Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Watches in 2015
Blizzard Watch 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard watch at Feb 22, 2015, 1:47 PM AKST. It took effect at Feb 23, 2015, 6:00 AM AKST. It was in force for .
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Feb 22, 2015, 1:47 PM AKST (22:47 UTC)
- In effect from
- Feb 23, 2015, 6:00 AM AKST
- Expired
- Feb 23, 2015, 4:31 AM AKST
- In force
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
460 WWAK41 PAFG 222247 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 147 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 AKZ201-230600- /O.EXT.PAFG.WW.Y.0231.000000T0000Z-150223T0600Z/ WESTERN ARCTIC COAST- INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE 147 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING... THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING. * LOCATION...MAINLY FROM POINT LAY EAST. * VISIBILITY...ONE HALF MILE OR LESS IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 20 TO 30 WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL IMPROVE THIS EVENING. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. && $$ AKZ204-230600- /O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.A.0002.150223T1500Z-150224T0000Z/ EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 147 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 ...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. * VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 25 TO 35 WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH. * TIMING...WINDS INCREASING MONDAY MORNING AND CONTINUING THROUGH LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES. && $$
3 follow-up statements
063 WWAK41 PAFG 230528 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 828 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 AKZ201-231500- /O.UPG.PAFG.WW.Y.0231.000000T0000Z-150223T0600Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0010.150223T0528Z-150223T1800Z/ WESTERN ARCTIC COAST- INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE 828 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST MONDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST MONDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * LOCATION...MAINLY FROM POINT LAY EAST. * VISIBILITY...ONE HALF QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 20 TO 30 WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL IMPROVE MONDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$ AKZ204-231500- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.A.0002.150223T1500Z-150224T0000Z/ EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 828 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 ...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM AKST MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM AKST MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. * VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 25 TO 35 WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH. * TIMING...WINDS INCREASING MONDAY MORNING AND CONTINUING THROUGH LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES. && $$
767 WWAK41 PAFG 230528 CCA WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 828 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 AKZ201-231500- /O.UPG.PAFG.WW.Y.0231.000000T0000Z-150223T0600Z/ /O.COR.PAFG.BZ.W.0010.150223T0528Z-150223T1800Z/ WESTERN ARCTIC COAST- INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE 828 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST MONDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST MONDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * LOCATION...MAINLY FROM POINT LAY EAST. * VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 20 TO 30 WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL IMPROVE MONDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$ AKZ204-231500- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.A.0002.150223T1500Z-150224T0000Z/ EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 828 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 ...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM AKST MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM AKST MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. * VISIBILITY...NEAR ZERO IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 25 TO 35 WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH. * TIMING...WINDS INCREASING MONDAY MORNING AND CONTINUING THROUGH LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES. && $$
629 WWAK41 PAFG 231331 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 431 AM AKST MON FEB 23 2015 AKZ201-231800- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0010.000000T0000Z-150223T1800Z/ WESTERN ARCTIC COAST- INCLUDING...WAINWRIGHT...ATQASUK...POINT LAY...CAPE LISBURNE 431 AM AKST MON FEB 23 2015 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS MORNING... A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS MORNING. * LOCATION...FROM POINT LAY EAST. * VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 20 TO 30 WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL IMPROVE THROUGH THIS MORNING. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$ AKZ204-231815- /O.UPG.PAFG.BZ.A.0002.150223T1500Z-150224T0000Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.WW.Y.0232.150223T1500Z-150224T0600Z/ EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA COAST- INCLUDING...KAKTOVIK...FLAXMAN ISLAND 431 AM AKST MON FEB 23 2015 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS EVENING. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * VISIBILITY...ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES IN BLOWING SNOW. * WINDS...EAST 25 TO 40 MPH. * TIMING...VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW DECREASING THIS MORNING AND CONTINUING INTO THIS EVENING. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. && $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this blizzard watch 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 blizzard watch went out at Feb 22, 1:41 PM AKST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 22, 1:41 PM AKST, 6 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 141 PM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015 .DISCUSSION... MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THROUGH ABOUT 60 HOURS. THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE STATE IS GOING TO BE SHOVED EASTWARD BY THE UPPER LEVEL LOW THAT IS CURRENTLY NEAR KAMCHATKA PENINSULA. THIS LOW WILL MOVE NORTHEAST INTO FAR EAST RUSSIA AND PUSH THE RIDGE EASTWARD INTO CANADA BY MID WEEK. THE WARM AIR AND THE FREEZING RAIN HAS CAUSED HAVOC OVER NORTHERN ALASKA THIS WEEKEND FOR NEARLY ALL TYPES OF TRAVEL. COLDER AIR WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THE STATE BY MONDAY AND THEN EXPAND EASTWARD. THE NEXT PUSH OF MOISTURE WILL OCCUR OVER THE EASTERN INTERIOR TONIGHT AND MONDAY. THIS WILL LIKELY BE MOSTLY RAIN BUT WILL HAVE SOME AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN MIXED IN EAST OF FAIRBANKS. ANYTHING AFTER MONDAY EVENING WILL BE ALL SNOW FOR NORTHERN ALASKA. THE LOW MOVING NORTHEAST AND THE HIGH NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL CAUSE A PINCH IN THE GRADIENT NEAR THE ALCAN BORDER ON THE ARCTIC COAST. A BLIZZARD WATCH IS BEING ISSUED FOR THE FAR EASTERN PORTION OF THE ARCTIC COAST. WINDS ARE WINDING DOWN ON THE WEST COAST THROUGH TONIGHT. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ACROSS THE WESTERN ARCTIC WILL END THIS EVENING AS THE SNOW TAPERS OFF AND THE WINDS DIMINISH. && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY FOR AKZ216. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ201. GALE WARNING FOR PKZ230-PKZ245. BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ235-PKZ240- PKZ245. && CF FEB 15
In the hours before
Local storm report, Feb 22, 10:11 AM AKST, 3 hours 36 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1011 AM AKST SUN FEB 22 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM FREEZING RAIN 15 WNW TANACROSS 63.45N 143.83W
02/21/2015 E0.10 INCH AK TRAINED SPOTTER
ABOUT 0.1 INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION AT ROBERTSON RIVER.
1105 PM FREEZING RAIN 3 NNW SALCHA 64.51N 146.99W
02/21/2015 U0.00 INCH AK TRAINED SPOTTER
STEADY RAIN FALLING. GROUND IS VERY SLICK.
0145 AM FREEZING RAIN 18 NE NENANA 64.70N 148.60W
02/22/2015 E0.10 INCH AK TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER AT MILE 326 PARKS HIGHWAY REPORTS THAT RAIN HAS
BEEN FALLING SINCE 6 PM. ABOUT 0.1 INCHES OF ICE ON THE
HIGHWAY.
0300 AM FREEZING RAIN 1 SW COLLEGE 64.86N 147.85W
02/22/2015 E0.15 INCH AK NWS EMPLOYEE
ESTIMATED 0.15 INCHES OF ICE ON SURFACES.
0824 AM FREEZING RAIN 4 SSW COLLEGE 64.82N 147.87W
02/22/2015 U0.00 INCH AK UNKNOWN
ALASKA AIRLINES CANCELLED AT LEAST 4 FLIGHTS OUT OF
FAIRBANKS DUE TO FREEZING RAIN.
0824 AM FREEZING RAIN 4 SSW COLLEGE 64.82N 147.88W
02/22/2015 M0.08 INCH AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
OFFICIAL MEASUREMENT AT THE AIRPORT AS OF MIDNIGHT.
0850 AM FREEZING RAIN 1 SW COLLEGE 64.86N 147.85W
02/22/2015 M0.26 INCH AK CO-OP OBSERVER
0.26 INCHES OF LIQUID FELL.
&&
METZGERThe office that day
Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 3:08 PM AKST | Blizzard Warning | AFG | 13 hr | |
| Feb 21, 6:47 PM AKST | Freezing Rain Advisory | AFG | 17 hr | |
| Feb 21, 7:33 PM AKST | Winter Storm Warning | AFG | 16 hr | |
| Feb 22, 4:32 AM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFG | 16 hr | |
| Feb 22, 2:46 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFG | 23 hr |
Nearby
Blizzard Watches in Alaska, 2015Every blizzard 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.