Alert archive / Alaska / High Surf Advisories in 2012

High Surf Advisory 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

September 17, 2012

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this high surf advisory at Sep 17, 2012, 6:35 AM AKDT. It took effect at Sep 17, 2012, 12:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 17, 2012, 6:35 AM AKDT (14:35 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 17, 2012, 12:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Sep 17, 2012, 2:58 PM AKDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

493 
WHAK49 PAFG 171435
CFWAFG

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
635 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

...A STORM NOW MOVING NORTH OF KOTZEBUE WILL CAUSE SOUTHWEST WINDS TO
DEVELOP OVER THE NORTHERN SEWARD PENINSULA AND KOTZEBUE SOUND
TODAY. THIS WILL CAUSE MODERATE TO HIGH SURF STARTING THIS
AFTERNOON ALONG THE COAST FROM SHISHMAREF TO CAPE KRUSENSTERN
INCLUDING KOTZEBUE. NO FLOODING IS EXPECTED WITH THIS EVENT...

...A STORM DEVELOPING ALONG THE ARCTIC COAST NORTH OF BARROW TODAY
WILL CAUSE STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS TO DEVELOP ALONG THE WESTERN
ARCTIC COAST THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS WILL
CAUSE HIGH WAVES TO PUSH INTO THE COAST FROM POINT LAY TO POINT
BARROW STARTING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING THROUGH
TUESDAY...


AKZ201-172245-
/X.NEW.PAFG.SU.Y.0005.120918T0000Z-120919T0200Z/
WESTERN ARCTIC COAST-
INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE
635 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM
AKDT TUESDAY NORTHEAST OF POINT LAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM
AKDT TUESDAY. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE COAST NORTHEAST OF POINT LAY.

* WAVES AND SURF...UP TO 8 FEET ABOVE NORMAL.

* TIMING...HIGH SURF WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE
  THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE HIGHEST SURF IS EXPECTED AFTER
  MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

&&

$$

AKZ202-172245-
/X.NEW.PAFG.SU.Y.0005.120918T0000Z-120919T0200Z/
NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST-
INCLUDING...BARROW...ALAKTAK...PITT POINT...NULAVIK
635 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM
AKDT TUESDAY FROM POINT BARROW WEST...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM
AKDT TUESDAY. 

* LOCATION...ALONG THE COAST FROM POINT BARROW WEST.

* WAVES AND SURF...UP TO 8 FEET ABOVE NORMAL.

* TIMING...HIGH SURF WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE
  THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE HIGHEST SURF IS EXPECTED AFTER
  MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

&&

$$

AKZ207-172245-
/X.NEW.PAFG.SU.Y.0005.120917T2000Z-120918T0800Z/
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG
635 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT AKDT
TONIGHT SOUTH OF CAPE KRUSENSTERN...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT AKDT
TONIGHT. 

* LOCATION...SOUTH OF CAPE KRUSENSTERN

* WAVES AND SURF...UP TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL.

* TIMING...HIGH SURF WILL DEVELOP BY NOON TODAY AND CONTINUE
  THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE HIGHEST SURF IS EXPECTED THIS
  AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.
FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED. 

&&

$$

AKZ209-172245-
/X.NEW.PAFG.SU.Y.0005.120917T2000Z-120918T0800Z/
BALDWIN PENINSULA AND SELAWIK VALLEY-
INCLUDING...KOTZEBUE...SELAWIK...NOORVIK
635 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT AKDT
TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT AKDT
TONIGHT. 

* WAVES AND SURF...UP TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL.

* TIMING...HIGH SURF WILL DEVELOP BY NOON TODAY AND CONTINUE
  THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE HIGHEST SURF IS EXPECTED THIS
  EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.
FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED. 

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
506 
WHAK49 PAFG 172258
CFWAFG

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
258 PM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

LOW PRESSURE TO THE NORTH OF THE ALASKA COAST FROM BARROW TO
BERING STRAIT HAS BEEN WEAKENING...AND THE THREAT OF DAMAGING HIGH
SURF HAS ENDED.

AKZ207-209-180000-
/X.CAN.PAFG.SU.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120918T0800Z/
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-BALDWIN PENINSULA AND SELAWIK VALLEY-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG...
KOTZEBUE...SELAWIK...NOORVIK
258 PM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE HIGH
SURF ADVISORY. 

LOW PRESSURE NORTH OF THE COAST FROM BERING STRAIT TO CAPE
LISBURNE IS WEAKENING. TIDES AT KOTZEBUE ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING
LOW. 

$$

AKZ201-202-180000-
/X.CAN.PAFG.SU.Y.0005.120918T0000Z-120919T0200Z/
WESTERN ARCTIC COAST-NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST-
INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE...
BARROW...ALAKTAK...PITT POINT...NULAVIK
258 PM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE HIGH
SURF ADVISORY. 

SOUTHWEST WINDS ALONG THE COAST FROM CAPE LISBURNE TO BARROW HAVE
NOT STRENGTHENED ENOUGH TO CAUSE HEAVY SURF TO COME ASHORE ABOVE
THE NORMAL SURF ZONE.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high surf advisory 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 high surf advisory went out at Sep 16, 2:24 PM AKDT, 16 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 16, 2:24 PM AKDT, 16 hours 11 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
224 PM AKDT SUN SEP 16 2012

.DISCUSSION...
THE NAM AND GFS COMPUTER WEATHER FORECAST MODELS HAVE THE SAME
SOLUTION FOR THE PATH AND STRENGTH OF THE STRONG LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM NOW MOVING NORTH IN KUSKOKWIM BAY. INCREASED SPEED OF ITS
NORTHWARD MOVEMENT WILL CARRY IT TO BARROW AT 10 AM MONDAY...AND
THEN SLOWLY WESTWARD TO 200 MILES NORTH OF POINT LAY BY TUESDAY
AFTERNOON. CIRCULATION AROUND THIS LOW IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN
THROUGH TUESDAY.

A SMALLER LOW NEAR WRANGEL ISLAND WILL DISSIPATE SUN NIGHT. A LOW
WILL DEVELOP NEAR PRUDHOE BAY SUN NIGHT AND MOVE TO 100 MILES
NORTHEAST OF BARROW BY 4PM MON AND THEN DRIFT WEST.

A SECONDARY LOW IS FORECAST TO MOVE NORTHWARD THROUGH THE PRIBILOF
ISLAND WATERS MONDAY EVENING AND TO REACH THE YUKON DELTA TUESDAY.
CIRCULATION AROUND THIS LOW IS NOT AT ALL AS STRONG AS CIRCULATION
AROUND THE FIRST LOW. THE SECONDARY LOW IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN
THROUGH TUESDAY.

THE ENERGY LEVEL OF WINDS AT THE SURFACE AND ALOFT OVER NORTHERN
ALASKA WILL LESSEN CONSIDERABLY BY TUESDAY AND IS FORECAST BY THE
MEDIUM RANGE MODELS TO CONTINUE AT A LOW LEVEL UNTIL NEXT
WEEKEND...WHEN A NEW NORTH PACIFIC LOW IS PROJECTED TO MOVE
NORTHWARD INTO SOUTHWEST ALASKA. BEYOND THIS TIME...THE FORECAST
UNCERTAINTY IS TOO HIGH FOR MUCH OF A CONFIDENCE FACTOR TO THE
FORECASTS. THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED.

THE DOWN SLOPE WINDS OVER THE ALASKA RANGE...TO THE EAST OF TODAYS
STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM...ARE HIGH. THE FAIRBANKS RADAR IS NOW
MEASURING SOUTH WINDS TO 100 KNOTS / 115 MPH. / THE HAZE...FROM
BLOWING DUST...HAS BEEN VISIBLE TO THE DISTANT SOUTH OF FAIRBANKS
SINCE SUNRISE.

THE VERY LARGE CLOUD SHIELD IN ADVANCE OF THE BRISTOL BAY LOW IS
STARTING TO DIMINISH IN EXTENT. THE THICKEST CLOUDS OVER THE REALM
ARE NOW OVER THE NORTHERN INTERIOR AND THE ARCTIC. INFRARED
SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES CLOUD TOP TEMPERATURES NEAR -60
DEGREES C...WHICH TODAY IS AT AN ALTITUDE NEAR 35 THOUSAND FEET.
THE WEATHER FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS IS STRONGLY DEFINED ON
SATELLITE IMAGERY. THE FRONT IS WRAPPED AROUND THE YUKON DELTA AND
EXTENDS THROUGH GALENA THROUGH 50 DEGREES NORTH LATITUDE / 150
DEGREES WEST...WHICH IS ABOUT 700 MILES SOUTH OF ANCHORAGE. THIS
FEATURE WILL BEGIN TO LOSE STRENGTH...BUT NOT UNTIL TONIGHT.

POLAR ORBITING SATELLITE IMAGERY HAS SHOWN THE WEATHER FRONT
WRAPPED AROUND THE WRANGEL ISLAND LOW ADVANCING SOUTHWESTWARD.
CIRCULATION AROUND THIS LOW IS NOT TOO STRONG...BUT HAS NOT LOST
WHAT STRENGTH IT DOES HAVE DURING THE DAY TODAY.

THERE ARE LARGE BREAKS IN THE OVERCAST WHICH HAVE DEVELOPED OVER
THE UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY TODAY. AND THERE
IS A CLEAR ZONE ABOUT 50 MILES WIDE BEHIND THE WEATHER FRONT
ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRISTOL BAY LOW. AHEAD OF THIS FRONT...SOME
HEAVY RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE ALASKA RANGE...MOSTLY ON THE SOUTH
SIDE...AND IN THE UPPER KUSKOKWIM VALLEY.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
SOME MODERATE RAIN IN ADVANCE OF THE BRISTOL BAY LOW FRONT. SOME
24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ARE...

PHELAN CREEK NEAR PAXON................1.35 INCHES
RICHARDSON HIGHWAY NEAR TRIMMS CAMP....3.99
FLAT...................................1.46
MCGRATH................................1.03

STREAMS IN THESE AREAS ARE AT LOW STAGES...SO NO PROBLEMS WITH
HIGH WATER ARE EXPECTED.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY FOR AKZ227.

HIGH WIND WARNING FOR AKZ223-AKZ225-AKZ226.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235-
PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

TF SEP 12

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 17, 12:47 AM AKDT, 5 hours 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1247 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1025 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  11 S TOK                63.15N 143.01W
09/16/2012  M25 MPH                             AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NORTH GUSTING

&&

PWEIMER
Local storm report, Sep 17, 12:50 AM AKDT, 5 hours 45 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1250 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1025 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  NORTH POLE              64.75N 147.36W
09/16/2012  U0 MPH                              AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            HIGH WINDS, POWER OUTAGE, 8 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN

0553 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  NORTH POLE              64.75N 147.36W
09/16/2012  U0 MPH                              AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            HIGH WINDS, POWER OUTAGE, 8 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN IN
            YARD

&&

PWEIMER
Local storm report, Sep 17, 12:56 AM AKDT, 5 hours 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1256 AM AKDT MON SEP 17 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1253 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  20 E CENTRAL            65.55N 144.16W
09/17/2012  M65 MPH                             AK   AWOS

            AT EAGLE SUMMIT

1256 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  20 W CENTRAL            65.55N 145.56W
09/17/2012  M65 MPH                             AK   AWOS

            AT EAGLE SUMMIT

&&

PWEIMER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 16, 6:11 PM AKDTWind AdvisoryAFG21 hr
Sep 17, 4:11 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG34 hr
Sep 17, 2:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFG24 hr
Sep 17, 2:31 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG24 hr

Nearby

High Surf Advisories in Alaska, 2012Every high surf advisory 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.