Alert archive / Alaska / Wind Chill Advisories in 2012

Wind Chill Advisory 15, NWS Anchorage, AK

March 9, 2012

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this wind chill advisory at Mar 9, 2012, 3:46 PM AKST. It took effect at Mar 9, 2012, 11:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 40 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 9, 2012, 3:46 PM AKST (00:46 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 9, 2012, 11:00 PM AKST
Expired
Mar 11, 2012, 3:56 PM AKDT
In force
40 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

618 
WWAK42 PAFC 100046
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
346 PM AKST FRI MAR 9 2012

AKZ155-101600-
/X.NEW.PAFC.WC.Y.0015.120310T0800Z-120312T0000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
346 PM AKST FRI MAR 9 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM AKST THIS EVENING TO
4 PM AKDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM AKST THIS EVENING TO
4 PM AKDT SUNDAY. 

* LOCATION...THE ENTIRE KUSKOKWIM DELTA.

* WIND...NORTHWEST 15 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 25 MPH.

* WIND CHILL VALUES...35 TO 45 BELOW ZERO.

* TIMING...WIND CHILLS OF 30 BELOW ZERO WILL DIP TO 40 BELOW LATE
  TONIGHT AND PERSIST INTO SUNDAY. WINDS LOOK TO DIMINISH BY
  SUNDAY EVENING AND HELP TO END THE WIND CHILL THREAT.

* 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.

&&

$$

JAM
4 follow-up statements
010 
WWAK42 PAFC 101331
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
431 AM AKST SAT MAR 10 2012

AKZ155-110300-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-120312T0000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
431 AM AKST SAT MAR 10 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM AKDT SUNDAY...

* LOCATION...THE ENTIRE KUSKOKWIM DELTA. 

* WIND...NORTHWEST 5 TO 20 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 MPH. 

* WIND CHILL VALUES...TO 45 BELOW ZERO. 

* TIMING...WIND CHILLS TO 40 BELOW ARE EXPECTED THIS MORNING. WIND
  CHILL VALUES TO 45 BELOW ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
  AFTERNOON. 

* 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.

&&

$$
047 
WWAK42 PAFC 110057
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
357 PM AKST SAT MAR 10 2012

AKZ155-111500-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-120312T0000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
357 PM AKST SAT MAR 10 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM AKDT SUNDAY...

* LOCATION...THE ENTIRE KUSKOKWIM DELTA.

* WIND...NORTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH...STRONGEST ALONG THE COAST.

* WIND CHILL VALUES...TO 40 BELOW ZERO.

* TIMING...THE LOWEST WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO
  SUNDAY. WIND SPEEDS LOOK TO DIMINISH BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND HELP
  END THE WIND CHILL THREAT.

* 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.

&&

$$

JAM
187 
WWAK42 PAFC 111251
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
451 AM AKDT SUN MAR 11 2012

AKZ155-120000-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-120312T0000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
451 AM AKDT SUN MAR 11 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM AKDT THIS
AFTERNOON...

* WIND...NORTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH...STRONGEST ALONG THE COAST.

* WIND CHILL VALUES...30 TO 45 BELOW ZERO.

* TIMING...THE LOWEST WIND CHILLS WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING...AND
  SLOWLY INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY. WIND SPEEDS LOOK TO DIMINISH
  BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND HELP END THE WIND CHILL THREAT.

* 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.

&&

$$

AKZ195-120200-
/X.NEW.PAFC.BZ.A.0029.120312T1500Z-120313T0800Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
451 AM AKDT SUN MAR 11 2012

...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING. 

* SNOW...ACCUMULATION 1 TO 3 INCHES.

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

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

* TIMING...MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

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

&&

$$
191 
WWAK42 PAFC 112356
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
356 PM AKDT SUN MAR 11 2012

AKZ155-120100-
/X.CAN.PAFC.WC.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-120312T0000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
356 PM AKDT SUN MAR 11 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS CANCELED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS CANCELED THE WIND
CHILL ADVISORY.

WINDS ARE DIMINISHING THIS EVENING ENDING THE LOWEST WIND CHILLS. 

$$

AKZ195-121500-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.A.0029.120312T1500Z-120313T0800Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
356 PM AKDT SUN MAR 11 2012

...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING...

* SNOW...ACCUMULATION UP TO 3 INCHES.

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

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

* TIMING...MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

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

&&

$$

JAM

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this wind chill advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this wind chill advisory went out at Mar 9, 1:35 PM AKST, 2 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 9, 1:35 PM AKST, 2 hours 11 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
135 PM AKST FRI MAR 9 2012

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
A BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS IN PLACE OVER MAINLAND ALASKA WITH
SEVERAL WEAKENING LOWS ROTATING AROUND ITS PERIPHERY. THE REMNANTS OF
WHAT USED TO BE A GALE FORCED LOW CAN BE SEEN ON SATELLITE AND THE
MIDDLETON ISLAND RADAR NEAR MONTAGUE ISLAND. A LOW THAT WAS CROSSING
THE ALASKA PENINSULA THIS TIME YESTERDAY IS ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE
TROF IN THE NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC AND WILL HEAD TOWARD THE GULF LATER
TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE AND COLD AIR ADVECTION IS
DOMINATING THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN BERING SEA WHILE A WEAK LOW TRIES
TO DEVELOP SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIANS.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
OVERALL THE MODELS ARE IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT ON ALL OF THE MAJOR
FEATURES...ONLY MINOR DIFFERENCES THROUGH THE SHORT TERM WITH THE
EXACT LOCATION OF THE UPPER SHORTWAVES ROTATING AROUND THE UPPER
TROF. THESE SHORTWAVES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED SURFACE REFLECTIONS WILL
BE DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN AS THEY MEANDER AROUND THE NORTHERN GULF
THROUGH THE WEEKEND. VERY LITTLE CHANGES ARE BEING MADE TO THE
FORECAST OVER THE EASTERN DOMAIN WHILE THE WEST WILL NUDGE TOWARD THE
12Z GFS WITH THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A
DEVELOPING LOW TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEKEND.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...A COLD CORE UPPER LOW IS CURRENTLY POSITIONED
NEAR THE ALASKA RANGE WHILE A WEAK SURFACE LOW IS MEANDERING AROUND
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND. SNOW SHOWERS ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED TO
THE COPPER RIVER BASIN AND THE COASTAL AREAS AROUND PRINCE WILLIAM
SOUND. MEASURABLE SNOW WOULD BE FALLING OVER THE INTERIOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHCENTRAL IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE POSITION OF THE UPPER LOW AND
LACK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH THE REGION. AS IT
IS...A FEW FLURRIES HAVE BEEN FALLING OVER EASTERN PORTIONS OF
ANCHORAGE AND THE MATSU VALLEY. THIS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH
TONIGHT AS THE SURFACE LOW DROPS SOUTH AND EVENTUALLY DISSIPATES
TONIGHT.

THE NEXT AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL TAKE ITS PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND
AND BRING ANOTHER CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW TO SOUTHCENTRAL BY THE END OF
THE WEEKEND. AT THIS TIME...THE BEST CHANCE OF MEASURABLE SNOW IN
ANCHORAGE AND THE MATSU VALLEY LOOKS TO BE SUNDAY NIGHT WITH A WEAK
EASTERLY IMPULSE MOVING THROUGH THE REGION. UNTIL THEN...PARTLY TO
MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WILL PREVAIL WITH CONTINUED COLDER THAN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES.

THE OTHER FORECAST CHALLENGE AROUND SOUTHCENTRAL IS THE TIGHTENING
PRESSURE GRADIENT ALONG THE GULF COAST. THIS WILL LEAD TO GUSTY WINDS
OUT OF THE NORMAL CHANNELED AREAS INCLUDING VALDEZ AND WHITTIER. THE
WAVE THAT MAY BRING ANCHORAGE SNOW SUNDAY NIGHT WILL ALSO TIGHTEN UP
THE GRADIENT AND BRING THE CHANNELED AREAS THE STRONGEST WINDS. AT
THIS TIME...LOOKS LIKE THE GRADIENT IS GREATEST ALONG THE COAST
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUES TO BE STRONG THROUGH THE REST OF THE
WEEKEND. WITH THE HIGHER CONFIDENCE WITH THE TIMING OF THIS
FEATURE...WE WILL BE NUDGING THE WIND SPEEDS UP THROUGH VALDEZ
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

SOUTHWEST ALASKA...
FOR AVIATION PURPOSES...THE CONTINUED CHALLENGE ACROSS SOUTHWEST
ALASKA IS CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS IN FLURRIES AND FOG. A
VERY SLOW IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED DURING THE WEEKEND AS COLD DRY AIR
FILTERS IN OVER THE REGION. THE COLD AIRMASS IS SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO
LEAD TO SOME IMPRESSIVE WIND CHILLS FOR EARLY MARCH. WILL BE
CONSIDERING A WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR THE DELTA TONIGHT AS
TEMPERATURES SHOULD CONTINUE TO DROP WHILE WIND SPEEDS ONLY SLOWLY
DIMINISH. BY MONDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE CENTERED OVER SOUTHWEST
ALASKA PROVIDING PLEASANT ALBEIT COLD CONDITIONS. PATCHY FOG IN LOW
LYING AREAS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A THREAT.

BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS...SNOW SHOWERS PERSISTING ALONG THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WHILE THE REST OF THE ALEUTIANS EXPERIENCE BENIGN WEATHER.
A WEAK LOW WILL DEVELOP SOUTH OF THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS TONIGHT BUT
THE ZONAL FLOW ALOFT WILL QUICKLY SHEAR IT APART AS IT DIES OVER THE
NORTH PACIFIC. THE NEXT LOW AND ASSOCIATED FRONT LOOK TO BE A BIT
MORE IMPRESSIVE BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND. THE AFTERNOON FORECAST
WILL BE STRENGTHENING THE WINDS OVER THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS TO STORM
FORCE SUNDAY. THIS LOW WILL LIKELY MAKE IT TO THE CENTRAL BERING
BEFORE WEAKENING AND SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...WIND CHILL ADVISORY 155
MARINE...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 150 155 165 179 412
         GALE 130 138 132 129 150 155 160 165 172 175 413
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

AB MAR 12

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 9, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Mar 9, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC59 hr
Mar 9, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC35 hr
Mar 9, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Mar 9, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC35 hr
Mar 9, 4:00 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC3 days
Mar 10, 4:00 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC71 hr
Mar 10, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Mar 10, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Mar 10, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC4 days
Mar 10, 4:00 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC47 hr

Nearby

Wind Chill Advisories in Alaska, 2012Every wind chill advisory 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.