Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Watches in 2015

High Wind Watch 4, NWS Anchorage, AK

November 9, 2015

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this high wind watch at Nov 9, 2015, 4:22 AM AKST. It took effect at Nov 10, 2015, 3:00 PM AKST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 9, 2015, 4:22 AM AKST (13:22 UTC)
In effect from
Nov 10, 2015, 3:00 PM AKST
Expired
Nov 9, 2015, 4:00 PM AKST
In force
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

800 
WWAK72 PAFC 091322
NPWALU

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
422 AM AKST MON NOV 9 2015

AKZ185-100230-
/O.NEW.PAFC.HW.A.0004.151111T0600Z-151112T0000Z/
EASTERN ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...UNALASKA...NIKOLSKI
422 AM AKST MON NOV 9 2015

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON. 

* WIND...WIND GUSTS POSSIBLY EXCEEDING 100 MPH.

* TIMING...SOUTH WIND 40 TO 55 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 75 MPH
  TUESDAY EVENING BECOMING WEST AND INCREASING TO 60 TO 70 MPH
  WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 100 MPH WEDNESDAY MORNING AND PERSISTING
  THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL RAPIDLY DIMINISH DURING
  THE EVENING HOURS ON WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH WINDS MAY MOVE LOOSE DEBRIS AND MAY DAMAGE 
  PROPERTY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS
HIGH WIND EVENT. PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS
WEATHER SITUATION. PREPARATION FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
WEATHER EVENT SHOULD BEGIN NOW. 

&&

$$

AKZ187-100230-
/O.NEW.PAFC.HW.A.0004.151111T0000Z-151111T1200Z/
CENTRAL ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...ATKA AND ADAK
422 AM AKST MON NOV 9 2015

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT. 

* WIND...50 TO 65 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 80 MPH.

* TIMING...SOUTH WIND 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH TUESDAY
  MORNING INCREASING AND BECOMING SOUTHWEST 45 TO 60 MPH WITH
  POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 80 MPH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL THEN
  GRADUALLY DIMINISH THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING WITH WIND GUSTS
  DIMINISHING TO 65 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT TUESDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH WINDS MAY MOVE LOOSE DEBRIS AND MAY DAMAGE 
  PROPERTY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS
HIGH WIND EVENT. PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS
WEATHER SITUATION. PREPARATION FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
WEATHER EVENT SHOULD BEGIN NOW. 

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
671 
WWAK72 PAFC 100100
NPWALU

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST MON NOV 9 2015


AKZ185-101500-
/O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0004.151111T0600Z-151112T0000Z/
/O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0008.151111T0900Z-151112T0000Z/
EASTERN ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...UNALASKA...NIKOLSKI
400 PM AKST MON NOV 9 2015

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT TO
3 PM AKST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT TO 3 PM
AKST WEDNESDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.


* WIND...WEST WIND 55 TO 70 WITH GUSTS TO 100 MPH.

* TIMING...SOUTH WIND 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH TUESDAY
  EVENING BECOMING WEST AND INCREASING TO 55 TO 70 MPH WITH GUSTS
  TO 100 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. ON WEDNESDAY WEST WIND 60 TO 80 MPH
  BECOMING NORTHWEST 40 TO 60 MPH BY LATE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...HIGH WINDS MAY DAMAGE PROPERTY AND TURN UNSECURED
  OBJECTS INTO PROJECTILES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. PEOPLE ARE URGED TO SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS THAT COULD
BE BLOWN AROUND OR DAMAGED BY THE WIND.

&&

$$

AKZ187-101500-
/O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0004.151111T0000Z-151111T1200Z/
/O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0008.151111T0300Z-151111T1500Z/
CENTRAL ALEUTIANS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...ATKA AND ADAK
400 PM AKST MON NOV 9 2015

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TUESDAY TO 6 AM AKST
WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TUESDAY TO 6 AM AKST
WEDNESDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* WIND...NORTHWEST WIND 45 TO 55 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 80 MPH.
 
* TIMING...NORTHWEST WIND 45 TO 55 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 80 MPH
  TUESDAY EVENING WILL DECREASE TO 30 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60
  MPH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS...HIGH WINDS MAY MOVE LOOSE DEBRIS AND MAY DAMAGE 
  PROPERTY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. PEOPLE ARE URGED TO SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS THAT COULD
BE BLOWN AROUND OR DAMAGED BY THE WIND.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high wind watch went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind watch went out at Nov 8, 5:02 PM AKST, 11 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 8, 5:02 PM AKST, 11 hours 20 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
502 PM AKST SUN NOV 8 2015

UPDATED ADVISORY LIST

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

AN UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CURRENTLY CENTERED IN THE NORTHERN
BERING...AND ENCOMPASSES MUCH OF THE BERING AND MAINLAND
ALASKA. AN IMPRESSIVE 959MB LOW HAS DEVELOPED AT THE SURFACE
BENEATH THIS LOW. AN ASSOCIATED OCCLUDED FRONT STRETCHES ALL THE
WAY FROM THE LOW TO THE PACIFIC...AND IS TAPPING INTO A RICH
SUPPLY OF TROPICAL MOISTURE. ALREADY TODAY THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN
SUPPORTING WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA AND
BRISTOL BAY REGIONS. IN ADDITION...THE ASSOCIATED LOW LEVEL JET
HAS BEEN SUPPORTING GUSTY WINDS ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA COAST
THIS MORNING. THE LATEST RADAR IMAGES INDICATE THAT THIS MOISTURE
IS BEGINNING TO EFFECT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF
SOUTHCENTRAL...WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF THE WIDESPREAD SNOW EVENT
THAT WILL IMPACT MUCH OF SOUTHCENTRAL THIS EVENING.

TO THE WEST OF THIS FRONT...WIDESPREAD SHOWERS HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPING IN THE COLDER AND DRIER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT...WHICH A
FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES NEAR THE PRIBILOFS AND THE WESTERN BERING.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MODELS CONTINUE TO BE IN GREAT AGREEMENT IN CAPTURING THE
IMPRESSIVE DYNAMICS OF THE LOW THAT ENCOMPASSES MUCH OF THE
REGION. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN MODELS CONTINUES TO BE
THE MAGNITUDE OF DOWNSLOPING IN THE TYPICALLY DOWNSLOPED AREAS OF
SOUTHCENTRAL INCLUDING THE ANCHORAGE BOWL.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
THE ROBUST OCCLUDED FRONT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BERING SEA
LOW IS BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA THIS
AFTERNOON. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE
REGION THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...BECOMING HEAVY DURING THE LATE
EVENING HOURS. THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS ARE STILL EXPECTED IN THE
SUSITNA VALLEY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. SNOW AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO
BE LOWER FURTHER SOUTH WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES IN THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
AND 3 TO 6 INCHES IN THE ANCHORAGE AREA THROUGH LATE TONIGHT.
WINDS HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO INCREASE ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM IN
RESPONSE TO THE FRONT AND WILL BEGIN TO RAPIDLY DECREASE AFTER
MIDNIGHT. AFTER THE THE FRONT PUSHES EAST INTO THE COPPER RIVER
BASIN...SOUTHWEST FLOW UP COOK INLET WILL KEEP AN UPSLOPED AND
SHOWERY PATTERN IN PLACE MONDAY. FOR THE ANCHORAGE AREA AND
MATANUSKA VALLEY...THIS SHOULD PRODUCE ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF
SNOW ACCUMULATION ON MONDAY WITH MOST OF THE ACCUMULATION IN THE
MORNING HOURS.

AFTER THE FRONT PUSHES OUT OF THE REGION LATE MONDAY EVENING...BROAD
CYCLONIC FLOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA WITH MAINLY NORTHWESTERLY
FLOW ALOFT. THIS WILL KEEP SHOWERY PRECIPITATION IN THE FORECAST
FOR SOUTHCENTRAL WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES THROUGH TUESDAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2...MON AND
TUE)...THE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEEPENING LOW IS PUSHING
THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST THIS EVENING. IT HAS CLEARED TO THE EAST OF
KING SALMON AND BETHEL...AND SATELLITE AND RADAR CLEARLY SHOW A
VERY UNSTABLE WELL MIXED COLD AIR ADVECTION ATMOSPHERE BEHIND IT.
THE GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE ALSO SHIFTING TO A MORE SOUTHWEST TO
WEST DIRECTION. THE STRONGEST WINDS SHOULD REMAINED CONFINED TO
THE COASTAL AREAS THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...BUT SOME GUSTS TO
50 MPH WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR WAY INLAND. WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF INLAND VALLEYS IN THE LOWER KUSKOKWIM...ALL PLACES WARMED
ENOUGH TO CHANGE OVER TO RAIN TODAY. AS COLD AIR BLEEDS IN THROUGH
THE NIGHT...MOST LOCATIONS WILL CHANGE BACK TO SNOW. ACCUMULATIONS
SHOULD BE LIMITED THOUGH WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING. SOME OF
THE SHOWERS...ESPECIALLY OVER THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA...COULD PRODUCE
HEAVY SNOW FOR BRIEF PERIODS. WHEN COUPLED WITH THE GUSTY WINDS...
VISIBILITY COULD DROP TO ONE MILE AT TIMES.

MON INTO TUE...WESTERLY FLOW ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE LOW WILL
CONTINUE TO PUSH SHOWERS FROM THE EASTERN BERING OVER THE
MAINLAND. GUSTY WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH AS THE LOW FILLS AND
DRIFTS NORTHEAST. ONE LAST PIECE OF POTENT ENERGY WILL WRAP AROUND
THE LOW AND PUSH INTO BRISTOL BAY MON NIGHT. THIS SHOULD TRIGGER
ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVIER PRECIPITATION AND GUSTY WINDS FROM THE
WESTERN CAPES THROUGH THE ALASKA PENINSULA. WE ALSO CAN'T RULE OUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WITH A POCKET OF -40 C 500 MB TEMPERATURES MOVING OVER
THE WARMER WATERS. THIS WAVE WILL ALSO BE RIGHT ALONG THE LEFT
EXIT REGION OF THE JET WHICH WILL AID IN VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (DAYS 1 AND 2...MON AND
TUE)...THE LOW OVER THE NORTHERN BERING WILL BE THE DOMINATE FEATURE.
IT WILL KEEP THE ENTIRE AREA UNDER UNSTABLE WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW.
THIS WILL MAKE FOR GUSTY WINDS...COLD SHOWERS...AND OCCASIONAL
LIGHTNING STRIKES. IT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO PULL COLD AIR OFF OF
RUSSIA AND CAUSE PRECIPITATION TO MIX WITH AND EVENTUALLY TURN
OVER TO SNOW THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE AREA. WE SHOULD NOT SEE MUCH
AT ALL IN THE WAY OF ACCUMULATION WITH GROUND TEMPERATURES STILL
WELL ABOVE FREEZING.

THE NEXT MAJOR FEATURE WILL BE ANOTHER RAPIDLY DEEPENING CYCLONE NEAR
THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS TUE INTO WED. SEE THE EXTENDED DISCUSSION FOR
MORE DETAILS.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (DAYS 3 THROUGH 7)...
THE MODELS ARE DEPICTING A VIGOROUS NORTH PACIFIC LOW UNDERGOING
EXPLOSIVE CYCLOGENESIS AS IT TRACKS NEAR KISKA BY TUESDAY MORNING.
THIS SYNOPTIC FEATURE WILL BRING WIDESPREAD RAIN AND STRATUS WITH
STRONG GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE
LOW AS IT CONTINUES TO TRACK ALONG THE CHAIN. THIS SYSTEM WILL
CROSS THE CHAIN AND TRACK JUST NORTHEAST OF DUTCH HARBOR BY LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT. RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR HURRICANE-FORCE
WINDS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. THEREFORE...THE
CENTRAL TO EASTERN ALEUTIANS WILL HAVE STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS
WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGH WIND WATCHES/WARNINGS AS THIS SYSTEM
CONTINUES TO TRACK ALONG THE CHAIN BEFORE CROSSING OVER NEAR THE
SOUTHERN END OF KODIAK ISLAND BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE NAM/EC
MODELS ARE IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT EXCEPT FOR THE GFS BEING FASTER
WITH THIS SYSTEM. THE BERING AND ALEUTIAN CHAIN WILL REMAIN UNDER
NORTHWESTERLY FLOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. THE 850 MB
TEMPERATURES IN THE BERING SEA ARE SHOWING GOOD COLD AIR ADVECTION
WITH THE 850 MB TEMPERATURES STARTING OUT IN THE -5 DEGREE
CELSIUS RANGE BEFORE DROPPING TO -15 DEGREE CELSIUS RANGE BY THE
MIDWEEK WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED SYNOPTIC FEATURE.

THE WESTERN GULF WILL SEE THE ARRIVAL OF STORM FORCE WINDS THROUGH
THE BARREN ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COOK INLET AS THE
STORM FORCE LOW TRACKS EAST OF KODIAK ISLAND BY WEDNESDAY EVENING.
THIS WILL BRING WIDESPREAD RAIN AND STRATUS TO THE GULF AS THIS
SYSTEM TRACKS NEAR YAKUTAT BY THURSDAY. THE WESTERN GULF WILL
TRANSITION TO NORTHWESTERLY GAP WINDS BY THURSDAY AS THE COLDER
AIR FILTERS INTO THE REGION. THE SOUTHERN MAINLAND WILL HAVE
ONSHORE FLOW IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS UPCOMING WEEK BEFORE
TRANSITIONING TO OFFSHORE FLOW AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TRACKS
TO THE NORTHERN GULF. THIS WILL BRING COLDER TEMPERATURES
COINCIDING WITH THE NORTHWESTERLY TO NORTHERLY WINDS TO THE
SOUTHCENTRAL REGION.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...WSW HEAVY SNOW 145...SNOW ADVISORY 101 111. HIGH SURF
ADVISORY 155.
MARINE...STORM WARNINGS 180 181 185. GALE WARNINGS
119 120 130 131 132 136 137 138 150 155 160 165 170 172 173 174
175 176 177 178 179 351 352 411 412 413.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...EN
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...RF
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...MO
LONG TERM...PD

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 8, 10:39 PM AKST, 5 hours 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1039 PM AKST SUN NOV 08 2015

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

1036 PM     SNOW             9 NW BENTALIT           61.64N 150.81W
11/08/2015  M8.0 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TOTAL ACCUMULATION SINCE SNOWFALL BEGAN AT 4PM. HEAVY
            SNOW ONGOING. 24 DEGREES. CALM WIND.

&&

JPW
Local storm report, Nov 9, 12:30 AM AKST, 3 hours 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1230 AM AKST MON NOV 09 2015

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

1230 AM     SNOW             5 SSE ANCHORAGE         61.15N 149.82W
11/09/2015  M1.5 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW TOTAL AS OF MIDNIGHT. SNOW WITH SOME RAIN MIXED. WET
            SNOW. 33 DEGREE TEMPERATURE.

1230 AM     SNOW             6 SW ANCHORAGE          61.15N 149.98W
11/09/2015  M2.3 INCH                           AK   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            0.1 INCHES BEFORE 9PM...2.2 INCHES 9PM TO MIDNIGHT.

&&

JPW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 8, 3:02 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC60 hr
Nov 8, 3:09 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Nov 8, 3:31 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Nov 8, 3:31 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC12 hr
Nov 8, 3:32 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Nov 8, 3:32 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Nov 9, 3:11 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Nov 9, 3:11 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC24 hr
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC36 hr
Nov 9, 3:37 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr

Nearby

High Wind Watches in Alaska, 2015Every high wind watch in 2015

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.