Blizzard Watch 6, NWS Anchorage, AK

778 
WWAK41 PAFC 120417
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
717 PM AKST WED JAN 11 2012

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
THURSDAY MORNING THEN DRIFT BACK INTO THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA
THURSDAY NIGHT.

AKZ101-121730-
/X.EXT.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.120112T0900Z-120113T0600Z/
ANCHORAGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANCHORAGE...EAGLE RIVER...INDIAN...
EKLUTNA
717 PM AKST WED JAN 11 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
9 PM AKST THURSDAY...

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT TO 9 PM AKST THURSDAY. 

* SNOW...8 TO 16 INCHES...HIGHEST AMOUNTS NEAR THE MOUNTAINS.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE THIS EVENING AND INTENSIFY
  OVERNIGHT THEN GRADUALLY LIGHTEN UP THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND 
  EVENING.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES WILL BE 
  LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

AKZ111-121730-
/X.EXT.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.120112T1200Z-120113T0300Z/
MATANUSKA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PALMER...WASILLA...SUTTON...CHICKALOON
717 PM AKST WED JAN 11 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM AKST
THURSDAY...

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM
AKST THURSDAY. 

* SNOW...5 TO 10 INCHES...HIGHEST AMOUNTS NEAR THE MOUNTAINS.

* TIMING...LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN OVERNIGHT AND INCREASE IN
  INTENSIFY TOWARD MORNING. SNOW WILL LIGHTEN UP BY THURSDAY
  EVENING.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES WILL BE 
  LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

AKZ121-121730-
/X.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-120113T0000Z/
WESTERN KENAI PENINSULA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENAI...SOLDOTNA...HOMER...
COOPER LANDING
717 PM AKST WED JAN 11 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST
THURSDAY NORTH OF CLAM GULCH...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST
THURSDAY. 

* LOCATION...NORTH OF CLAM GULCH.

* SNOW...6 TO 12 INCHES.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN THIS EVENING AND INTENSIFY THROUGH 
  THURSDAY MORNING THEN CHANGE TO SNOW SHOWERS BY LATE THURSDAY 
  AFTERNOON. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES WILL BE 
  LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

AKZ145-121730-
/X.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-120113T0000Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
717 PM AKST WED JAN 11 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST
THURSDAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST
THURSDAY. 

* SNOW...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION OF 7 TO 14 INCHES THROUGH 
  THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...SNOW WILL INTENSIFY LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EVENING 
  AND CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL THEN 
  LIGHTEN UP AND CHANGE TO SNOW SHOWERS LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE LIMITED 
  IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

AKZ125-121730-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.A.0006.120112T2100Z-120113T0900Z/
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...
MOOSE PASS
717 PM AKST WED JAN 11 2012

...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING NEAR WHITTIER...

A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. 

* LOCATION...WHITTIER.

* SNOW...2 TO 4 INCHES.

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

* WIND...WEST WIND 25 TO 40 MPH. GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. 
  MEANWHILE TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE 20S RESULTING IN 
  DRIER AND FLUFFIER SNOW. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE 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.

&&

$$

060 
WWAK41 PAFC 121407
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
507 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2012

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NEAR PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND WILL REMAIN
NEARLY STATIONARY THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN DRIFT BACK INTO
THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA THURSDAY NIGHT.

AKZ125-130315-
/X.UPG.PAFC.BZ.A.0006.120112T2100Z-120113T0900Z/
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.W.0013.120112T2100Z-120113T0900Z/
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...
MOOSE PASS
507 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT NEAR WHITTIER...

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

* LOCATION...WHITTIER.

* SNOW...2 TO 4 INCHES.

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

* WIND...WEST WIND 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

* TIMING...VARIABLE WINDS WILL BECOME STRONG WESTERLY BY MIDDAY.
* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
  MAY PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. DRIVING WILL BE 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.

&&

$$

AKZ101-130315-
/X.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-120113T0600Z/
ANCHORAGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANCHORAGE...EAGLE RIVER...INDIAN...
EKLUTNA
507 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM
AKST THIS EVENING...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS
EVENING. 

* SNOW...STORM TOTAL 6 TO 14 INCHES...HIGHEST AMOUNTS NEAR THE
  MOUNTAINS.

* TIMING...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
  AFTERNOON AND LIGHTEN UP DURING THE EVENING. LIGHT SNOW WILL
  CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES WILL BE 
  LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

AKZ111-130300-
/X.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-120113T0300Z/
MATANUSKA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PALMER...WASILLA...SUTTON...CHICKALOON
507 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM
AKST THIS EVENING...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING. 

* SNOW...STORM TOTAL 5 TO 10 INCHES.

* TIMING...PERIODS OF MODERATE SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
  AFTERNOON AND LIGHTEN UP TOWARD EVENING. LIGHT SNOW WILL
  CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES WILL BE 
  LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

AKZ121-130000-
/X.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-120113T0000Z/
WESTERN KENAI PENINSULA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENAI...SOLDOTNA...HOMER...
COOPER LANDING
507 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM
AKST THIS AFTERNOON NORTH OF CLAM GULCH...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* LOCATION...NORTH OF CLAM GULCH.

* SNOW...STORM TOTAL 6 TO 12 INCHES.

* TIMING...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
  AFTERNOON BEFORE GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF DURING THE EVENING HOURS.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES WILL BE 
  LIMITED IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

AKZ145-130000-
/X.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-120113T0000Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
507 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM
AKST THIS AFTERNOON...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* SNOW...STORM TOTAL 7 TO 14 INCHES. 

* TIMING...PERIODS OF MODERATE SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
  AFTERNOON HOURS BEFORE TAPERING OFF DURING THE EVENING.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE LIMITED 
  IN HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
520 AM AKST WED JAN 11 2012

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
A LOOK AT THE MORNING WEATHER MAP REVEALS A LONGWAVE TROUGH
CONTINUING OVER THE BERING SEA...WITH A RIDGE OVER THE WEST COAST OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND THE ALASKA PANHANDLE. THE NET EFFECT OF THESE
TWO FEATURES IS SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW BRINGING AMPLE MOISTURE INTO
MAINLAND ALASKA. THE STRONG FRONT THAT IMPACTED SOUTHCENTRAL
YESTERDAY HAS MOVED OFF INTO THE INTERIOR...MEANWHILE A SLOW-MOVING
BAND OF MODERATE SNOW IS LOCATED OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA WHERE SNOW
ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT. FURTHER WEST...A REINFORCING SHOT OF
BITTERLY COLD ARCTIC AIR IS MARCHING EASTWARD THROUGH THE EASTERN
BERING. THIS COLD AIR IS MOVING TO THE EAST IN RESPONSE TO A STRONG
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CURRENTLY BUILDING INTO THE CENTRAL BERING.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MODELS ARE IN OVERALL EXCELLENT AGREEMENT THIS MORNING ON BOTH THE
LARGE-SCALE WEATHER FEATURES AND SOME OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT
SMALL-SCALE FEATURES. THIS AGREEMENT IS ESPECIALLY SURPRISING DUE TO
THE FACT THAT THE LONGWAVE PATTERN WILL BE UNDERGOING A TRANSITION
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE NEW PATTERN WILL FEATURE HIGH PRESSURE
OVER THE EASTERN BERING WITH DRY NORTHERLY FLOW OVER MAINLAND ALASKA.
THE NAM IS THE OVERALL FAVORED MODEL DUE TO ITS SUPERIOR HANDLING OF
COMPLEX TERRAIN ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
SOUTHCENTRAL...PRIMARY FORECAST CHALLENGE WILL BE THE EVOLUTION THE
BAND OF MODERATE SNOW MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM SOUTHWEST ALASKA. IT
IS NOW LOOKING LIKELY THAT MUCH OF SOUTHCENTRAL...INCLUDING
ANCHORAGE...WILL GET A FINAL SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF SNOW BEFORE
THE PATTERN BECOMES SUNNY AND DRY FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD STARTING
THIS WEEKEND. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT THE TROUGH OVER THE
EASTERN BERING WILL GRADUALLY BECOME NEGATIVELY TILTED AND DIG INTO
THE WESTERN GULF BEFORE CLOSING OFF INTO AN UPPER LOW THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING AN AREA OF BROAD UPWARD MOTION/LIFT TO THE
REGION STARTING THIS EVENING. THE KEY INGREDIENT THAT WILL MAKE THIS
EVENT SO SIGNIFICANT IS THE SURFACE LOW CURRENTLY SOUTH OF KODIAK
ISLAND. THIS LOW MOVES UP INTO PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND BY THIS
EVENING...STALLS...AND SLOWLY DRIFTS BACK TO THE SOUTH AS THE UPPER
LOW DEVELOPS ON THURSDAY. THIS WILL PROVIDE A SOURCE OF MOISTURE TO
THE ATMOSPHERE THAT SHOULD RESULT IN A LONG-DURATION EVENT OF
MODERATE SNOW FROM THE KENAI PENINSULA TO THE ANCHORAGE AREA AND UP
THROUGH THE SUSITNA VALLEY.

SOUTHWEST...BAND OF MODERATE SNOW CURRENTLY EAST OF A LINE FROM
SLEETMUTE TO DILLINGHAM MOVES SLOWLY EASTWARD TODAY...WITH CLEARING
SKIES BEHIND. ANOTHER ROUND OF EXTREMELY COLD AIR IS MOVING INTO THE
KUSKOKWIM DELTA AND WILL SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE SOUTHWEST MAINLAND
THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WITH WINDS EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 15 MPH...EXPECT
WIDESPREAD DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS THROUGH FRIDAY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE
DELTA.

BERING...HIGH BUILDING INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE BERING SEA WILL
SET UP SHOP FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE NEXT WEEK...BRINGING
SEASONABLY COOL CONDITIONS AND GENERALLY BENIGN WEATHER. THIS
BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE IS HELPING GENERATE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
ACROSS PARTS OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA THIS MORNING. THESE SHOULD BE
SHORT-LIVED AS THE HIGH CENTER MOVES EASTWARD THIS MORNING. WAY OUT
WEST...A VERY STRONG LOW WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON SOUTH OF THE
KAMCHATKA PENINSULA OF RUSSIA AND RAPIDLY DEEPEN TO THE UPPER 930 MB
RANGE. WHILE THE LOW STAYS WELL OUT OF THE ALASKAN DOMAIN...A
SIGNIFICANT FRONT WILL IMPACT THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL ALEUTIANS
THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING. WINDS WILL APPROACH 70 MPH...WITH
GROWING LIKELIHOOD OF HURRICANE FORCE CONDITIONS. FOR NOW WILL ISSUE
A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR THE WESTERN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
AS MENTIONED ABOVE...A PATTERN CHANGE IS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE ALASKA
DOMAIN. THE NEW PATTERN WILL BE IN PLACE BY THIS WEEKEND AND WILL
FEATURE SUNNY AND DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS MAINLAND ALASKA...WITH ACTIVE
WEATHER CONFINED TO THE WESTERN BERING SEA REGION. LIKELY SIGNIFICANT
FEATURES OF THIS NEW WEATHER PATTERN WILL BE STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS
IN THE USUAL FAVORED COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTHCENTRAL SUCH AS THOMPSON
PASS AND THE MATANUSKA VALLEY. WHILE THIS PATTERN WILL BE COLD FOR
MAINLAND ALASKA...IT SHOULD NOT BE THE BITTER COLD WE HAVE SEEN IN
RECENT WEEKS. NEVERTHELESS...THE PERSISTENT WIND IN MANY AREAS WILL
KEEP THE CHILL OF WINTER NEARBY.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WARNING 181
         HIGH WIND WATCH 191
         WIND CHILL ADVISORY 155
         SNOW ADVISORY 101 121 145 152 161
MARINE...HURRICANE FORCE 175 176
         STORM 130 172
         GALE 132 138 150 155 160 165 170
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 121 130 132 138 140 150 155 165 179
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

AMD JAN 12