Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2012
Blizzard Warning 6, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Feb 4, 2012, 5:15 AM AKST. It took effect at Feb 4, 2012, 12:00 PM 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
- Feb 4, 2012, 5:15 AM AKST (14:15 UTC)
- In effect from
- Feb 4, 2012, 12:00 PM AKST
- Expired
- Feb 5, 2012, 10:27 AM AKST
- In force
- 22 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
794 WWAK41 PAFG 041415 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 515 AM AKST SAT FEB 4 2012 AKZ201>204-041515- /X.CAN.PAFG.WC.Y.0025.000000T0000Z-120204T1500Z/ WESTERN ARCTIC COAST-NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST- CENTRAL BEAUFORT SEA COAST-EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE... BARROW...ALAKTAK...PITT POINT...NULAVIK...NUIQSUT...PRUDHOE BAY... ALPINE...DEADHORSE...KUPARUK...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 515 AM AKST SAT FEB 4 2012 ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY. $$ AKZ206-050130- /X.UPG.PAFG.WS.A.0003.120204T2100Z-120205T2100Z/ /X.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.120204T2100Z-120205T2100Z/ NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE... SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS 515 AM AKST SAT FEB 4 2012 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON AKST SUNDAY IN PASSES... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON AKST SUNDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * LOCATION...IN PASSES. * WINDS...SOUTH AROUND 40 MPH. * VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO IN BLOWING SNOW. * TIMING...SOUTH WIND WILL INCREASE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND REMAIN STRONG THROUGH NOON SUNDAY. * IMPACTS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DIFFICULT. AVALANCHE DANGER WILL INCREASE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$
4 follow-up statements
756 WWAK41 PAFG 050002 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 302 PM AKST SAT FEB 4 2012 AKZ206-050600- /X.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120205T2100Z/ NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE... SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS 302 PM AKST SAT FEB 4 2012 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST SUNDAY IN PASSES... A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST SUNDAY. * LOCATION...IN PASSES. * WINDS...SOUTH AROUND 40 MPH. * VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO IN BLOWING SNOW. * TIMING...SOUTH WIND WILL REMAIN STRONG THROUGH NOON SUNDAY. * IMPACTS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DIFFICULT. AVALANCHE DANGER WILL INCREASE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$
286 WWAK41 PAFG 050452 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 752 PM AKST SAT FEB 4 2012 AKZ206-051500- /X.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120205T2100Z/ NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE... SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS 752 PM AKST SAT FEB 4 2012 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST SUNDAY IN PASSES... A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST SUNDAY. * LOCATION...IN PASSES. * WINDS...SOUTH 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. * VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO IN BLOWING SNOW. * TIMING...SOUTH WIND WILL REMAIN STRONG THROUGH NOON SUNDAY. * IMPACTS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DIFFICULT. AVALANCHE DANGER WILL INCREASE AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO MODERATE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$
711 WWAK41 PAFG 051308 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 408 AM AKST SUN FEB 5 2012 AKZ206-060130- /X.EXT.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120206T1500Z/ NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE... SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS 408 AM AKST SUN FEB 5 2012 ...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST MONDAY IN PASSES... THE BLIZZARD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST MONDAY. * LOCATION...IN PASSES. * WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. * VISIBILITY...LOCALLY ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS IN BLOWING SNOW. * TIMING...CONTINUING THROUGH 6 AM MONDAY. * IMPACTS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DIFFICULT. AVALANCHE DANGER WILL INCREASE AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO MODERATE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$
544 WWAK41 PAFG 051927 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1027 AM AKST SUN FEB 5 2012 AKZ206-052030- /X.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120206T1500Z/ NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE... SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS 1027 AM AKST SUN FEB 5 2012 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE BLIZZARD WARNING. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this blizzard warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this blizzard warning went out at Feb 3, 5:05 PM AKST, 12 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 3, 5:05 PM AKST, 12 hours 10 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 505 PM AKST FRI FEB 3 2012 .SYNOPSIS... ALOFT... LONG WAVE PATTERN CONSISTING OF A TROUGH OVER THE BERING AND RIDGE OVER NW CANADA AND EASTERN ALASKA WILL BECOME HIGHER AMPLITUDE THROUGH SUNDAY AND PERSIST FOR THE NEXT WEEK. THIS MEANS THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST COLD NIGHT WITH TEMPERATURES RISING ABOVE NORMAL SAT. IS ALSO MEANS THAT EASTERN ALASKA WILL BE DRYING OUT AND THE WEST COAST WILL SEVERAL STRONG STORMS OVER THE NEXT WEEK. SURFACE... A 998 MB LOW 100 NM WEST OF POINT LAY WILL MOVE TO 400 NM NORTHWEST OF POINT LAY BY 3PM SAT. WIND CHILLS 40 TO 60 BELOW ALONG MUCH OF WEST AND ARCTIC COASTS DUE TO THIS LOW AND VERY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. A COLD FRONT FROM THIS LOW TO BARTER ISLAND TO NORTHWAY WILL WILL MOVE WELL NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST AND EAST OF THE ALCAN BORDER FRI NIGHT. WEST WINDS 15-30KT AND SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW OCCURRING WITH THE FRONT IN THE EASTERN INTERIOR AND ALASKA RANGE WILL DIMINISH LATE TONIGHT AS THE FRONT MOVES EAST AND HIGH PRESS SURE BUILDS OVER THE INTERIOR. THIS WILL ALLOW CLEARING OVERNIGHT AND THE LAST NIGHT OF COLD TEMPERATURES. WIND CHILLS 40 TO 60 BELOW A STRONG WEATHER FRONT IN THE SOUTHERN BERING SEA WILL MOVE TO NORTON SOUND SAT PM AND TO THE CHUKCHI SEA EARLY SUN. THIS WILL BRING EAST GALES AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO THE WEST COAST OF ALASKA SAT/SAT NIGHT AND INTO THE FAR WESTERN INTERIOR SAT PM- SUN AM. WILL SEE WINDS AS HIGH AS 50 KT OVER THE COASTS OF ZONES 214 AND 213. EXPECT 6-12 INCHES OF SNOW WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS ALONG SOUTH FACING SLOPES OF THE SEWARD PENINSULA SUCH AS NOME. && .DISCUSSION... MODELS DIFFER ON STRONG WEATHER FRONT AND LOW IN THE SOUTHERN BERING PREFER THE GFS AS IT INITIALIZED BETTER ON THIS FEATURE AND MAINTAINS DEPTH LONGER THAN THE NAM. && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ213- AKZ214. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ220-AKZ224-AKZ225-AKZ226. WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ213-AKZ214. WIND CHILL WARNING FOR AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ210-AKZ211-AKZ212. WINTER STORM WATCH FOR AKZ206-AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ209-AKZ210-AKZ211- AKZ212-AKZ215-AKZ216-AKZ217. GALE WARNING FOR PKZ215-PKZ220. STORM WARNING FOR PKZ200-PKZ210. BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ245. && JB FEB 12
The office that day
Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 4, 1:10 AM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 50 hr | |
| Feb 4, 1:35 AM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 13 hr | |
| Feb 4, 1:35 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFG | 60 hr | |
| Feb 4, 5:12 AM AKST | Blizzard Warning | AFG | 29 hr | |
| Feb 4, 5:12 AM AKST | Wind Chill Advisory | AFG | 6 hr | |
| Feb 4, 1:20 PM AKST | High Wind Warning | AFG | 15 hr | |
| Feb 4, 1:27 PM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFG | 16 hr | |
| Feb 4, 2:13 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 47 hr | |
| Feb 4, 2:15 PM AKST | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 47 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.