Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2016
Blizzard Warning 15, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Dec 4, 2016, 4:17 AM AKST. It took effect at Dec 4, 2016, 12:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 21 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
- Dec 4, 2016, 4:17 AM AKST (13:17 UTC)
- In effect from
- Dec 4, 2016, 12:00 PM AKST
- Expired
- Dec 5, 2016, 9:12 AM AKST
- In force
- 21 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
The text
As transmitted.
450 WWAK42 PAFG 041317 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 417 AM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 AKZ213-050000- /O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0015.161204T2100Z-161206T0000Z/ ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST- INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER... WALES...DIOMEDE 417 AM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 PM AKST MONDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 PM AKST MONDAY. * LOCATION...OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. * VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIME. * WINDS...SOUTHEAST GUSTING TO 60 MPH. * SNOW...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION. * TIMING...STRONG WINDS ARE NOW OCCURING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. WHEN SNOW DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON VISIBILITY WILL RAPIDLY FALL TO NEAR ZERO AND REMAIN LOW THROUGH MONDAY. WINDS WILL DECREASE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE VISIBILITY WILL START TO IMPROVE THEN. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE 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. && $$
5 follow-up statements
425 WWAK42 PAFG 042355 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 255 PM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 AKZ213-050800- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0015.000000T0000Z-161206T0000Z/ ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST- INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER... WALES...DIOMEDE 255 PM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST MONDAY...| * LOCATION...OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. * VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIME. * WINDS...SOUTHEAST GUSTING TO 60 MPH. * SNOW...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION. * TIMING...STRONG WINDS ARE NOW OCCURING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. WHEN SNOW DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON VISIBILITY WILL RAPIDLY FALL TO NEAR ZERO AND REMAIN LOW THROUGH MONDAY. WINDS WILL DECREASE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE VISIBILITY WILL START TO IMPROVE THEN. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$
731 WWAK42 PAFG 042357 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 257 PM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 AKZ213-050800- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0015.000000T0000Z-161206T0000Z/ ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST- INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER... WALES...DIOMEDE 257 PM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST MONDAY... * LOCATION...OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. * VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIME. * WINDS...SOUTHEAST GUSTING TO 60 MPH. * SNOW...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION. * TIMING...STRONG WINDS ARE NOW OCCURING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. WHEN SNOW DEVELOPS LATE THIS AFTERNOON VISIBILITY WILL RAPIDLY FALL TO NEAR ZERO AND REMAIN LOW THROUGH MONDAY. WINDS WILL DECREASE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE VISIBILITY WILL START TO IMPROVE THEN. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE 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. && $$
544 WWAK42 PAFG 050549 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 849 PM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 AKZ213-051400- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0015.000000T0000Z-161206T0000Z/ ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST- INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER... WALES...DIOMEDE 849 PM AKST SUN DEC 4 2016 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST MONDAY... * LOCATION...OVER ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. * VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIME. * WINDS...SOUTHEAST GUSTING TO 60 MPH. * SNOW...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION. * TIMING...SNOW WILL INTENSIFY TONIGHT AND VISIBILITY WILL RAPIDLY FALL TO NEAR ZERO. WINDS WILL DECREASE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE VISIBILITY WILL START TO IMPROVE. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DIFFICULT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITIES ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED. && $$
809 WWAK42 PAFG 051226 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 326 AM AKST MON DEC 5 2016 AKZ213-060000- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0015.000000T0000Z-161206T0000Z/ ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST- INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER... WALES...DIOMEDE 326 AM AKST MON DEC 5 2016 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON... * LOCATION...ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. * VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS. * WINDS...SOUTHEAST GUSTING TO 60 MPH. * SNOW...UP TO 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION. * TIMING...SNOW WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING WITH CONDITIONS DETERIORATING. WINDS DIMINISH IN THE AFTERNOON AND CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE. * IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE 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. && $$
892 WWAK42 PAFG 051812 WSWWCZ URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 912 AM AKST MON DEC 5 2016 AKZ213-051915- /O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0015.000000T0000Z-161206T0000Z/ ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST- INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER... WALES...DIOMEDE 912 AM AKST MON DEC 5 2016 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE BLIZZARD WARNING. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this blizzard 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 blizzard warning went out at Dec 4, 4:11 AM AKST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 4, 4:11 AM AKST, 6 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 411 AM AKST Sun Dec 4 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Aloft... The long wave trough along the Alcan Border will move east into NW Canada today. The long wave ridge over the Bering Sea and West Coast of Alaska will build east over mainland Alaska through tonight and then slowly evolve into an omega block by Wed with a ridge over NW Alaska and a trough over southern Alaska and the southwest Bering. Will see generally clear and cold conditions under the ridge through the week in the Interior with closer to normal temperatures along the Arctic and West Coasts. A short wave trough stretching from McGrath to Barter Island will move to Minchumina to Old Crow by 3pm Sun...to Denali to Eagle by 3am Mon...and to Denali to Chicken by 3pm Mon...and then persisting in place through Tue and possibly through late in the week. Skies are mostly cloudy with stratus and flurries to the southeast of the trough with temperatures moderated by the clouds. Along and northwest of the trough skies are clear with temperatures generally in the 20s and 30s below. The clearing and cooling will move east across the Interior along and northwest of the trough. Surface... A 1045 mb high over northeast Alaska will build to a 1048 mb center of the Yukon Flats by 3pm Sun...and to 1050 mb by late tonight and then persist into Tue and possibly into Wed. A low in the NE Gulf Of Alaska will move south today and tonight. An Occluded front stretching from this low to Glennallen to Northway will dissipate by this afternoon. Light snow along this front will diminish to flurries by this afternoon. Less than 1 inch of snow will fall with this in zones 226 and southern 224. The strong gradient between the high and low is causing north winds gusting to 40 mph and blowing snow through Alaska Range passes that will decrease through tonight as the low moves south and the gradient weakens. The high will cause east drainage winds to develop tonight such down the Tanana Valley and down Rampart Canyon which will persist through Tue. A weak surface trough from Point Hope to just NE of Utqiagvik (Barrow) will move north today. Snow showers along this trough will move north with the trough. A 990 mb low in the western Bering Sea will move to Anadyr as a 1005 mb low by 3am Mon...to just west of Wrangel Island by 3pm Mon and then continue NW. An occluded front stretching from this low to Cape Navarin with a warm front from Cape Navarin to Cold Bay will occlude and move to Anadyr to St Matthew Island by 3pm Sun...to the northern Gulf of Anadyr to just east of St Matthew Island by 3am Mon...to Provideniya to 100 NM E of St Matthew Island by 3pm Mon...and then weaken in place Mon night. Southeast gales along and just north of this front will are now occuring and will spread north with the front through tonight then decrease Mon as the front starts to weaken. Light Snow ahead of the warm front will has just spread to St Lawrence Island. Heavier snow will spread to St Lawrence Island this afternoon and continue through Mon. When the snow picks up expect Blizzard Conditions to develop at St Lawrence island this afternoon and continue through Mon. Will issue Blizzard Warning for this. && .DISCUSSION... At 500 mb and 700 mb models initialize well and show similar details through Tue. Models remain similar on the long wave pattern from Wed through next weekend with slight differences in details. Models Initialize well at surface at 06Z Sun and show similar solutions through Tue as well. Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None. && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Blizzard Warning for AKZ213. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230. Gale Warning for PKZ210. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ220-PKZ225. && JB DEC 16
In the hours before
Local storm report, Dec 3, 10:33 PM AKST, 5 hours 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1033 PM AKST SAT DEC 03 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 3 S FOX 64.92N 147.62W
12/03/2016 M5.9 INCH AK NWS EMPLOYEE
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL THROUGH 7 AM.
0900 AM SNOW 2 SSW COLLEGE 64.84N 147.86W
12/03/2016 M6.0 INCH AK TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL THROUGH 9 AM IN THE UNIVERSITY WEST
AREA.
0900 AM SNOW 1 NW COLLEGE 64.88N 147.85W
12/03/2016 M7.0 INCH AK NWS EMPLOYEE
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AT COLLEGE HILLS AREA THROUGH 9 AM.
1000 AM SNOW 36 WSW SALCHA 64.19N 147.95W
12/03/2016 M3.7 INCH AK TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL THROUGH 10 AM.
0230 PM SNOW 4 SSW COLLEGE 64.82N 147.86W
12/03/2016 M7.0 INCH AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL MEASURED AT TEH FAIRBANKS AIRPORT 2
COOPERATIVE SITE THROUGH 230 PM.
&&
LHUBERNearby
Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2016Every blizzard warning in 2016
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.