Winter Storm Warning 22, NWS Juneau, AK

224 
WWAK47 PAJK 220225
WSWAJK

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
525 PM AKST WED DEC 21 2011

AKZ019-221400-
/X.CON.PAJK.WS.W.0022.111222T0300Z-111222T1800Z/
HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...HAINES
525 PM AKST WED DEC 21 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST
THURSDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST
THURSDAY. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE HAINES HIGHWAY.

* SNOW...6 TO 15 INCHES ALONG THE HAINES HIGHWAY ABOVE 200 FEET. 
  LESSER AMOUNTS NEAR THE CITY OF HAINES. 

* TIMING...RAIN ACROSS THE AREA IS FORECAST TO CHANGE TO SNOW 
  THIS EVENING AND BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY 
  THURSDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL CHANGE BACK TO RAIN BY THURSDAY 
  AFTERNOON. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT. WET HEAVY SNOW AND LARGE 
  ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE HARD TO MANAGE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WARNING MEANS THAT A WINTER STORM IS ALREADY OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. THIS STORM COULD POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED BY 5 AM AKST THURSDAY OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

&&

$$

AKZ018-221400-
/X.CON.PAJK.WS.W.0021.111222T0300Z-111222T1800Z/
TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SKAGWAY
525 PM AKST WED DEC 21 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST
THURSDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST
THURSDAY. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE KLONDIKE HIGHWAY.

* SNOW...6 TO 12 INCHES AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH LESSER AMOUNTS 
  NEAR THE CITY OF SKAGWAY. 

* TIMING...SNOW WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE KLONDIKE HIGHWAY AND 
  BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. SNOW 
  LEVELS WILL CLIMB TO AROUND 1500 FEET ON THURSDAY. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT. WET HEAVY SNOW AND LARGE 
  ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE HARD TO MANAGE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WARNING MEANS THAT A WINTER STORM IS ALREADY OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. THIS STORM COULD POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED BY 5 AM AKST THURSDAY OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

&&

$$

RWT

760 
WWAK47 PAJK 221357
WSWAJK

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
457 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

AKZ019-221800-
/X.CON.PAJK.WS.W.0022.000000T0000Z-111222T1800Z/
HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...HAINES
457 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS
MORNING. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE HAINES HIGHWAY.

* SNOW...UP TO 15 INCHES ALONG THE HAINES HIGHWAY. LESSER AMOUNTS
  NEAR THE CITY OF HAINES.

* TIMING...SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES MIXED WITH RAIN NEAR HAINES
  CHANGING TO ALL RAIN BY THIS AFTERNOON AS THE SNOW LEVEL RISES
  ABOVE 800 FEET.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT. WET HEAVY SNOW AND LARGE 
  ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE HARD TO MANAGE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WARNING MEANS THAT A WINTER STORM IS ALREADY OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. THIS STORM COULD POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED BY 9 AM AKST TODAY OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

&&

$$

AKZ018-221800-
/X.CON.PAJK.WS.W.0021.000000T0000Z-111222T1800Z/
TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SKAGWAY
457 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS
MORNING. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE KLONDIKE HIGHWAY.

* SNOW...UP TO 12 INCHES AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH LESSER AMOUNTS 
  NEAR THE CITY OF SKAGWAY. 

* TIMING...SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES. SNOW LEVELS RISING TO AROUND
  2500 FEET THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT. WET HEAVY SNOW AND LARGE 
  ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE HARD TO MANAGE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WARNING MEANS THAT A WINTER STORM IS ALREADY OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. THIS STORM COULD POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED BY 9 AM AKST TODAY OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

&&

$$

018 
WWAK47 PAJK 221756
WSWAJK

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
856 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

AKZ019-222100-
/X.EXT.PAJK.WS.W.0022.000000T0000Z-111222T2100Z/
HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...HAINES
856 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE HAINES HIGHWAY.

* SNOW...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION UP TO 4 INCHES ALONG THE HAINES
  HIGHWAY. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION UP TO 10 INCHES.

* TIMING...SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES MIXED WITH RAIN NEAR HAINES. SNOW
  CHANGING TO ALL RAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS THE SNOW LEVEL RISES
  ABOVE 800 FEET.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT. WET HEAVY SNOW AND LARGE 
  ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE HARD TO MANAGE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WARNING MEANS THAT A WINTER STORM IS ALREADY OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. THIS STORM COULD POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED BY NOON AKST TODAY OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

&&

$$

AKZ018-222100-
/X.EXT.PAJK.WS.W.0021.000000T0000Z-111222T2100Z/
TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SKAGWAY
856 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE KLONDIKE HIGHWAY.

* SNOW...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION OF 4 INCHES AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS
  WITH LESSER AMOUNTS NEAR THE CITY OF SKAGWAY. STORM TOTAL
  ACCUMULATION UP TO 12 INCHES NEAR WHITE PASS.

* TIMING...SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES. SNOW LEVELS RISING TO AROUND 
  2500 FEET THIS AFTERNOON. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT. WET HEAVY SNOW AND LARGE 
  ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE HARD TO MANAGE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WARNING MEANS THAT A WINTER STORM IS ALREADY OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. THIS STORM COULD POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED BY NOON AKST TODAY OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

&&

$$

975 
WWAK47 PAJK 222044
WSWAJK

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1144 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011


AKZ019-222145-
/X.EXP.PAJK.WS.W.0022.000000T0000Z-111222T2100Z/
HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...HAINES
1144 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT NOON AKST TODAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT NOON AKST TODAY. 

SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO TAPER OFF THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH
ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES. SNOW WILL CHANGE TO RAIN AS
SNOW LEVELS RISE ABOVE 800 FT.

$$

AKZ018-222145-
/X.EXP.PAJK.WS.W.0021.000000T0000Z-111222T2100Z/
TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SKAGWAY
1144 AM AKST THU DEC 22 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT NOON AKST TODAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT NOON AKST TODAY. 

SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO TAPER OFF THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH
ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES. SNOW WILL CHANGE TO RAIN
AS SNOW LEVELS RISE ABOVE 2500 FT.

$$

SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
701 AM AKST WED DEC 21 2011

.SHORT TERM...VERY COMPLICATED WEATHER PATTERN SETTING UP TODAY
AND EXTENDING INTO THE LONG RANGE. A TROUGH IS MOVING THROUGH THE
NORTHERN PANHANDLE THIS MORNING AND HAS WITH IT A WARM WEDGE OF
LOW LEVEL AIR. THIS HAS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE SOUTHERLY
PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE NORTHERN INNER CHANNELS PRODUCING
STRONG WINDS IN YAKUTAT AND SKAGWAY WITH WINDY CONDITIONS IN
HAINES. GUSTY CONDITIONS BEGINNING TO APPEAR IN THE JUNEAU AREA AS
WELL. WINDS OVER THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE WILL RELAX LATER TODAY AS
THE TROUGH MOVES INTO CANADA.

THE SITUATION GET COMPLICATED TONIGHT AS A STORM FORCE LOW
CURRENTLY SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIANS TRACKS TO THE NORTHEAST.
PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM FRONT WILL ARRIVE OVER THE
SOUTHERN PANHANDLE TONIGHT AND ENHANCE LEFT OVER PRECIP FROM THE
TROUGH CURRENTLY OVERHEAD. QPF AMOUNTS IN THE HEAVY CATEGORY AND
WILL SPREAD SOUTH TO NORTH OVERNIGHT. MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE HAS
TO DO WITH PRECIP TYPE. AN EAST-WEST PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL SET
UP...MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DISCERN BETWEEN SOUTHEASTERLY AND
SOUTHWESTERLY MID LEVEL FLOW. WITH OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES HOVERING
AROUND THE FREEZING MARK, THIS MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
RAIN AND SNOW. WITH QPF VALUES AS HIGH AS THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE,
THE STAKES ARE EVEN HIGHER. WITH THIS IN MIND, DECIDED TO ISSUE A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE HAINES AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAYS, WHERE
TEMPERATURE SHOULD BE RELIABLY LOW ENOUGH TO COUNT ON SNOW...HEAVY
AT TIMES. FARTHER SOUTH, SITUATION IS EVEN MORE AMBIGUOUS. HAVE
THEREFORE ISSUED A SECOND PERIOD WINTER STORM WATCH FOR HOONAH AND
JUNEAU. BOTH WATCH AND WARNING EXTEND INTO THE LONG RANGE FORECAST
PERIOD.

&&

.LONG TERM...AS THE STORM FORCE LOW CURRENTLY SOUTH OF THE
ALEUTIANS APPROACHES SOUTHEAST ALASKA, SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL
INCREASE. HAVE ISSUED A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR THE OUTER COAST FROM
CAPE EDGECUMBE SOUTH AS WELL AS ZONE 28 BEGINNING THURSDAY
MORNING. HAVE ALSO CARRIED SIGNIFICANT QPF NORTH ALONG THE OUTER
COAST AND NORTHERN INNER CHANNELS, SO WILL CONTINUE THE WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR THE HAINES AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAYS THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. AS DISCUSSED ABOVE, THE SYNOPTIC PATTERN
CURRENTLY SETTING UP FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT OVER RUNNING EVENT COULD
EASILY GO EITHER WAY...SNOW OR RAIN...DEPENDING ON VERY SLIGHT
VARIATIONS AND NUANCES IN THE LOW LEVEL WIND DIRECTIONS AND LOW
LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION.

LATE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE A
PATTERN CHANGE. A POLAR VORTEX WILL DROP SOUTH OUT OF THE ARCTIC
AND BRING COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO SOUTHEAST ALASKA.

FOCUS ON LONG RANGE LIMITED TO THE THE FIRST 48 HOURS, THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING. IN COORDINATION WITH SHORT RANGE FORECASTER, USED
A BLEND OF GFS AND ECMWF FOR GRID UPDATES. FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS
AVERAGE AT BEST DUE TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF THIS SYNOPTIC
SITUATION.

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WATCH FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING
     FOR AKZ023-027-028.
         WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
     THURSDAY MORNING FOR AKZ021-025.
         STRONG WIND UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS MORNING FOR AKZ019.
         WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM AKST THURSDAY FOR AKZ019.
         WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM AKST
     THURSDAY FOR AKZ018.
MARINE...GALE WARNING FOR PKZ012-022-033-035-036-041>043-051-053.
         SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ011-013-021-031-032-034-052.

&&

FRITSCH/ABJ