Alert archive / Alaska / Flood Watches in 2012
Flood Watch 1, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this flood watch at May 2, 2012, 4:32 PM AKDT. It was in force for 44 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 2, 2012, 4:32 PM AKDT (00:32 UTC)
- Expired
- May 4, 2012, 12:22 PM AKDT
- In force
- 44 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
- Flood severity
- None
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
972 WGAK69 PAFG 030032 FFAAFG URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 432 PM AKDT WED MAY 2 2012 AKZ220-032000- /O.NEW.PAFG.FA.A.0001.120503T0032Z-120505T0000Z/ /00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS- INCLUDING...FORT YUKON...VENETIE...CENTRAL...CIRCLE... STEVENS VILLAGE...BEAVER...CHALKYITSIK...BIRCH CREEK... CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS...EAGLE SUMMIT...TWELVEMILE SUMMIT 432 PM AKDT WED MAY 2 2012 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A * FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF NORTHERN ALASKA. * THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON * AS OF 4 PM TODAY THE BREAKUP FRONT WAS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES UPSTREAM FROM CIRCLE. A 70 MILE RUN OF ICE LOCATED ABOVE THE BORDER IN THE YUKON TERRITORY WAS MOVING SWIFTLY DOWNRIVER AND IS EXPECTED TO MEET THE BREAKUP FRONT WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR 2. * IF THE BREAKUP FRONT MOVES JUST PAST CIRCLE...WATER COULD START RISING RAPIDLY WHEN THE ICE FLOW BACKS UP BEHIND THE FRONT. RESIDENTS NEAR THE RIVER IN CIRCLE SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. WATER LEVELS CAN RISE VERY QUICKLY WHEN AN ICE JAM OCCURS DOWNSTREAM OF A COMMUNITY. DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. && $$ CWA
4 follow-up statements
968 WGAK69 PAFG 030102 FFAAFG FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 502 PM AKDT WED MAY 2 2012 AKZ220-032000- /O.CON.PAFG.FA.A.0001.000000T0000Z-120505T0000Z/ /00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS- INCLUDING...FORT YUKON...VENETIE...CENTRAL...CIRCLE... STEVENS VILLAGE...BEAVER...CHALKYITSIK...BIRCH CREEK... CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS...EAGLE SUMMIT...TWELVEMILE SUMMIT 502 PM AKDT WED MAY 2 2012 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR * THE YUKON RIVER AT CIRCLE. * THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON * AS OF 4 PM TODAY THE BREAKUP FRONT WAS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES UPSTREAM FROM CIRCLE. A 70 MILE RUN OF ICE LOCATED ABOVE THE BORDER IN THE YUKON TERRITORY WAS MOVING SWIFTLY DOWNRIVER AND IS EXPECTED TO MEET THE BREAKUP FRONT WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR 2. * IF THE BREAKUP FRONT MOVES JUST PAST CIRCLE...WATER COULD START RISING RAPIDLY WHEN THE ICE FLOW BACKS UP BEHIND THE FRONT. RESIDENTS NEAR THE RIVER IN CIRCLE SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. WATER LEVELS CAN RISE VERY QUICKLY WHEN AN ICE JAM OCCURS DOWNSTREAM OF A COMMUNITY. DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. && $$
553 WGAK69 PAFG 031052 FFAAFG FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 252 AM AKDT THU MAY 3 2012 AKZ220-040300- /O.CON.PAFG.FA.A.0001.000000T0000Z-120505T0000Z/ /00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS- INCLUDING...FORT YUKON...VENETIE...CENTRAL...CIRCLE... STEVENS VILLAGE...BEAVER...CHALKYITSIK...BIRCH CREEK... CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS...EAGLE SUMMIT...TWELVEMILE SUMMIT 252 AM AKDT THU MAY 3 2012 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR * THE YUKON RIVER AT CIRCLE * THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON * AS OF 4 PM WEDNESDAY THE BREAKUP FRONT WAS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES UPSTREAM FROM CIRCLE. A 70 MILE RUN OF ICE LOCATED ABOVE THE BORDER IN THE YUKON TERRITORY WAS MOVING SWIFTLY DOWNRIVER AND IS EXPECTED TO MEET THE BREAKUP FRONT WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. * IF THE BREAKUP FRONT MOVES JUST PAST CIRCLE...WATER COULD START RISING RAPIDLY WHEN THE ICE FLOW BACKS UP BEHIND THE FRONT. RESIDENTS NEAR THE RIVER IN CIRCLE SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. WATER LEVELS CAN RISE VERY QUICKLY WHEN AN ICE JAM OCCURS DOWNSTREAM OF A COMMUNITY. DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. && $$
639 WGAK69 PAFG 040135 FFAAFG FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 535 PM AKDT THU MAY 3 2012 AKZ220-050000- /O.CON.PAFG.FA.A.0001.000000T0000Z-120505T0000Z/ /00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS- INCLUDING...FORT YUKON...VENETIE...CENTRAL...CIRCLE... STEVENS VILLAGE...BEAVER...CHALKYITSIK...BIRCH CREEK... CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS...EAGLE SUMMIT...TWELVEMILE SUMMIT 535 PM AKDT THU MAY 3 2012 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR * THE YUKON RIVER AT CIRCLE * THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON * AS OF 2 PM THURSDAY THE BREAKUP FRONT WAS STILL LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES UPSTREAM FROM CIRCLE AND THERE IS ABOUT 15 MILES OF PACKED CHUCK ICE ABOVE THE FRONT. THE FRONT EDGE OF THE ICE RUN FROM ABOVE EAGLE WAS JUST STARTING TO ARRIVE AT THE UPSTREAM EDGE OF THE CHUNK ICE. * IF THE BREAKUP FRONT MOVES JUST PAST CIRCLE...WATER COULD START RISING RAPIDLY WHEN THE ICE FLOW BACKS UP BEHIND THE FRONT. RESIDENTS NEAR THE RIVER IN CIRCLE SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. WATER LEVELS CAN RISE VERY QUICKLY WHEN AN ICE JAM OCCURS DOWNSTREAM OF A COMMUNITY. DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. && $$
908 WGAK69 PAFG 042022 FFAAFG FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 1222 PM AKDT FRI MAY 4 2012 AKZ220-042130- /O.CAN.PAFG.FA.A.0001.000000T0000Z-120505T0000Z/ /00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS- INCLUDING...FORT YUKON...VENETIE...CENTRAL...CIRCLE... STEVENS VILLAGE...BEAVER...CHALKYITSIK...BIRCH CREEK... CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS...EAGLE SUMMIT...TWELVEMILE SUMMIT 1222 PM AKDT FRI MAY 4 2012 ...FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR THE YUKON RIVER AT CIRCLE... THE FLOOD WATCH FOR THE YUKON RIVER AT CIRCLE HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THE ICE JAM ABOVE CIRCLE BROKE FREE EARLY THIS MORNING AND THE ICE IS RUNNING THROUGH WITHOUT PROBLEMS. WATER LEVELS ROSE TEMPORARILY BUT ARE DROPPING AT THIS TIME. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flood watch 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 flood watch went out at May 2, 2:46 PM AKDT, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 2, 2:46 PM AKDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 246 PM AKDT WED MAY 2 2012 CORRECTED CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR .DISCUSSION... ALOFT...UNSEASONABLY DEEP LOW 140 MILES NE OF KOTZEBUE WILL MOVE TO THE BERING STRAIT 4PM THU AND TO JUST SOUTH OF THE PRIBILOFS 4AM SAT. ASSOCIATED TROUGH FROM LOW TO FAIRBANKS ROTATING NORTH TO EXTEND FROM BERING STRAIT TO BARTER ISLAND 4PM THU...STATIONARY THEREAFTER AS UPPER LOW MOVES SOUTH OVER BERING SEA. VORTICITY MAXIMUM NORTH OF DAWSON CANADA MOVING TO BARTER ISLAND 4AM THU THEN DISSIPATING. AS DEEP LOW TRACKS OFF TO THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT SOUTH FLOW WILL OCCUR OVER INTERIOR AND REMAIN WEAK THROUGH SAT. SURFACE...1032 MB HIGH OVER THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC WILL EXPAND WEST ACROSS THE BEAUFORT SEA LATER THU THROUGH FRI WHILE DRIFTING SOUTH OVER FAR EAST RUSSIA. LOW DEVELOPING NEAR INUVIK CANADA BY 10PM WED AND DRIFTING NORTH AND DEEPENING TO 1004 MB THROUGH 4PM THU. 1006 MB LOW OVER GULF OF ALASKA WILL MOVE NORTH TO THE CENTRAL ALASKA RANGE 10AM THU AND WEAKEN. STRONG ARCTIC FRONT FROM ERN BROOKS RANGE TO NEAR NORTHWAY AND THEN SOUTHWESTWARD TO SAINT MATTHEW ISLAND. THE FRONT WILL WEAKEN AND MOVE TO INUVIK CANADA TO DAWSON TO FAIRBANKS AND TO SAINT MATTHEW ISLAND 4PM THU AND TO INUVIK TO BETTLES TO GALENA TO ANVIK 4PM FRI. POOL OF COLD AIR OVER THE NORTHERN AK WILL FOLLOW THE UPPER LOW SHIFTING SOUTHWEST OVER THE BERING SEA THROUGH FRI THUS ALLOWING TEMPS TO WARM ESPECIALLY TO SOUTHEAST OF ARCTIC FRONT. MODELS...ALOFT MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH MOVEMENT OF UPPER LOW THROUGH THE EARLY WEEKEND. IN MEDIUM RANGE BOTH OPERATIONAL GFS AND ECMWF ARE SIMILAR OVER NRN AK AT SURFACE AND ALOFT THROUGH DAY 5 THEN BEGIN TO DIVERGE SOME SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. NORTH SLOPE...SNOW ACROSS MOST OF THE COASTAL ZONES CONTINUING THROUGH THE NIGHT AND DIMINISHING THU AS THE UPPER TROUGH MOVES TO THE BROOKS RANGE AND THE UPPER LOW DRIFTS FARTHER AWAY. EXPECT 2 TO 3 INCHES ACCUMULATION INTO THU. WEST WINDS OVER ERN COASTAL ZONES WILL INCREASE SOME BUT SHOULD REMAIN LESS THAN 25 MPH BEFORE DIMINISHING LATER THU. TEMPS AT LEAST FOR THE BROOKS RANGE AND EASTERN ZONES WILL BEGIN TO MODERATE WARM AFTER THU...BUT TAKE UNTIL SATURDAY BEFORE REACHING THE WESTERN COASTAL ZONES. WESTERN ALASKA...WRAPAROUND CLOUDS AND THE COMPANION DRY SLOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LOW ARE ALLOWING ZONES 208 209 217 TO HAVE LITTLE IN CLOUD THIS AFTERNOON WHILE ZONES 213 211 210 AND 216 TO HAVE EXTENSIVE COVER. THIS EVENING THESE CLOUDS WILL SPREAD OVER ZONES 217 208 AND 209...AS WELL AS DRIFTING SOUTH OVER ZONES 214 AND 215 AS THE LOW SHIFTS SOUTHWEST. EXPECT SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE ZONES AS THE UPPER LOW TREKS SOUTHWEST. AS THE UPPER LOW TRANSITS SOUTH FROM THE BERING STRAIT NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE TO AT LEAST BRISK WIND CATEGORY FRI OVER THE OUTER WATERS. ALSO TEMPERATURES SHOULD SLOWLY WARM FROM EAST TO WEST AFTER FRIDAY. CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR...SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS OVER ERN 218...ERN 220 AND 224...ENDING FROM THE SOUTH THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY THU MORNING. EXPECT AN ADDITIONAL INCH ACCUMULATION ERN 218. ELSEWHERE PARTLY CLOUDY AND NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF PRECIP. THE VERY COLD AIR MASS WILL BEGIN WARMING THU AND BY LATE WEEKEND SHOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL TEMPS. SPOTTY SHOWERS EXPECTED ON FRI AS AIRMASS WARMS AND SOME DESTABILIZATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE INCREASES AS ARCTIC BOUNDARY RETREATS TO THE NORTHWEST. LIGHT SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT ON LATE FRI/SAT WILL DEVELOP SOME SOUTH WINDS IN THE AK RANGE BUT EXPECTED TO STAY BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS. && .FIRE WEATHER...NO ISSUES TODAY AND THU. MAX TEMPS WILL WARM INTO THE 50S BY THE WEEKEND AND S WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH EXPECTED IN THE AK RANGE. MIN RHS DROPPING INTO THE MID 20S PERCENT THEN OVER SRN INTERIOR. && .HYDROLOGY...NONE CURRENTLY. && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && JL MAY 12
The office that day
Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 1:49 AM AKDT | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 13 hr | |
| May 3, 3:07 PM AKDT | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFG | 58 hr |
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.