Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2012

Blizzard Warning 57, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 17, 2012

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this blizzard warning at Dec 17, 2012, 4:02 PM AKST. It took effect at Dec 18, 2012, 2:17 AM AKST. It was in force for 22 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
Dec 17, 2012, 4:02 PM AKST (01:02 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 18, 2012, 2:17 AM AKST
Expired
Dec 18, 2012, 11:53 PM AKST
In force
22 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

673 
WWAK41 PAFC 180102
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
402 PM AKST MON DEC 17 2012

...STRONG WINTER STORM TO BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO KODIAK ISLAND...

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE EASTERN ALEUTIAN CHAIN WILL
APPROACH THE REGION TONIGHT TO A POSITION JUST SOUTH OF KODIAK ISLAND
TUESDAY MORNING...THEN TRACK TO SOUTHEASTERN REACHES OF THE GULF OF
ALASKA LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BRING DEEP
MOISTURE WHILE ARCTIC AIR SPILLS DOWN FROM THE NORTH. THIS LOOKS TO
PRODUCE AREAS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL...AND COUPLED WITH
STRONG WINDS...SEVERELY REDUCED VISIBILITY.

AKZ171-181600-
/X.UPG.PAFC.BZ.A.0039.121218T2100Z-121219T1500Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.W.0057.121218T2100Z-121219T0900Z/
KODIAK ISLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...KODIAK CITY
402 PM AKST MON DEC 17 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT AKST
TUESDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT AKST
TUESDAY NIGHT. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* LOCATION...KODIAK ISLAND INCLUDING KODIAK CITY.

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS 8 TO 13 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS.

* WIND...NORTHWEST WIND 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

* TIMING...STEADY SNOW WILL INITIALLY DEVELOP TONIGHT ACROSS
  KODIAK ISLAND. TEMPERATURES SLOWLY RISE OVERNIGHT TO NEAR
  FREEZING WITH SOME RAIN POSSIBLY MIXING IN AT TIMES BY TUESDAY
  MORNING. THE WORST CONDITIONS HOWEVER ARE EXPECTED MID DAY
  TUESDAY AS SNOW BECOMES HEAVIER...AND AS WINDS BEGIN SHIFTING
  MORE TO THE NORTH ALLOWING COLD AIR TO FILTER BACK IN FOR GOOD.
  STRONG WINDS WILL PERSIST WELL INTO WEDNESDAY...BUT SNOW LOOKS
  TO DIMINISH IN INTENSITY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW PRESSURE
  SYSTEM MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA...ALLOWING VISIBILITY TO IMPROVE.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL AND OTHER
  OUTDOOR ACTIVITY MAY BECOME VERY DIFFICULT.

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 VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

JM
5 follow-up statements
442 
WWAK41 PAFC 181117
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
217 AM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALONG
WITH SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING...

MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY WET SNOW HAS BEGUN TO FALL IN THE
KODIAK AREA AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING. SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING...WHERE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS MAY EXCEED 12 INCHES. AS COLD AIR WRAPS INTO THE SYSTEM THIS
AFTERNOON...WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP AS THE SNOW BECOMES
DRIER AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BLOWING AROUND. VISIBILITIES WILL BE
REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES IN MODERATE TO HEAVY
SNOW THROUGH THIS MORNING...THEN BECOME REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT
TIMES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A RESULT OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW
AND BLOWING SNOW.

AKZ171-190030-
/X.EXT.PAFC.BZ.W.0057.121218T1117Z-121219T0900Z/
KODIAK ISLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...KODIAK CITY
217 AM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT...

* LOCATION...KODIAK ISLAND INCLUDING KODIAK CITY.

* SNOW...ACCUMULATIONS 8 TO 16 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS.

* WIND...EAST TO SOUTHEAST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH EARLY THIS MORNING
  GRADUALLY BECOMING NORTHWEST WIND 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60
  MPH THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL FALL THROUGH THIS
  AFTERNOON. THIS COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS WILL REDUCE
  VISIBILITIES TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. BLOWING SNOW
  WILL COMBINE WITH FALLING SNOW THIS AFTERNOON TO REDUCE
  VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL AND OTHER 
  OUTDOOR ACTIVITY MAY BECOME VERY DIFFICULT. 

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 VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$
162 
WWAK41 PAFC 181339
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
439 AM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALONG
WITH SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING...

MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY WET SNOW HAS BEGUN TO FALL IN THE
KODIAK AREA AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING. SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING...WHERE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS MAY EXCEED 12 INCHES. AS COLD AIR WRAPS INTO THE
SYSTEM THIS AFTERNOON...WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP AS THE
SNOW BECOMES DRIER AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BLOWING AROUND.
VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES
IN MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW THROUGH THIS MORNING...THEN BECOME
REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A
RESULT OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

AKZ171-190245-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0057.000000T0000Z-121219T0900Z/
KODIAK ISLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...KODIAK CITY
439 AM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* LOCATION...KODIAK ISLAND INCLUDING KODIAK CITY.

* SNOW...STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS 8 TO 16 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS.

* WIND...NORTHEAST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH
  GRADUALLY BECOMING NORTHWEST 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH
  THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL FALL THROUGH THIS 
  AFTERNOON. THIS COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS WILL REDUCE 
  VISIBILITIES TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. BLOWING 
  SNOW WILL COMBINE WITH FALLING SNOW THIS AFTERNOON TO REDUCE 
  VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL AND OTHER 
  OUTDOOR ACTIVITY MAY BECOME VERY DIFFICULT. 

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 VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$
268 
WWAK41 PAFC 190104
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
404 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

AKZ171-190900-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0057.000000T0000Z-121219T0900Z/
KODIAK ISLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...KODIAK CITY
404 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* LOCATION...KODIAK ISLAND INCLUDING KODIAK CITY.

* SNOW...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION UP TO 3 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS.

* WIND...NORTHWEST 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

* TIMING...THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL PEAK THIS EVENING BEFORE
  STEADY SNOW TAPERS TO SNOW SHOWERS AND VISIBILITY IMPROVES
  TONIGHT. WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG WELL INTO WEDNESDAY...BUT THE
  THREAT OF BLOWING SNOW WILL DIMINISH.

* IMPACTS...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT
  CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL AND OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITY MAY
  BECOME VERY DIFFICULT.

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 VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

JM
002 
WWAK41 PAFC 190423
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
723 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

AKZ171-190900-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0057.000000T0000Z-121219T0900Z/
KODIAK ISLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...KODIAK CITY
723 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* LOCATION...KODIAK ISLAND INCLUDING KODIAK CITY.

* SNOW...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION UP TO 3 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS.

* WIND...NORTHWEST 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

* TIMING...THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL PEAK THIS EVENING BEFORE 
  STEADY SNOW TAPERS TO SNOW SHOWERS AND VISIBILITY IMPROVES 
  TONIGHT. WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG WELL INTO WEDNESDAY...BUT 
  THE THREAT OF BLOWING SNOW WILL DIMINISH. 

* IMPACTS...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT 
  CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL AND OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITY MAY 
  BECOME VERY DIFFICULT. 

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 VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ131-191730-
/X.NEW.PAFC.WC.Y.0023.121219T0423Z-121221T1500Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
723 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST FRIDAY FROM KEYSTONE
CANYON THROUGH THOMPSON PASS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST FRIDAY FROM KEYSTONE
CANYON THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* LOCATION...KEYSTONE CANYON THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* WIND...SUSTAINED NORTHEAST WIND FROM 20 TO 35 MPH TONIGHT.
  WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 45 MPH WEDNESDAY MORNING AND
  PERSIST THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

* WIND CHILL VALUES...RANGING FROM 35 BELOW TO 50 BELOW ZERO. 

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE SOME WEDNESDAY MORNING AND THEN
  PERSIST AT HIGHER LEVELS THOUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES
  WILL RANGE FROM 5 BELOW FOR A FEW HOURS DURING PEAK DAYTIME
  HEATING TO AROUND 15 BELOW THE REST OF THE TIME. THIS WILL ALLOW
  A BRIEF IMPROVEMENT IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON EACH DAY.

* IMPACTS...INCREASED RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE.

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.

&&

$$
810 
WWAK41 PAFC 190853
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1153 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

AKZ171-191000-
/X.CAN.PAFC.BZ.W.0057.000000T0000Z-121219T0900Z/
KODIAK ISLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...KODIAK CITY
1153 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

VISIBILITIES ARE IMPROVING AS FALLING SNOW TAPERS OFF TONIGHT.
HOWEVER...BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE AS GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS
CONTINUE.

$$

AKZ131-192200-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0023.000000T0000Z-121221T1500Z/
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VALDEZ...THOMPSON PASS
1153 PM AKST TUE DEC 18 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST FRIDAY
THROUGH THOMPSON PASS...

* LOCATION...KEYSTONE CANYON THROUGH THOMPSON PASS.

* WIND...SUSTAINED NORTHEAST WIND FROM 20 TO 35 MPH TONIGHT. 
  WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 45 MPH WEDNESDAY MORNING AND 
  PERSIST THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT. 

* WIND CHILL VALUES...RANGING FROM 35 BELOW TO 50 BELOW ZERO.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE SOME WEDNESDAY MORNING AND THEN 
  PERSIST AT HIGHER LEVELS THOUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES 
  WILL RANGE FROM 5 BELOW FOR A FEW HOURS DURING PEAK DAYTIME 
  HEATING TO AROUND 15 BELOW THE REST OF THE TIME. THIS WILL 
  ALLOW A BRIEF IMPROVEMENT IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON EACH DAY. 

* IMPACTS...INCREASED RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE.

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.

&&

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 17, 3:58 PM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAFC24 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC4 days
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC60 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTHurricane Force Wind WarningAFC24 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC36 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC48 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC60 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC3 days
Dec 17, 4:00 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC7 days
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC36 hr
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC3 days
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC6 days
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC48 hr
Dec 18, 4:00 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC4 days
Dec 18, 7:40 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC20 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2012Every blizzard warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.