FREEZING
RAIN IN THE AREA SOUTHEAST OF THAT DEFINED AREA TONIGHT.

SURFACE...
A STRONG 961 MB LOW 100 NM WEST OF NUNIVAK ISLAND WILL MOVE TO
NEAR GAMBELL AS A 966 MB LOW BY 3PM SUN AND INTO THE CHUKCHI SEA
AS A 989 MB LOW BY 3AM MON. A WEATHER FRONT FROM THIS LOW TO
NORTON SOUND TO BRISTOL BAY WILL MOVE TO THE BERING STRAIT TO
MCGRATH BY 3AM SUN...TO WAINWRIGHT TO MCGRATH BY 3PM SUN AND TO
BARROW TO MCGRATH BY 3AM MON. STORM TOTALS OF 6-10 INCHES OF SNOW
WILL FALL ALONG THE WEST COAST WITH THIS FRONT WITH 4-8 INCHES
INLAND TAPERING OFF TO A TRACE BY THE CENTRAL INTERIOR. THERE ARE
WIDESPREAD BLIZZARD CONDITIONS NOW OCCURRING ALONG THE WEST COAST
SOUTH OF THE BERING STRAIT SPREADING NORTH TO WAINWRIGHT TONIGHT
ALONG WITH EASTERLY WINDS 30-50KT. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF TO SNOW
SHOWERS SOUTH OF THE FRONT BUT WITH SOUTH WINDS OF 30-50 KT IN THE
POISON TAIL IN THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE LOW BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS MAY LAST INTO MONDAY NORTH OF THE BERING STRAIT.

A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL PERSIST
THROUGH SUNDAY AND THEN MOVE EAST. THIS WILL CAUSE EAST WINDS TO
INCREASE ALONG THE COAST TONIGHT AS THE LOW MOVES NORTH AND
TIGHTENS THE GRADIENT. THIS WILL CAUSE BLOWING SNOW AND LOW WINDS
CHILLS ALONG THE COAST TONIGHT AND MON WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN
ZONE 201.

 &&

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS INITIALIZE WELL AND SHOW SIMILAR SOLUTIONS 3AM SUN...THEN
GFS FASTER ON MOVEMENT OF LOW ALONG THE WEST COAST. FAVOR THE
FASTER GFS MOVEMENT GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE FLOW ALOFT.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ201.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ208-AKZ210-AKZ211-AKZ212-AKZ214-
AKZ215-AKZ216-AKZ217.

WIND ADVISORY FOR AKZ225-AKZ226.

BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AKZ201-AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ213.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ205-AKZ206-
AKZ227.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ210.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-
PKZ235.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

JB JAN 11

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 1, 3:10 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG37 hr
Jan 2, 12:57 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG25 hr
Jan 2, 12:57 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG25 hr
Jan 2, 2:22 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG11 hr
Jan 2, 2:22 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG11 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2011Every gale 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.