Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2017

Gale Warning 14, NWS Fairbanks, AK

January 12, 2017

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Jan 12, 2017, 3:31 AM AKST. It was in force for 48 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
Jan 12, 2017, 3:31 AM AKST (12:31 UTC)
Expired
Jan 14, 2017, 3:15 AM AKST
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

359 
FZAK52 PAFG 121231
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
331 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-130300-
331 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A RIDGE OVER SIBERIA WILL CONTINUE BUILD EAST OVER THE BERING 
STRAIT AND EASTERN BERING SEA THROUGH THURSDAY. A 975 MB LOW 
WILL MOVE TO THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA BY FRIDAY MORNING. THIS
WILL INCREASE THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE BERING 
STRAIT AND BERING SEA FRIDAY.

$$

PKZ200-130300-
NORTON SOUND-
331 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

.TODAY...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 20 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-130300-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
331 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW. HEAVY 
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING FOG AND BLOWING SNOW.
VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING FOG AND BLOWING
SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING FOG AND BLOWING SNOW.
VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING FOG AND BLOWING
SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-130300-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
331 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

.TODAY...NW WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-130300-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
331 AM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...NW WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.FRI...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.SAT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT.  

$$

JAN 17
3 follow-up statements
112 
FZAK52 PAFG 122327
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
227 PM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-131500-
227 PM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER SIBERIA AND THE WESTERN
BERING SEA. A 975 MB LOW WILL MOVE TO THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA
BY FRIDAY MORNING. THIS WILL INCREASE THE SURFACE PRESSURE 
GRADIENT OVER THE BERING STRAIT AND BERING SEA FRIDAY.

$$

PKZ200-131500-
NORTON SOUND-
227 PM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-131500-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
227 PM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW SHOWERS.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING FOG. HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 13 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-131500-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
227 PM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

.TONIGHT...NW WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 5 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-131500-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
227 PM AKST THU JAN 12 2017

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.FRI...N WINDS 30 KT. FREEZING FOG. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. FREEZING FOG. 
.SAT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT.  

$$

LTH JAN 17
787 
FZAK52 PAFG 131212
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
312 AM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-140300-
312 AM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER SIBERIA AND THE WESTERN
BERING SEA. A 973 MB LOW IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA WILL MOVE
TO NEAR VALDEZ BY SATURDAY MORNING. THIS WILL INCREASE THE 
SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE BERING STRAIT AND BERING SEA 
FRIDAY AND CONTINUE TO BE STRONG THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

$$

PKZ200-140300-
NORTON SOUND-
312 AM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-140300-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
312 AM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW SHOWERS.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW SHOWERS.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING FOG AND BLOWING SNOW.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-140300-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
312 AM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

.TODAY...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 5 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-140300-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
312 AM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N WINDS 30 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT AFTER NOON. BLOWING 
SNOW.
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT...N WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT.  

$$

JAN 17
369 
FZAK52 PAFG 132325
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
225 PM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-141215-
225 PM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER SIBERIA AND THE WESTERN BERING 
SEA. A 973 MB LOW IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA WILL MOVE TO NEAR
VALDEZ BY SATURDAY MORNING. THIS WILL INCREASE THE SURFACE 
PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE BERING STRAIT AND BERING SEA FRIDAY AND
CONTINUE TO BE STRONG THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

$$

PKZ200-141215-
NORTON SOUND-
225 PM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT. FREEZING FOG. 
.SUN...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-141215-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
225 PM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING FOG. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING FOG. HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING FOG AND BLOWING
SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING FOG. HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING FOG. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING FOG. HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-141215-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
225 PM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. FREEZING FOG. 
.SUN...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 5 KT. 
.MON...NW WINDS 10 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 10 KT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 5 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-141215-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
225 PM AKST FRI JAN 13 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.WED...N WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

LTH JAN 17

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this gale 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 gale warning went out at Jan 12, 3:12 AM AKST, 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 12, 3:12 AM AKST, 19 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
312 AM AKST Thu Jan 12 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Models in decent agreement through 60 hours. For the most part,
synoptic features are in step both with track and time.

Deepening upper level trough over Northern Alaska with deep pool
of cold air ready to reinforce already moderately cold air in
place over the area. Expect light snow ahead of the arctic front
as moisture gets lifted. A 504H low will set up over the Arctic
Slope by Thu afternoon.

As cold air settles in over Northern Alaska a couple of scenarios
will likely occur. The first is as the belly of the trough sits in
over southwestern Alaska, this will create southwesterly flow at
upper levels over the eastern half of the state while a moderately
deep surface low pushes north into the Gulf of Alaska. The
associated occluded front will move north and push northwest
across the southeastern portion of the Interior. This will provide
some overrunning snow over the area which could add up to a few
inches in many areas.

As the surface high remains locked in over Far East Russia and the
surface low moves into the Gulf of Alaska, this will create a
tight gradient over much of the West Coast from the Bering Strait
north to Point Hope. This will cause winds to increase smartly
over the West Coast areas to gale by Thursday evening.

Given the very cold temperatures at 850H in the neighborhood of
-24C it is very likely that snow squalls will develop over the
Bering Strait from Saint Lawrence Island north and as well to the
south of the Island.

The winds increasing late Thursday night or early Friday morning
in the Bering Strait will cause freezing spray to develop on
Saint Lawrence Island.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ204.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210.

Gale Warning for PKZ210.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

JAN 17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 11, 7:30 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG8 hr
Jan 12, 3:33 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Jan 12, 1:15 PM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG63 hr
Jan 12, 1:15 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG63 hr
Jan 12, 2:27 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG37 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2017Every gale warning in 2017

Sources

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