Alert archive / Alaska / Wind Chill Advisories in 2012

Wind Chill Advisory 16, NWS Anchorage, AK

March 12, 2012

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this wind chill advisory at Mar 12, 2012, 3:45 PM AKDT. It was in force for 24 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 12, 2012, 3:45 PM AKDT (23:45 UTC)
Expired
Mar 13, 2012, 3:55 PM AKDT
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

436 
WWAK42 PAFC 122345
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
345 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

AKZ195-130600-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0044.000000T0000Z-120313T0600Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
345 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* SNOW...ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES.

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

* WIND...NORTHEAST WIND 30 TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING. GUSTY WINDS WILL
  PERSIST INTO TUESDAY...BUT THE LOSS OF PRECIPITATION SHOULD
  ALLOW VISIBILITY TO IMPROVE LATE THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. TRAVELING WILL BE VERY 
  DIFFICULT. 

* LATEST REPORTS...ST GEORGE ISLAND AUTOMATED OBSERVATION IS 
  REPORTING VISIBILITY ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS SINCE 
  APPROXIMATELY 10 AM AKDT. AS OF 1240 PM AKDT...ST PAUL ISLAND 
  VISIBILITY REMAINS UNRESTRICTED ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS ARE 
  EXPECTED DETERIORATE RAPIDLY AS THE SNOW ARRIVES IN THE NEXT 
  ONE TO TWO HOURS. 

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.

&&

$$

AKZ155-131245-
/X.NEW.PAFC.WC.Y.0016.120312T2345Z-120314T2000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
345 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKDT WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKDT WEDNESDAY. 

* LOCATION...THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA.

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

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

* TIMING...A BRISK NORTH WIND OF AT LEAST 15 MPH IS EXPECTED TO
  PERSIST INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY BEFORE WEAKENING.

* 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
228 
WWAK42 PAFC 122353 CCA
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
345 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

AKZ195-130600-
/X.COR.PAFC.BZ.W.0044.000000T0000Z-120313T0600Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
345 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* SNOW...ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES.

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

* WIND...NORTHEAST WIND 30 TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING. GUSTY WINDS WILL
  PERSIST INTO TUESDAY...BUT THE LOSS OF PRECIPITATION SHOULD
  ALLOW VISIBILITY TO IMPROVE LATE THIS EVENING.

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

&&

$$

AKZ155-131245-
/X.NEW.PAFC.WC.Y.0016.120312T2345Z-120314T2000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
345 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKDT WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKDT WEDNESDAY.

* LOCATION...THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA.

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

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

* TIMING...A BRISK NORTH WIND OF AT LEAST 15 MPH IS EXPECTED TO
  PERSIST INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY BEFORE WEAKENING.

* 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
333 
WWAK42 PAFC 130558
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
958 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

AKZ195-131300-
/X.EXT.PAFC.BZ.W.0044.000000T0000Z-120313T1300Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
958 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM AKDT TUESDAY...

* SNOW...ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES.

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

* WIND...NORTHEAST WIND 30 TO 40 MPH.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVERNIGHT. GUSTY WINDS
  WILL PERSIST INTO TUESDAY...BUT THE LOSS OF PRECIPITATION SHOULD
  ALLOW VISIBILITY TO IMPROVE BY TUESDAY MORNING.

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

&&

$$

AKZ155-131900-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0016.000000T0000Z-120314T2000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
958 PM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKDT
WEDNESDAY...

* LOCATION...THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA.

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

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

* TIMING...A BRISK NORTH WIND OF AT LEAST 15 MPH IS EXPECTED TO 
  PERSIST INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY BEFORE WEAKENING. 

* 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.

&&

$$
407 
WWAK42 PAFC 131208
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
408 AM AKDT TUE MAR 13 2012

AKZ195-131315-
/X.CAN.PAFC.BZ.W.0044.000000T0000Z-120313T1300Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
408 AM AKDT TUE MAR 13 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

$$

AKZ155-140115-
/X.CON.PAFC.WC.Y.0016.000000T0000Z-120314T2000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
408 AM AKDT TUE MAR 13 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKDT
WEDNESDAY...

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

* WIND CHILL VALUES...30 TO 40 BELOW ZERO.

* TIMING...A BRISK NORTH WIND OF AT LEAST 15 MPH IS EXPECTED TO 
  PERSIST INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY BEFORE WEAKENING. 

* 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.

&&

$$
523 
WWAK42 PAFC 132355
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
355 PM AKDT TUE MAR 13 2012

AKZ155-140100-
/X.CAN.PAFC.WC.Y.0016.000000T0000Z-120314T2000Z/
KUSKOKWIM DELTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BETHEL...HOOPER BAY...NUNIVAK ISLAND
355 PM AKDT TUE MAR 13 2012

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS CANCELED...

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

TEMPERATURES HAVE INCREASED AND WIND CHILLS TO 40 BELOW ZERO ARE
NO LONGER EXPECTED.

$$

JM

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 12, 5:00 AM AKDT, 10 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 12, 5:00 AM AKDT, 10 hours 45 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
500 AM AKDT MON MAR 12 2012

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. PREFERRED
THE NAM IN THE FIRST 36 HOURS FOR DETAIL. TOOK THE MIDDLE GROUND
BETWEEN THE GFS AND EC FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PACKAGE.

.ANALYSIS AND SHORT TERM FORECAST...

COMPLEX LOW PRESSURE WILL PERSIST IN THE GULF OF ALASKA THROUGH AT
LEAST MIDWEEK. PRIMARY CENTER THIS MORNING IS A 992 MB JUST SOUTH OF
MIDDLETON ISLAND. THIS CENTER IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE BY LATE THIS
AFTERNOON. AS IT DOES SO...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ALONG THE GULF COAST
WILL GRADUALLY RELAX AND THE GUSTY NORTHEAST TO NORTHWEST WINDS THAT
ARE CONTINUE TO BLOW THROUGH CHANNELED AREAS OF THE CHUGACH AND
ALASKA RANGES WILL FINALLY ABATE. THIS INCLUDES AREAS SUCH AS
THOMPSON PASS...RESURRECTION BAY...AND KAMISHAK BAY WHICH ARE
PRESENTLY GUSTING 30 TO 45 MPH. NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 25 MPH OVER
SOUTHWEST ALASKA ARE COMBINING WITH SOME VERY COLD MORNING LOWS TO
PRODUCE WIND CHILLS OF 25 TO 35 BELOW. WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO
MODERATE LATER TODAY BUT THEN REDEVELOP OVERNIGHT.

LOW PRESSURE IN GULF REINTENSIFIES LATE TONIGHT WITH ASSISTANCE FROM
A DEVELOPING LOW ALOFT. WEAK SHORT WAVES EMBEDDED IN THE UPPER LEVEL
CYCLONIC FLOW SHOULD TRIGGER SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS MUCH OF
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW. INCREASED CLOUD
COVER OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA MAY HELP TO TEMPER OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE
KUSKOKWIM VALLEY.

THE 964 MB LOW NEAR SHEMYA IS CURRENTLY AT ITS PEAK INTENSITY BUT
WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN SLIGHTLY AS IT MEANDERS INTO THE SOUTHERN BERING
BY LATE THIS EVENING. LOW SHOULD STILL HAVE A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF
ABOUT 976 MB AS IT PASSES JUST SOUTH OF THE PRIBILOFS EARLY TUESDAY
MORNING BUT THEN RAPIDLY FILL TO 983 MB AS IT CROSSES OVER THE ALASKA
PENINSULA LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

THE ASSOCIATED OCCLUDED FRONT IS QUICKLY APPROACHING THE PRIBILOF
ISLANDS...WHERE IT IS EXPECTED TO BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATER
THIS MORNING. A TRAILING COLD FRONT EXTENDS THROUGH THE EASTERN
ALEUTIANS. FRONTAL SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BOTH TRANSLATE EASTWARD AND
SHIFT SOUTHWARD. BY TUESDAY MORNING FRONT WILL EXTEND FROM SAINT
GEORGE TO SAND POINT. BY TUESDAY EVENING...FRONTAL DYNAMICS WILL HAVE
BROKEN DOWN AND ALL THAT WILL REMAIN WILL BE A RESIDUAL TROUGH OF LOW
PRESSURE EXTENDING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BERING SEA AND EASTERN
ALEUTIANS.

A NARROW BAND OF STORM FORCE EASTERLIES PRECEDES THE FRONTAL ZONE
THIS MORNING...BUT A MUCH BROADER BAND OF STORM FORCE WESTERLIES IS
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN BERING AND ALEUTIAN CHAIN
BY LATE MORNING. BY LATE AFTERNOON...WRAP AROUND COLD AIR ADVECTION
COMBINED WITH RAPID HEIGHT RISES BEHIND THE FAST MOVING LOW ARE
EXPECTED TO BRIEFLY GENERATE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL
AND WESTERN ALEUTIANS TODAY.

THE MAIN BAND OF PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN JUST NORTH OF
THE ALEUTIANS OVER THE SOUTHERN BERING SEA...BUT PORTIONS OF THE
CHAIN COULD NEVERTHELESS SEE PERIODS OF REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN SNOW
AND BLOWING SNOW BOTH TODAY AND TONIGHT. STRONG WINDS OVER THE
ALEUTIANS AND BERING SEA WILL BEGIN TO DROP BELOW GALE FORCE LATE
TONIGHT...BUT SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS SHOULD LINGER ACROSS THE
ALEUTIANS AND SOUTHERN BERING THROUGH AT LEAST MIDWEEK.

.UPPER LEVELS AND LONG TERM FORECAST...

LONG WAVE TROUGH EXTENDS FROM THE HIGH ARCTIC ACROSS MAINLAND ALASKA
AND THE GULF INTO THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC. CLOSED UPPER CENTER TO THE
WEST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA DISSIPATES OVER THE SOUTHEAST PANHANDLE BY
TUESDAY MORNING WHILE A NEW CLOSED CENTER FORMS OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA
DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING OVER THE BERING SEA
BREAKS DOWN TODAY AS THE UPPER LOW NEAR CENTER SHEMYA PRESSES
EASTWARD.

BY TUESDAY NIGHT...UPPER LEVEL PATTERN WILL BE TRANSFORMED. CLOSED
CENTER OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA WILL DOMINATE THE MAP WHILE NEARLY ZONAL
FLOW WILL BE ESTABLISHED ACROSS THE WHOLE OF THE NORTH PACIFIC. THIS
PATTERN IS CONDUCIVE TO CONTINUED COLD WEATHER FOR BOTH SOUTHCENTRAL
AND SOUTHWESTERN ALASKA. MILD SHOWERY CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE ALEUTIANS AND SOUTHERN BERING SEA.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 195. HIGH WIND WARNING 191.
MARINE...GALE...130 170 179 413 414
         STORM...172 411 412
         HURRICANE FORCE...175 176
         HEAVY SPRAY...121 129 130 132 138 140 150 165 170
                       411 412 413 414
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

ASB MAR 12

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTHurricane Force Wind WarningAFC24 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC5 days
Mar 11, 8:19 PM AKDTBlizzard WarningAFC32 hr
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC7 days
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC4 days
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC60 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.