Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Watches in 2012

Blizzard Watch 22, NWS Anchorage, AK

February 22, 2012

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this blizzard watch at Feb 22, 2012, 3:53 PM AKST. It took effect at Feb 23, 2012, 6:00 PM AKST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 22, 2012, 3:53 PM AKST (00:53 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 23, 2012, 6:00 PM AKST
Expired
Feb 23, 2012, 4:34 AM AKST
In force
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

306 
WWAK42 PAFC 230053
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
353 PM AKST WED FEB 22 2012

AKZ195-231400-
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.A.0022.120224T0300Z-120224T2100Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
353 PM AKST WED FEB 22 2012

...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WATCH FOR THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM
THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

* SNOW...1 TO 3 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...POSSIBLY REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* WIND...SOUTHEAST 20 TO 45 MPH. 

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES DEVELOPING EARLY
  THURSDAY EVENING AND CONTINUING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY MORNING.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DIFFICULT.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
648 
WWAK42 PAFC 231334
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
434 AM AKST THU FEB 23 2012

AKZ195-240300-
/X.UPG.PAFC.BZ.A.0022.120224T0300Z-120224T2100Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.W.0033.120224T0800Z-120224T1400Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
434 AM AKST THU FEB 23 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM
AKST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM AKST
FRIDAY. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* SNOW...UP TO 3 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...FREQUENTLY REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE.

* WIND...EAST WIND 30 TO 45 MPH.

* TIMING...THE WORST CONDITIONS LOOK TO DEVELOP LATE THIS EVENING
  AND PERSIST THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. SNOW INTENSITY AND
  STRONG WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH FRIDAY MORNING ENDING THE
  BLIZZARD THREAT.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL 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.

&&

$$

JAM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 22, 4:00 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Feb 22, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC6 days
Feb 22, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Feb 23, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 23, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC5 days
Feb 23, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC4 days
Feb 23, 4:00 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC36 hr
Feb 23, 4:34 AM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFC28 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Watches in Alaska, 2012Every blizzard watch 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.