Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2012

Gale Warning 68, NWS Fairbanks, AK

October 28, 2012

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Oct 28, 2012, 2:45 PM AKDT. It was in force for 37 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
Oct 28, 2012, 2:45 PM AKDT (22:45 UTC)
Expired
Oct 30, 2012, 3:56 AM AKDT
In force
37 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

418 
FZAK69 PAFG 282245
OFFAFG

EXPERIMENTAL OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
245 PM AKDT SUN OCT 28 2012

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-291345-
245 PM AKDT SUN OCT 28 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A 1006 MB LOW 300 NM NORTHWEST OF PRUDHOE BAT WILL MOVE TO 150 NM
NORTH OF DEMARCATION POINT BY MON AFTERNOON. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE
WILL BUILD OVER THE EAST SIBERIAN SEA THROUGH TUE.

$$

PKZ500-291345-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
245 PM AKDT SUN OCT 28 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NW WINDS 30 KT BECOMING NE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 11 FT.
SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...NW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-291345-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
245 PM AKDT SUN OCT 28 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NW INCREASING TO WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...NW WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ510-291345-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
245 PM AKDT SUN OCT 28 2012

.TONIGHT...W WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...NE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...W WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

JK/RT OCT 12
3 follow-up statements
134 
FZAK69 PAFG 291155
OFFAFG

EXPERIMENTAL OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
355 AM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-300300-
355 AM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
1003MB LOW 450 NM NORTH OF PRUDHOE BAY HAS BEEN STATIONARY BUT
WILL DRIFT EAST TODAY THEN MOVE SOUTH TO MACKENZIE BAY BY MID DAY
TUESDAY. A 1048MB HIGH OVER CHUKOTKA WILL PERSIST WITH RIDGING
OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE STATE AND CHUKCHI SEA. STRONG NORTH
WINDS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE NORTHWEST COAST AND CHUKCHI
SEA.

$$

PKZ500-300300-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
355 AM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...NW WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.THU...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-300300-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
355 AM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY
MORNING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ510-300300-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
355 AM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

.TODAY...W WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

SDB/DJH OCT 12
306 
FZAK69 PAFG 292248
OFFAFG

EXPERIMENTAL OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
248 PM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-301400-
248 PM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
1003 MB LOW 400 NM NORTH OF PRUDHOE BAY WILL DRIFT SOUTHEAST TO
MACKENZIE BAY BY MID DAY TUESDAY. A 1048 MB HIGH OVER CHUKOTKA
WILL PERSIST.

$$

PKZ500-301400-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
248 PM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...S WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-301400-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
248 PM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ510-301400-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
248 PM AKDT MON OCT 29 2012

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...W WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

JK/RT OCT 12
686 
FZAK69 PAFG 301156
OFFAFG

EXPERIMENTAL OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
356 AM AKDT TUE OCT 30 2012

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-310030-
356 AM AKDT TUE OCT 30 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A 1010 MB LOW 200 NM NORTHEAST OF DEMARCATION POINT WILL MOVE TO
THE MACKENZIE RIVER DELTA AS A 1018 MB LOW BY 4AM WED. A LOW
PRESSURE TROUGH FROM THE LOW TO POINT LAY WILL MOVE SOUTH OF THE
BROOKS RANGE TUE PM. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CHUKOTSK PENINSULA
WILL PERSIST INTO THU.

$$

PKZ500-310030-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
356 AM AKDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.WED...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-310030-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
356 AM AKDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.WED...NW WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ510-310030-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
356 AM AKDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW
SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.WED...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW SHOWERS.
.WED NIGHT...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

OCT 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 Oct 28, 2:54 AM AKDT, 11 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 28, 2:54 AM AKDT, 11 hours 51 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
254 AM AKDT SUN OCT 28 2012

.DISCUSSION...
A LARGE SCALE SYNOPTIC PATTERN CHANGE OVER ALASKA IS UNDERWAY. THE
PERSISTENT HIGH ALOFT WHICH HAS BEEN ANCHORED OVER THE BERING SEA
FOR MORE THAN A WEEK IS BEGINNING TO BE SQUASHED BY A VIGOROUS
UPPER LEVEL LOW DIVING DOWN FROM THE HIGH ARCTIC. THIS UPPER LOW
WILL DIG SOUTHWARD TO THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA BY WEDNESDAY AND
REMAIN AS A CLOSED LOW OVER THE GULF THROUGH AT LEAST NEXT
WEEKEND. SOME RIDGING ALOFT FROM THE YUKON TERRITORY WILL NUDGE
INTO THE SOUTHERN INTERIOR BY MID-WEEK BUT A SECOND UPPER LOW WILL
DROP DOWN FROM THE ARCTIC LATE NEXT WEEK. SO A GENERAL LONG WAVE
TROUGH PATTERN WILL PERSIST OVER NORTHERN ALASKA FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE ARCTIC LOW WILL QUICKLY USHER IN MUCH COLDER
AIR ALOFT ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA ALONG WITH INCREASING MOISTURE
AND BOUTS OF SNOW. THIS WILL BRING THE FIRST MEASURABLE SNOW IN
MANY AREAS SOUTH OF THE BROOKS RANGE IN ABOUT 10 DAYS. VARIABLE
CLOUD COVER UNDER THIS PATTERN WILL RESULT IN A WIDE RANGE IN
TEMPERATURES...AS CLEAR AREAS MAY SEE TEMPERATURE FALL WELL BELOW
ZERO.

AT THE SURFACE...A 1007 MB LOW 300 MILES NORTH OF BARROW WILL
DRIFT SOUTHEAST TO THE MACKENZIE DELTA BY TUESDAY. STRONG NORTH TO
NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PERSIST ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS LOW AND
CONTINUE TO BRING HIGH SEAS AND HEAVY SURF THE WESTERN ARCTIC
COAST. THE RECENT LIGHT WIND REGIME OVER THE BERING SEA WILL BE
REPLACED WITH WITH A TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT AND AN INCREASE
IN NORTHERLY WINDS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.

NORTH SLOPE...FLURRIES OR SNOW SHOWERS AND PATCHY FOG WILL
CONTINUE WITH COOLER ONSHORE FLOW. WEST WINDS 25-35 KTS IN THE
EASTERN ARCTIC DIMINISHING ON MONDAY...WHILE NORTHWEST WINDS IN
THE WESTERN ARCTIC WILL LIGHTEN UP SOME TODAY BUT THEN BECOME MORE
NORTHERLY AND INCREASE AGAIN TONIGHT.

WEST COAST....AN INCREASE IN NORTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT
NORTH OF THE SEWARD PENINSULA AND AREAS TO THE SOUTH ON MONDAY.
LARGE AREAS OF MARINE STRATUS AND FOG WILL DIMINISH AS NORTHERLY
WINDS PICK UP. NORTH WINDS GUSTING OVER 40 MPH ARE LIKELY NEAR
POINT HOPE AND THROUGH THE BERING STRAIT TONIGHT. SOME LIGHT SNOW
AND FLURRIES WILL ALSO DEVELOP THROUGH MONDAY AND SOME LOCAL AREAS
OF BLOWING SNOW.

INTERIOR...EXTENSIVE AREAS OF LOW CLOUDS AND PATCHY FOG UNDER THE
CURRENT LIGHT WIND REGIME WILL LINGER TODAY AND ARE NOT EXPECTED
TO COMPLETELY DISSIPATE UNTIL POSSIBLY TONIGHT. THE ARRIVAL OF
COLDER AIR ALOFT AND INCREASING DYNAMICS WILL ALLOW SNOW TO
DEVELOP OVER MUCH OF THE INTERIOR TONIGHT AND MONDAY. SEVERAL
INCHES ARE LIKELY IN THE EASTERN INTERIOR WITH LIGHTER AMOUNTS IN
THE WEST.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NORTH WINDS 20-30 KNOTS
EXPECTED TO PERSIST ALONG THE WESTERN COASTAL WATERS.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR AKZ202-AKZ204.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ230-PKZ235.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ230-
PKZ235-PKZ240.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ245.
&&

OCT 12

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 28, 3:22 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG48 hr
Oct 28, 4:02 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG72 hr
Oct 28, 4:02 AM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG7 days

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.