Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2012

Gale Warning 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

January 21, 2012

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Jan 21, 2012, 9:21 AM AKST. It was in force for 17 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
Jan 21, 2012, 9:21 AM AKST (18:21 UTC)
Expired
Jan 22, 2012, 2:06 AM AKST
In force
17 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

913 
FZAK52 PAFG 211821 AAA
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
921 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

NORTHWESTERN 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 HEIGHTS.

UPDATED ZONE 200

PKZ299-220415-
921 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
1035 MB HIGH OVER THE ANADYR PLATEAU WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY
THROUGH SUNDAY. LOW PRESSURE WILL PERSIST OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA.

$$

PKZ200-220415-
NORTON SOUND-
921 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
SUNDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.TONIGHT...N WINDS BECOMING 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.SUN...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT.   
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-220415-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
921 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

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

.TODAY...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.MON...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT.   
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT.  

$$

PKZ215-220415-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
921 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...NW WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT.   
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.MON...N WINDS 15 KT.   
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT.   
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-220415-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
921 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

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

.TODAY...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.  
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW.   
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT.   
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT.   
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT.   
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT.  

$$

CF/DA JAN 12
2 follow-up statements
503 
FZAK52 PAFG 212208
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
108 PM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

NORTHWESTERN 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.

PKZ299-221315-
108 PM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
1035 MB HIGH OVER THE ANADYR PLATEAU WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY
THROUGH SUNDAY. LOW PRESSURE WILL PERSIST OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA.

$$

PKZ200-221315-
NORTON SOUND-
108 PM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT BECOMING 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
BLOWING SNOW.
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-221315-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
108 PM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SUN...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.MON...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 25 KT.  

$$

PKZ215-221315-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
108 PM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-221315-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
108 PM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

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

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. BLWOING SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW.
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

RL/JK JAN 12
020 
FZAK52 PAFG 221106
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
206 AM AKST SUN JAN 22 2012

NORTHWESTERN 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.

PKZ299-230300-
206 AM AKST SUN JAN 22 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
1040 MB HIGH OVER THE ANADYR PLATEAU WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY
THROUGH MONDAY. LOW PRESSURE OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL PERSIST
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

$$

PKZ200-230300-
NORTON SOUND-
206 AM AKST SUN JAN 22 2012

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

.TODAY...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-230300-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
206 AM AKST SUN JAN 22 2012

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

.TODAY...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.MON...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ215-230300-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
206 AM AKST SUN JAN 22 2012

.TODAY...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE...NW WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-230300-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
206 AM AKST SUN JAN 22 2012

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

.TODAY...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

CF/DA JAN 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 Jan 21, 3:15 AM AKST, 6 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 21, 3:15 AM AKST, 6 hours 6 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
315 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THROUGH 60 HOURS. HIGH IN FAR EAST
RUSSIA WILL WEAKEN AND THE AXIS WILL MOVE SLIGHTLY WESTWARD.
TROUGH EXTENDS WEST AND SOUTHWARD TO THE GULF OF ALASKA AND WILL
CONTINUE TO POUR MUCH COLDER AIR INTO MAINLAND ALASKA WITH TROUGH
TO SET UP AND MAINTAIN THE PRESENCE OVER ALASKA THROUGH THE NEXT
WEEK.

AS LOW CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHWARD IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND HIGH
PUSHES SOUTHWARD OVER THE HIGH ARCTIC...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL
CONTINUE TO INCREASE OVER NORTHERN ALASKA AS COLDER AIR POURS IN.
THIS WILL DEVELOP COLD WIND CHILLS OVER THE NORTHERN TIER OF
MAINLAND ALASKA. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVER THE ARCTIC
COAST BY LATER TONIGHT.

SHORT WAVE OVER NORTHEASTERN INTERIOR IS SPREADING SOME CLOUDS AND
FLURRIES OVER THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE WHILE THE CLOUDS
QUICKLY DECREASE.

A STRONG UPPER HIGH IN EASTERN RUSSIA WHICH WEAKENS AND DRIFTS
INTO THE WESTERN BERING SEA IN THE SHORT TERM ALLOWS A COLD LOW TO
PLUNGE SOUTHWEST OUT OF THE CANADIAN ARCTIC AND INTO THE GULF OF
ALASKA AT THE START OF THE MEDIUM RANGE EARLY NEXT WEEK.
THE MEDIUM RANGE WILL START WITH A VERY COLD AIR MASS ACROSS
NORTHERN AK.  IT LOOKS LIKE THE COLD AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE NEXT WEEK.  BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF HAVE 850 MB TEMPS
OF -20C OR COLDER ACROSS ALL OF NORTHERN AK AND AS COLD AS -35C
IN THE BROOKS RANGE. THIS WILL MEAN CONTINUED BELOW TO WELL
BELOW AVERAGE TEMPS ALL WEEK.  THE NCEP RMOPS SHOW SOME WEAKENING
OF THE LOW WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER HEIGHTS AND MORE ZONAL FLOW
ACROSS THE AREA BY NEXT WEEKEND. THE OPERATIONAL MODELS ARE NOT SO
CONVINCED. GIVEN THE STRONG BLOCKING NATURE OF THE PATTERN WOULD
SIDE WITH THE IDEA THAT THE COLD AIR HANGS IN PLACE ACROSS THE
INTERIOR AT LEAST INTO THE LAST WEEKEND OF JANUARY. A BETTER
CHANCE OF SOME MODERATION OF THE AIR MASS ACROSS SOUTHWEST AK BY
NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ217-AKZ218.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

CF JAN 12

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 21, 2:42 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG10 hr
Jan 21, 2:43 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG35 hr
Jan 21, 11:38 AM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFG28 hr
Jan 21, 2:32 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG43 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.