Alert archive / Alaska / Winter Storm Warnings in 2016

Winter Storm Warning 11, NWS Fairbanks, AK

November 16, 2016

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this winter storm warning at Nov 16, 2016, 4:16 AM AKST. It took effect at Nov 16, 2016, 6:00 AM AKST. It was in force for 4 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
Nov 16, 2016, 4:16 AM AKST (13:16 UTC)
In effect from
Nov 16, 2016, 6:00 AM AKST
Expired
Nov 16, 2016, 10:05 AM AKST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

237 
WWAK42 PAFG 161316
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
416 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

AKZ213-170300-
/O.UPG.PAFG.WW.Y.0064.000000T0000Z-161116T2100Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.WS.W.0011.161116T1500Z-161117T0300Z/
ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST-
INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER...
WALES...DIOMEDE
416 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR LOCAL BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT 
UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS EVENING. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* LOCATIONS...NEAR THE BERING STRAIT

* SNOW...UP TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION.

* BLOWING SNOW...CAUSING VISIBILITY OF ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS
  AT TIMES.

* WINDS...SOUTH GUSTING TO 60 MPH.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL 
  CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY. VISIBILITY WILL IMPROVE THIS
  EVENING AS WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW DIMINISH.
 
* IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED AND SNOW WILL 
  ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR. TRAVEL 
  AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS ONE OR MORE SIGNIFICANT WINTER
WEATHER HAZARDS ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED.

&&

$$

AKZ211-170300-
/O.EXB.PAFG.WW.Y.0064.161116T1316Z-161117T0300Z/
SOUTHERN SEWARD PENINSULA COAST-
INCLUDING...NOME...WHITE MOUNTAIN...GOLOVIN
416 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 
6 PM AKST THIS EVENING. 

* SNOW...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION.

* BLOWING SNOW...CAUSING VISIBILITY OF ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT 
  TIMES. 

* WINDS...SOUTH GUSTING TO 30 MPH.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL 
  CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY. WINDS AND SNOW WILL DIMINISH
  THIS EVENING RESULTING IN IMPROVED VISIBILITY.

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED AND SNOW WILL 
  ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL 
  AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER WEATHER
HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES.

&&

$$

AKZ207-170300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0064.161116T1500Z-161117T0300Z/
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG
416 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST
THIS EVENING...

* LOCATION...NORTH OF KIVALINA.

* SNOW...WITH UP TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION.

* BLOWING SNOW...CAUSING VISIBILITY OF ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT 
  TIMES. 

* WINDS...SOUTH GUSTING TO 45 MPH.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL 
  DEVELOP THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH 6 PM THIS EVENING.
  IMPROVING VISIBILITY IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AS SNOW TAPERS
  OFF AND WINDS DIMINISH.

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED AND SNOW WILL 
  ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL 
  AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER WEATHER
HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
984 
WWAK42 PAFG 161905
WSWWCZ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1005 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

AKZ213-162015-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-161117T0300Z/
ST LAWRENCE ISLAND AND BERING STRAIT COAST-
INCLUDING...GAMBELL...SAVOONGA...BREVIG MISSION...TELLER...
WALES...DIOMEDE
1005 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING. 

THE PRECIPITATION HAS BECOME MOSTLY RAIN. VISIBILITY HAS
IMPROVED.

$$

AKZ207-170300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0064.000000T0000Z-161117T0300Z/
CHUKCHI SEA COAST-
INCLUDING...POINT HOPE...SHISHMAREF...KIVALINA...ESPENBERG
1005 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* LOCATION...NORTH OF KIVALINA.

* SNOW...WITH UP TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION.

* BLOWING SNOW...CAUSING VISIBILITY OF ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT 
  TIMES. 

* WINDS...SOUTH GUSTING TO 45 MPH.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL 
  DEVELOP THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH 6 PM THIS EVENING. 
  IMPROVING VISIBILITY IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AS SNOW TAPERS OFF 
  AND WINDS DIMINISH. 

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED AND SNOW WILL 
  ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL 
  AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DIFFICULT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE WINTER WEATHER
HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES.

&&

$$

AKZ211-170300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0064.000000T0000Z-161117T0300Z/
SOUTHERN SEWARD PENINSULA COAST-
INCLUDING...NOME...WHITE MOUNTAIN...GOLOVIN
1005 AM AKST WED NOV 16 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* SNOW...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION.

* BLOWING SNOW...CAUSING VISIBILITY OF ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT 
  TIMES. 

* WINDS...SOUTH GUSTING TO 30 MPH.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW WILL 
  CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY. WINDS AND SNOW WILL DIMINISH THIS 
  EVENING RESULTING IN IMPROVED VISIBILITY. 

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED AND SNOW WILL 
  ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. TRAVEL 
  AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE 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 winter storm 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 winter storm warning went out at Nov 15, 1:42 PM AKST, 14 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 15, 1:42 PM AKST, 14 hours 34 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
142 PM AKST Tue Nov 15 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
Aloft...
The long wave pattern consisting of a trough over the Bering Sea
and a ridge over NW Canada and Mainland Alaska will persist into
the weekend. Several short wave troughs will move east into this
ridge.

One short wave trough stretching from Point Hope to McGrath will
move to Point Lay to Denali by 3am Wed...to Barrow to Denali by
3pm Wed...to Deadhorse to Denali by 3am Thu...and then weakening
along a Barter Island to Denali line by 3pm Thu.

Expect isolated to scattered snow showers over the Interior and
North Slope east of the trough...and widespread showers along the
trough. Expect one inch or less of snow with this feature. Will
see minor clearing west of the trough.

Surface...
A 1012 mb low 300 nm northwest of Barrow will move to 250 nm north
of Barrow as a 1021 mb low by 3pm Wed and then weaken. This will
follow the trough aloft.

High pressure will build over Interior Alaska tonight and Wed.
This will cause low clouds and fog to appear in the areas that
clear out behind the trough aloft tonight.

A 998 mb low in the central Bering Sea will move to 200 nm west of
Gambell as a 1010 mb low by 3pm Wed. A warm front stretching east
from this low will move to the Chukotsk Peninsula and form a wave
low the by 3am Wed and stretch to the Bering Strait and to the YK
Delta...then forming 1010 mb wave low near Wrangel Island by 3pm
Wed with a warm front from the low to Kotzebue...then the warm
front moving to Red Dog to Wainwright and northwest by 3am Thu.
Will see snow with the front with 1-2 inches along the west coast
tonight through Wed night. Will also see SE winds of 25-35kt
along the front. This will cause briefly low visibility in blowing
snow but with temperatures near 30 do not expect widespread
blizzard. Will issue Advisory for blowing snow in zones 213 and
211 for tonight and for Point Hope area of 207 Wed.

A second and stronger low in the Sea of Okhotsk will move to into
the far western Bering Sea Thu and Fri. A weather front stretching
east from this low will move into the western Bering Sea Wed and
to Anadyr to the eastern Aleutians by 3pm Thu...and to the YK
Delta to St Lawrence Island by 3pm Fri. Expect 1-2 inches of snow
with this front along with southeast gales.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Models initialize well except for h500 heights being too low at
Kodiak and over the Gulf of Alaska. Show similar solutions through
Thu pm...then see a difference in the speed of short waves Fri
into the weekend. Favor the GFS at this point through Sat.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...elevated surf possible St
Lawrence Island and Bering Strait Thu and Fri.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ207-AKZ213.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ215.

Gale Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.
&&

JB NOV 16

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 16, 3:22 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG12 hr
Nov 16, 3:29 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Nov 16, 3:35 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG12 hr
Nov 16, 3:35 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG24 hr
Nov 16, 4:36 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG11 hr
Nov 16, 4:36 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG11 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2016Every winter storm 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.