Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2012

Gale Warning 20, NWS Fairbanks, AK

March 27, 2012

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Mar 27, 2012, 2:12 PM AKDT. It was in force for 25 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
Mar 27, 2012, 2:12 PM AKDT (22:12 UTC)
Expired
Mar 28, 2012, 2:45 PM AKDT
In force
25 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

452 
FZAK51 PAFG 272212
CWFNSB

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR ARCTIC ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
212 PM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

ARCTIC ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ298-281315-
212 PM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1020 MB HIGH OVER THE BEAUFORT SEA THIS EVENING WILL PERSIST
THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. 

$$

PKZ225-281315-
CAPE THOMPSON TO CAPE BEAUFORT-
212 PM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.WED...NE WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.WED NIGHT...NE WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.THU...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ230-281315-
CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN-
212 PM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.WED...NE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.WED NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.THU...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ235-281315-
POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT-
212 PM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ240-281315-
CAPE HALKETT TO FLAXMAN ISLAND-
212 PM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ245-281315-
FLAXMAN ISLAND TO DEMARCATION POINT-
212 PM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

RL/SDB MAR 12
2 follow-up statements
356 
FZAK51 PAFG 281004
CWFNSB

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR ARCTIC ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
204 AM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

ARCTIC ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ298-290115-
204 AM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1015 MB HIGH OVER THE BEAUFORT SEA WILL PERSIST THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING. LOW PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN
BERING SEA.

$$

PKZ225-290115-
CAPE THOMPSON TO CAPE BEAUFORT-
204 AM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...NE WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.THU...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ230-290115-
CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN-
204 AM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ235-290115-
POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT-
204 AM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.TODAY...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ240-290115-
CAPE HALKETT TO FLAXMAN ISLAND-
204 AM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.TODAY...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ245-290115-
FLAXMAN ISLAND TO DEMARCATION POINT-
204 AM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.TODAY...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

JK/TF MAR 12
251 
FZAK51 PAFG 282245
CWFNSB

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR ARCTIC ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
245 PM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

ARCTIC ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ298-291345-
245 PM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1010MB HIGH NEAR BARROW WILL DISSIPATE TONIGHT. A 998MB LOW NEAR
78N 150W WILL DRIFT EAST AND WEAKEN. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER
THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC WILL PUSH SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE ARCTIC COAST
BY FRIDAY MORNING.

$$

PKZ225-291345-
CAPE THOMPSON TO CAPE BEAUFORT-
245 PM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...NE WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ230-291345-
CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN-
245 PM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...E WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ235-291345-
POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT-
245 PM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.TONIGHT...SW WINDS 10 KT. 
.THU...SW WINDS 10 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NW WINDS 10 KT BECOMING NE. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 10 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...NE WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ240-291345-
CAPE HALKETT TO FLAXMAN ISLAND-
245 PM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU...E WINDS 10 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 10 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...NE WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ245-291345-
FLAXMAN ISLAND TO DEMARCATION POINT-
245 PM AKDT WED MAR 28 2012

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 10 KT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...NE WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

SDB/JAM MAR 12

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this gale 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 gale warning went out at Mar 27, 4:52 AM AKDT, 9 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 27, 4:52 AM AKDT, 9 hours 20 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
452 AM AKDT TUE MAR 27 2012

.DISCUSSION...
TODAYS WEATHER PATTERN IN NORTHERN ALASKA IS MOSTLY QUIET AND
BENIGN. ONLY THE NORTHWEST COASTAL ZONES...WHICH ARE CONTINUING TO
HAVE LOW WIND CHILLS...AND THE BRISK WINDS IN THE NORTHWEST MARINE
AREAS...ARE OF NOTE. IN BERING STRAIT...THE WINDS AT TIN CITY ARE
GUSTING TO 40 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE
FOCUSED THERE.

THE WEAKENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NOW JUST EAST OF THE PRIBILOFS
HAS BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY. SOME ENERGY IS MOVING NORTHWARD TO
THE BERING SEA COAST OF NORTHERN ALASKA. THIS IS EXPECTED TO
INCREASE THE WINDS THERE TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE WINDS OVER NORTON
SOUND ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH WEDNESDAY AS THE CIRCULATION AROUND
THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS LOW IS TRANSFERRED NORTHWARD TO THE CHUKCHI
SEA COAST. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE SOME LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS IN
CHANNELED AREAS OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN BROOKS RANGE STARTING
THIS EVENING AND CONTINUING INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING.

THE GFS AND NAM COMPUTER WEATHER FORECAST MODELS HAVE SIMILAR
PROJECTIONS THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS LOW IS
FORECAST TO REMAIN PRETTY CLOSE TO THE ISLANDS UNTIL WEDNESDAY
EVENING...AT WHICH TIME IT IS EXPECTED TO HEAD INTO THE GULF OF
ALASKA. BRISK NORTH WINDS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE LOW WILL
CONTINUE BLOWING OVER THE COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE LISBURNE DOWN
PAST SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK.

ALL OF THE COMPUTER WEATHER FORECAST MODELS FORECAST THE NORTH
PACIFIC STORM TRACK TO REMAIN WELL BELOW 55 DEGREES NORTH LATITUDE
FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK. FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY NIGHT / APRIL 1
- 2 / THE GFS MODEL FORECASTS A LARGE LOW TO MOVE NORTHWARD FROM
THE PACIFIC TO THE GULF OF ALASKA. THE EUROPEAN MODEL FORECASTS
ONLY WEAK CIRCULATION OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA NEXT WEEK. THE BEST
GUESS WOULD BE TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
MODELS...NEITHER ONE LOOKS REASONABLE FOR THE FORECAST FOR NEXT
WEEK.

AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT IS BUILDING OVER THE EASTERN GULF
OF ALASKA AND IS EXPECTED TO BUILD UP OVER THE YUKON TERRITORY AND
NORTHERN ALASKA THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AND TO HOLD THERE FOR
THE REST OF THE WEEK. THE GFS MODEL FORECASTS THE HIGH PRESSURE TO
RECEDE INTO NORTHWEST CANADA AND TO BE REPLACED BY WEAK LOW
PRESSURE ALOFT OVER THE ALASKA MAINLAND ON SUNDAY. THE GFS THEN
FORECASTS THE NORTHWEST CANADA HIGH ALOFT TO REBUILD OVER THE
YUKON AND THE ALASKA INTERIOR.

THE UPSHOT OF THIS IS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE MUCH PRECIPITATION
OUTSIDE OF THE NORTON SOUND COASTAL ZONES...AND ONLY SOME IN THOSE
ZONES. THE BEST BET FOR SNOW FOR THE NEXT 36 HOURS IS THE EAST
SIDE OF THE NULATO HILLS...WHICH WILL BENEFIT FROM EASTERLY
UP SLOPE FLOW. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY MODERATE.
THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR...AS WELL AS THE ARCTIC...WILL
HAVE VERY LITTLE IF ANY PRECIPITATION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS
WEEK.

THIS MORNINGS POLAR ORBITING SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS STRATOCUMULUS
EXITING THE BROOKS RANGE EAST OF ARCTIC VILLAGE...AND A SMALL DECK
OF STRATOCUMULUS OVER THE YUKON FLATS / IT CLEARED OUT AT FORT
YUKON JUST BEFORE 3 AM AKDT. / LAYERED FRONTAL CLOUDS AHEAD OF THE
PRIBILOF ISLAND LOW OCCLUDED FRONT ARE ADVANCING NORTHWARD...AND
COVER ALL OF THE LOWER YUKON VALLEY...THE YUKON DELTA...AND A GOOD
PART OF NORTON SOUND. INFRARED SATELLITE DERIVED SURFACE
TEMPERATURES IN THE CENTRAL BROOKS RANGE ARE FROM -40C TO -45C. ON
THE ARCTIC COASTAL PLAIN THE TEMPERATURES ARE FROM -35C TO -40C.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ213.

WIND CHILL WARNING FOR AKZ201.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.
&&

TF MAR 12

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 27, 2:09 PM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG25 hr
Mar 27, 2:09 PM AKDTGale WarningAFG25 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2012Every gale 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.