Alert archive / Alaska / Winter Storm Warnings in 2011

Winter Storm Warning 35, NWS Fairbanks, AK

November 9, 2011

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this winter storm warning at Nov 9, 2011, 10:13 PM AKST. It was in force for 13 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
Nov 9, 2011, 10:13 PM AKST (07:13 UTC)
Expired
Nov 10, 2011, 11:03 AM AKST
In force
13 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

482 
WWAK42 PAFG 100713
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1013 PM AKST WED NOV 9 2011

AKZ217-101515-
/X.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.000000T0000Z-111110T0900Z/
/X.NEW.PAFG.WS.W.0035.111110T0713Z-111111T0000Z/
UPPER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...AMBLER...SHUNGNAK...KOBUK
1013 PM AKST WED NOV 9 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THURSDAY...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND LOCAL BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THURSDAY. THE BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN
CANCELLED.

* SNOW...STORM TOTAL OF 6 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WINDS 25 GUSTING TO 45 MPH.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL END. HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...SIGNIFICANT DRIFTING OF SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND
  OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED.  THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY VERY
HAZARDOUS.
&&

$$

AKZ214-101500-
/X.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0062.000000T0000Z-111110T1500Z/
YUKON DELTA-
INCLUDING...MOUNTAIN VILLAGE...EMMONAK...ALAKANUK...KOTLIK...
PILOT STATION...ST MARYS...SCAMMON BAY...MARSHALL...NUNAM IQUA...
PITKAS POINT
1013 PM AKST WED NOV 9 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST
THURSDAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST
THURSDAY. 

* SNOW...SNOW SQUALLS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEF BLIZZARD 
  CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT. 

* VISIBILITY WILL DROP TO ZERO IN BRIEF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS

* WINDS...WEST WINDS 30 MPH GUSTING TO 50 MPH

* TIMING...SNOW SQUALLS WITH STRONG WINDS ARE NOW MOVING THROUGH 
  THE AREA. THEY WILL CONTINUE OFF AND ON THROUGH TONIGHT AND 
  DECREASE THURSDAY MORNING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
369 
WWAK42 PAFG 101246
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
346 AM AKST THU NOV 10 2011

AKZ214-101400-
/X.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0062.000000T0000Z-111110T1500Z/
YUKON DELTA-
INCLUDING...MOUNTAIN VILLAGE...EMMONAK...ALAKANUK...KOTLIK...
PILOT STATION...ST MARYS...SCAMMON BAY...MARSHALL...NUNAM IQUA...
PITKAS POINT
346 AM AKST THU NOV 10 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

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



$$

AKZ217-110000-
/X.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0035.000000T0000Z-111111T0000Z/
UPPER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...AMBLER...SHUNGNAK...KOBUK
346 AM AKST THU NOV 10 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* SNOW...STORM TOTAL OF 6 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH GUSTING TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...SIGNIFICANT DRIFTING OF SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND 
  OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED.  THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY VERY
HAZARDOUS. 
&&

$$
422 
WWAK42 PAFG 102003
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1103 AM AKST THU NOV 10 2011

AKZ217-102115-
/X.CAN.PAFG.WS.W.0035.000000T0000Z-111111T0000Z/
UPPER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...AMBLER...SHUNGNAK...KOBUK
1103 AM AKST THU NOV 10 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING. 



$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this winter storm 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 winter storm warning went out at Nov 9, 3:37 PM AKST, 6 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 9, 3:37 PM AKST, 6 hours 36 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
337 PM AKST WED NOV 9 2011

.DISCUSSION...

MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT BUT THEY HAVE MISSED TO SOME DEGREE
THE POLAR LOW THAT HAS DEVELOPED IN THE BERING SEA ON THE HEELS OF
THE POWERFUL LOW THAT HAS MOVED NORTH TO JUST NORTH OF THE
CHUKOTSK PENINSULA. THIS POLAR LOW WILL ADD ANOTHER 1 TO 3 INCHES
OF SNOW TONIGHT OVER THE AREA FROM ZONE 214 THROUGH ZONE 210.
SINCE THE WINDS WILL ALSO BE RELATIVELY STRONG...EXPECT BLOWING
SNOW AS WELL.

WINDS THROUGH THE BEING STRAIT HAVE TURNED SOUTH BUT WILL TURN
BACK TO THE SOUTHEAST ALONG THE COAST FROM NORTH OF THE BALDWIN
PENINSULA TO POINT HOPE.

WINDS ALONG THE ARCTIC COAST FROM CAPE LISBURNE TO BARROW ARE
EXPERIENCING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH THE ADVANCE OF THE WIND
FIELD UP THE WEST COAST. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY LAST INTO
THE LATE EVENING.

CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL INTERIOR DO NOT PICK UP THE SNOWFALL
MOVING OUT OF ZONE 221. THESE SNOW SHOWERS WILL MOVE INTO ZONE 222
BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE MUCH IN THE WAY OF SNOWFALL OTHER THAN SOME
LIGHT SNOW. THE POLAR LOW MOVING ONTO THE WEST COAST TONIGHT WILL
MOVE SNOW INTO THE CENTRAL INTERIOR ON THU THROUGH THU NIGHT.

COASTAL FLOODING ON THE WEST COAST HAS VERIFIED IN ANY PLACES
INCLUDING NOME...LITTLE DIOMEDE...KOTLIK...WALES AND NEAR SHELDON
POINT. HOWEVER STORM SURGE WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AS SOUTH TO
SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NORTON SOUND
WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO PILE UP WATER IN EASTERN NORTON SOUND.
WINDS WILL NOT BEGIN TO TAPER OFF IN NORTON SOUND TILL AROUND 12Z
FRI. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO TAPER OFF IN AREAS NORTH OF THE BERING
STRAIT THROUGH TONIGHT AS THE STRONG LOW CONTINUES TO PULL NORTHWARD.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FOR AKZ207-AKZ211-AKZ212-AKZ213-AKZ214.

BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ209-AKZ217.

HIGH WIND WARNING FOR AKZ213.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

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

STORM WARNING FOR PKZ220-PKZ230.

HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING FOR PKZ225.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ230-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

CF NOV 11

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 9, 5:03 PM AKST, 5 hours 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
503 PM AKST WED NOV 09 2011

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

0430 PM     COASTAL FLOOD    NOME                    64.51N 165.41W
11/09/2011                                      AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            RIVER STREET FLOODED NEAR SMALL BOAT HARBOR. WAVES COMING
            OVER EAST END OF TOWN ON ROAD WITH SMALL DEBRIS.

&&

SAK
Local storm report, Nov 9, 5:12 PM AKST, 5 hours 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
512 PM AKST WED NOV 09 2011

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

0430 PM     COASTAL FLOOD    NOME                    64.51N 165.41W
11/09/2011                                      AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. ICE AND
            DEBRIS ARE FLOATING IN THE SNAKE RIVER.

&&

SAK
Local storm report, Nov 9, 5:42 PM AKST, 4 hours 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
542 PM AKST WED NOV 09 2011

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

0430 PM     COASTAL FLOOD    BREVIG MISSION          65.34N 166.48W
11/09/2011                                      AK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MINOR FLOODING REPORT RELAYED BY WSO NOME.

&&

SAK
Local storm report, Nov 9, 5:44 PM AKST, 4 hours 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
544 PM AKST WED NOV 09 2011

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

0425 PM     COASTAL FLOOD    ST. MICHAEL             63.48N 162.11W
11/09/2011                                      AK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROAD UNDER WATER.

&&

SAK
Special weather statement, Nov 9, 6:30 PM AKST, 3 hours 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
630 PM AKST WED NOV 9 2011

AKZ207>209-211>214-217-101800-
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-LOWER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
BALDWIN PENINSULA AND SELAWIK VALLEY-
SOUTHERN SEWARD PENINSULA COAST-
EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS-
ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST-YUKON DELTA-
UPPER KOBUK AND NOATAK VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG...
NOATAK...KIANA...RED DOG MINE...KOTZEBUE...SELAWIK...NOORVIK...
NOME...WHITE MOUNTAIN...GOLOVIN...UNALAKLEET...STEBBINS...
ST MICHAEL...ELIM...KOYUK...SHAKTOOLIK...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...
BREVIG MISSION...TELLER...WALES...DIOMEDE...MOUNTAIN VILLAGE...
EMMONAK...ALAKANUK...KOTLIK...PILOT STATION...ST MARYS...
SCAMMON BAY...MARSHALL...NUNAM IQUA...PITKAS POINT...AMBLER...
SHUNGNAK...KOBUK
630 PM AKST WED NOV 9 2011

...STRONG STORM CONTINUES TO BUFFET WESTERN ALASKA...

THE STRONG STORM WHICH HAS BEEN BATTERING WESTERN ALASKA MOVED
NORTH OF THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA LATE WEDNESDAY AND IS ONLY SLOWLY
WEAKENING. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO CURVE NORTHWEST REACHING
WRANGELL ISLAND LATER WEDNESDAY MORNING.

THE HARD HITTING WEATHER WITH THIS STORM IS FAR FROM OVER AS SEA
LEVELS RISE EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING OVER NORTON SOUND...THE BERING
STRAIT...AND THE SOUTHERN CHUKCHI SEA COAST FROM POINT HOPE
SOUTH. WATER LEVELS WILL REMAIN HIGH THROUGH MUCH OF THURSDAY.

THE STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS OF TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY HAVE
DIMINISHED TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WITH SPEEDS OF 30 TO 50 MPH...BUT
THIS DIRECTION FAVORS MUCH MORE MOVEMENT OF SEA WATER INTO THE
COASTAL COMMUNITIES RAISING THE WATER LEVEL SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE
THE TIDES.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MAXIMUM WIND GUSTS SO FAR:

BUCKLAND........56 MPH AT  316AM WED
CAPE LISBURNE...81 MPH AT  700AM WED
CAPE ROMANZOF...60 MPH AT  300AM WED
DEERING.........61 MPH AT  319AM WED
EMMONAK.........62 MPH AT 1100PM TUE
GAMBELL.........74 MPH AT  600PM TUE
GOLOVIN.........64 MPH AT 1200AM WED
KIANA...........54 MPH AT  715AM WED
KIVALINA........71 MPH AT  323AM WED
KOTZEBUE........74 MPH AT  600AM WED
KOYUK...........41 MPH AT  800AM WED
MARSHALL........64 MPH AT 1100PM TUE
NOATAK..........62 MPH AT 1036AM WED
NOME............61 MPH AT  900PM TUE
NOORVIK.........67 MPH AT  423AM WED
POINT HOPE......78 MPH AT  500AM WED
RED DOG MINE....48 MPH AT  935AM WED
SAINT MARYS.....61 MPH AT  900PM TUE
ST MICHAEL......68 MPH AT 1200AM WED
SAVOONGA........76 MPH AT  700PM TUE
SCAMMON BAY.....72 MPH AT  800PM TUE
SHAKTOOLIK......64 MPH AT  115AM WED
SHISHMAREF......57 MPH AT 1216AM WED
SHUNGNAK........69 MPH AT  900AM WED
TELLER..........71 MPH AT  600AM WED
TIN CITY........85 MPH AT 1200AM WED
UNALAKLEET......66 MPH AT 1200AM WED
WALES...........89 MPH AT  142AM WED

AKZ210-101800-
NORTHERN AND INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA-
INCLUDING...BUCKLAND...DEERING...CANDLE...COUNCIL...HAYCOCK...
PILGRIM SPRINGS...SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS...TAYLOR
630 PM AKST WED NOV 9 2011

...DEERING AIRPORT ROAD IS FLOODED...

WATER FROM THE RIVER AT DEERING IS BEING PUSHED OVER THE ROAD TO
THE AIRPORT AT DEERING...DRIVEN BY STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS DURING
THE DAY WEDNESDAY. WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED THIS EVENING AND THE WATER
OVER THE ROAD WILL SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH THE NIGHT.

JL NOV 11
Local storm report, Nov 9, 7:56 PM AKST, 2 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
756 PM AKST WED NOV 09 2011

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

0700 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG POINT HOPE              68.31N 166.73W
11/09/2011                                      AK   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STORAGE BUILDING DESTROYED. SOME MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO
            HOUSES.

&&

SAK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 9, 6:15 PM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFG4 hr
Nov 9, 9:45 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG6 hr
Nov 10, 3:18 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG11 hr
Nov 10, 3:18 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG19 days
Nov 10, 3:21 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG11 hr
Nov 10, 3:21 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG34 hr
Nov 10, 10:56 AM AKSTCoastal Flood WarningAFG10 hr
Nov 10, 2:25 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG23 hr
Nov 10, 2:44 PM AKSTWinter Storm WatchAFG13 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2011Every winter storm 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.