Winter Storm Warning 5, NWS Anchorage, AK

147 
WWAK42 PAFC 020435 CCA
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
734 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

AKZ185-020800-
/X.NEW.PAFC.WS.W.0005.130302T0434Z-130302T0800Z/
EASTERN ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...UNALASKA...NIKOLSKI
734 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM AKST THIS
EVENING.

* SNOW...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION 1 TO 3 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* WIND...SOUTHEAST 40 TO 55 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 75 MPH. 

* TIMING...THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE WITH
  FRONTAL PASSAGE.  

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
AND WIND ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ONLY
TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT.

&&

$$

AKZ187-021800-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-130303T0300Z/
CENTRAL ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...ATKA AND ADAK
734 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST SATURDAY...

* SNOW...ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* WIND...NORTH TO NORTHWEST WIND 50 TO 65 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 80 
  MPH. 

* TIMING...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND 
  PERSIST THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON. A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN 
  VISIBILITY WILL OCCUR SATURDAY EVENING AS SNOW AND WINDS 
  DIMINISH. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL WILL BE 
  VERY DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ191-020900-
/X.COR.PAFC.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-130302T0900Z/
WESTERN ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SHEMYA AND AMCHITKA
734 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT FROM KISKA EAST...

* SNOW...LITTLE ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* WIND...NORTH 60 TO 75 MPH BECOMING NORTHWEST 45 TO 60 MPH 
  AFTER MIDNIGHT. 

* TIMING...THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL WILL BE 
  VERY DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ195-021800-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-130302T2100Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
734 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST SATURDAY...

* SNOW...UP TO 4 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND...EAST 40 TO 50 MPH DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 35 MPH SATURDAY 
  MORNING. 

* TIMING...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND 
  CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. 

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL WILL BE 
  VERY DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

978 
WWAK42 PAFC 020806
WSWALU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1106 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

AKZ191-020915-
/X.CAN.PAFC.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-130302T0900Z/
WESTERN ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SHEMYA AND AMCHITKA
1106 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS CANCELED THE
BLIZZARD WARNING.



$$

AKZ185-020915-
/X.EXP.PAFC.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-130302T0800Z/
EASTERN ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...UNALASKA...NIKOLSKI
1106 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...WINTER STORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...THEN MIX WITH RAIN
AT TIMES TOWARD MORNING.

$$



AKZ187-022115-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-130303T0300Z/
CENTRAL ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...ATKA AND ADAK
1106 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST SATURDAY...

* SNOW...ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* WIND...NORTH TO NORTHWEST WIND 50 TO 65 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 80 
  MPH. 

* TIMING...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
  A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN VISIBILITY WILL OCCUR SATURDAY EVENING
  AS SNOW AND WINDS GRADUALLY DIMINISH.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL WILL BE 
  VERY DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

AKZ195-022100-
/X.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0018.000000T0000Z-130302T2100Z/
PRIBILOF ISLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SAINT PAUL
1106 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST SATURDAY...

* SNOW...UP TO 4 INCHES.

* VISIBILITY...REDUCED BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND...EAST 40 TO 50 MPH DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 35 MPH SATURDAY 
  MORNING. 

* TIMING...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY
  MORNING.

* IMPACTS...SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW 
  WILL PRODUCE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. TRAVEL WILL BE 
  VERY DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

&&

$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
445 PM AKST FRI MAR 1 2013

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGHING REMAINS IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF THE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON...WITH A CLOSED UPPER LOW DRIFTING SLOWLY NORTHWARD
OVER EASTERN RUSSIA AND A POTENT NORTH PACIFIC LOW MOVING EASTWARD
APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES SOUTH OF ATKA. THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BRING
SNOW AND STRONG WINDS TO PARTS OF THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL
ALEUTIANS...LIKELY PRODUCING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS BETWEEN KISKA AND
ADAK...WITH THOSE CONDITIONS POISED TO SPREAD EASTWARD OVER THE
CENTRAL ALEUTIANS AND PRIBILOFS THIS EVENING AS THE SYSTEM PROGRESSES
TO THE EAST. A WEAK UPPER TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW MOVING
INLAND OVER THE NORTH GULF COAST IS SPREADING SNOW SHOWERS OVER MUCH
OF SOUTHCENTRAL AK...WITH SOME RAIN MIXING IN ALONG THE COAST.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MODELS REMAIN IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT THROUGH THE SHORT TERM WITH
RESPECT TO OVERALL SYNOPTIC FEATURES. THE STRONG LOW JUST SOUTH OF
THE ALEUTIANS WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EASTWARD THROUGH SATURDAY AS IT
BEGINS TO SLOWLY WEAKEN...THEN DIVE SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE NORTHEAST
PACIFIC ON SUNDAY AS IT ENCOUNTERS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDING OVER
THE SOUTHERN MAINLAND AND A 150 KT UPPER LEVEL JET DIGS ALONG ITS
WESTERN PERIPHERY. MODEL SOLUTIONS BEGIN TO DIVERGE EARLY NEXT WEEK
AS THE GFS AND NAM KEEP THE RIDGE CENTERED OVER THE NORTHERN GULF
COAST WHEREAS THE EC HAS THE HIGH LOCATED FURTHER EAST OVER THE
PANHANDLE. UTILIZED THE GFS SOLUTION FOR NOW AS IT HAS DISPLAYED
GREATER RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...
SNOW SHOWERS ONGOING ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL AK WILL TAPER OFF TONIGHT AS
AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BEGINS TO BUILD IN OVERHEAD. RIDGING WILL REMAIN
ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF THE WEEK...YIELDING GENERALLY
CALM CONDITIONS AND PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF KODIAK
ISLAND. A FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW AFFECTING THE ALEUTIANS WILL
REACH THE WESTERN GULF BY SATURDAY EVENING AND THEN STALL AND WEAKEN
AS IT ENCOUNTERS THE RIDGE AND THE LOW RETREATS INTO THE NORTHEAST
PACIFIC. THIS WILL RESULT IN GUSTY WINDS ALONG WITH A MIX OF RAIN AND
SNOW OVER KODIAK ISLAND BEGINNING SATURDAY NIGHT AND PERSISTING INTO
THE EARLY PART OF THE WEEK.

SOUTHWEST ALASKA...
CALM CONDITIONS AND CLEAR SKIES WILL PERSIST INTO TONIGHT AS UPPER
LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS OVER THE SOUTHWEST MAINLAND. SNOW WILL THEN
RETURN TO COASTAL PORTIONS OF BRISTOL BAY AND THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA ON
SATURDAY AS THE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALEUTIAN LOW APPROACHES THE
THE COAST. SNOW WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG WINDS ALONG COASTAL
PORTIONS OF BRISTOL BAY...LEADING TO THE POTENTIAL FOR AREAS OF
BLOWING SNOW. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF WITH WINDS GRADUALLY SUBSIDING ON
SUNDAY AS THE LOW MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA AND INTO THE NORTHEAST
PACIFIC.

ALEUTIANS/BERING SEA...
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL OVERSPREAD THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS THIS
EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH THE DAY ON SATURDAY AS SNOW COUPLED WITH
HURRICANE FORCE NORTHERLY WINDS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE LOW LEAD TO
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL ALSO
SPREAD TO THE PRIBILOFS THIS EVENING AS WINDS INCREASE WITH THE
ARRIVAL OF THE FRONT. STRONG SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO
SATURDAY OVER THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS AND AKPEN AS THE LOW PUSHES
EASTWARD. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WARM ENOUGH FOR A
RAIN/SNOW MIX OVER THESE AREAS...ALLOWING VISIBILITIES TO REMAIN HIGH
ENOUGH TO LIMIT ANY BLIZZARD CONCERNS. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE OVER
THE ALEUTIAN CHAIN FROM WEST TO EAST ON SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY NIGHT
AS THE LOW MOVES OFF TO THE EAST AND THEN SOUTHEAST INTO THE NORTHERN
PACIFIC. THE BREAK WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS THE NEXT LOW MOVES INTO THE
WESTERN BERING ON SUNDAY...WITH A FRONT SPREADING PRECIPITATION OVER
THE CHAIN FROM WEST TO EAST SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDING INTO SOUTHCENTRAL AK TONIGHT WILL
REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF THE WEEK...RESULTING IN
DRIER AND RELATIVELY BENIGN CONDITIONS OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN
MAINLAND. THE NEXT SYSTEM TRACKING THROUGH THE BERING WILL THEN HELP
TO BREAK DOWN THE RIDGE BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK...BRINGING AN
INCREASED CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 187 191 195
         HIGH WIND WARNING 185
MARINE...GALE WARNING 132 138 150 160 165 179 180
         STORM WARNING 155 170 172 176
         HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING 175
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 175 176 179
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

CB MAR 13