Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2017

Gale Warning 158, NWS Fairbanks, AK

December 11, 2017

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 11, 2017, 4:55 AM AKST. It was in force for 8 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 11, 2017, 4:55 AM AKST (13:55 UTC)
Expired
Dec 11, 2017, 12:30 PM AKST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

993 
FZAK51 PAFG 111355
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
455 AM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

Arctic 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.

PKZ298-120330-
455 AM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1005 mb low just south of Barter Island will deepen to 998 mb 
by 3pm Mon, then slowly weaken. A 970 mb low over the Alaska 
Peninsula will move to near the Bering Strait as a 996 mb low by 
3pm Tue, and then weaken slowly. A third low now in the Gulf of 
Alaska will move to Bristol Bay as a 986 mb low by 3pm Tue, and to
Gambell as a 992 mb low on Wed. 

$$

PKZ225-120330-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
455 AM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...NE winds 40 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.TONIGHT...NE winds 40 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.TUE...E winds 35 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY
1 NM or less. 
.WED...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.THU...NE winds 40 kt. 
.FRI...NE winds 30 kt.  

$$

PKZ230-120330-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
455 AM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...NE winds 35 kt. Snow. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 35 kt. Snow. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
.TUE...E winds 35 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. 
.WED...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.THU...E winds 35 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 30 kt.  

$$

PKZ235-120330-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
455 AM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

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

.TODAY...NE winds 30 kt. Snow. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
.TONIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Snow. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
.TUE...NE winds 30 kt. Snow. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.WED...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. 
.THU...NE winds 25 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ240-120330-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
455 AM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...E winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TONIGHT...E winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.WED...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.THU...E winds 30 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-120330-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
455 AM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...E winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TONIGHT...E winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow.
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. 
.WED...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.THU...E winds 30 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt.  

$$

Dec 17
1 follow-up statement
793 
FZAK51 PAFG 112130
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1230 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

Arctic 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.

PKZ298-121515-
1230 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 989 mb low over southwestern Alaska will track northwest and 
weaken over the Bering Strait by Tuesday afternoon. A 994 mb low 
will follow in quick succession along a similar track, crossing 
north of St Lawrence Island Wednesday morning. An additional 
system will follow this path, reaching the Bering Strait Thursday 
afternoon as a 985 mb low.

$$

PKZ225-121515-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
1230 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
.TUE...NE winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED NIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU...NE winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU NIGHT...NE winds 35 kt. 
.FRI...NE winds 30 kt. 
.SAT...NE winds 30 kt.  

$$

PKZ230-121515-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
1230 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
.TUE...E winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. 
.WED...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU...E winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 30 kt. 
.SAT...NE winds 30 kt.  

$$

PKZ235-121515-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
1230 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

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

.TONIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.WED...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU...NE winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt. 
.SAT...NE winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ240-121515-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
1230 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

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

.TONIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...E winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.WED...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt. 
.SAT...NE winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-121515-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
1230 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

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

.TONIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...E winds 25 kt. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. 
.WED...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 25 kt.  

$$

Dec 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 Dec 10, 2:45 PM AKST, 14 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 10, 2:45 PM AKST, 14 hours 10 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
245 PM AKST Sun Dec 10 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Active, southerly flow pattern continues across Northern Alaska
with a long wave trough over the Bering Sea and eastern Siberia
and a ridge to the east over Western Canada. Main forecast
highlights include winter weather hazards across the forecast area
over the next couple of days as well as strong southerly winds in
and along the north side of the Alaska Range through tomorrow
evening. The challenging aspect to this forecast package is the
potential for precipitation in the downslope flow over the
southern Interior. There is a low chance for precipitation, but if
any falls it will likely be a mix of freezing rain and snow. The
10/12Z deterministic model guidance is in good agreement with the
overall synoptic pattern throughout the forecast period, with some
differences in regards to the timing of the individual shortwaves
within the southerly flow. Warmer than normal temperatures will
continue throughout the forecast period south of the Brooks Range
with the models hinting at a cooling trend late next week into
next weekend.

Eastern and Central Interior...Winter Storm Warning for zones 218
and 219 and High Wind Warnings for the Alaska Range will be the
main forecast concerns through late Tuesday. Decided to issue a
High Wind Warning for zone 224 for along the Alaska Highway
between Dot Lake and Tanacross starting this evening. Strong
southerly winds in the Alaska Range will weaken slightly through
early evening, then ramp back up late this evening into tonight
with forecast southerly winds a bit stronger around 80 to 85 mph.
In the flats and along the Richardson Highway south of Delta
Junction, south winds will gust to 70 mph. Strong downslope flow
over the southern Interior will keep precipitation chances low
through Tuesday evening, but during the brief lull in the chinook
this evening there could be a chance for a light mix of freezing
rain and snow. Over the Upper Koyukuk Valley and southeastern
Brooks Range, snow will develop overnight tonight and become
heavy at times. Reduced visibility around one half mile in
blowing snow along the summits of the Dalton Highway in zone 219.
Should see snow taper off late Tuesday morning.

West Coast and Western Interior...Blowing snow, snow, and strong
winds will be the main forecast concerns. Have not changed details
with inherited winter weather hazards, but have added a pair of
winter weather hazards for snow and freezing rain for zones 215
and 227 as well as a high wind warning for zone 227 near the
Alaska Range. Strong northerly winds will continue to increase
over the Bering Sea and Saint Lawrence Island as well the Chukchi
Sea Coast north of Kivalina and combined with new and falling
snow will create near blizzard conditions through late Monday.
Heavy snow will develop overnight tonight and will continue
through Tuesday afternoon resulting in 6 to 12 inches in zone 217,
3 to 6 inches in zones 207 and 208, 3 to 7 inches in zones 215
and 216, and up to 4 inches in zone 227. Warm air aloft will move
overhead tomorrow for zones 215, 216, and 227 (mainly near
McGrath), creating a scenario where freezing rain is likely. Could
see up to one tenth of an inch of ice accumulation. The strong
northerly winds combined with cold temperatures north of Saint
Lawrence Island will cause freezing spray to be blown over the
north shore of the island through Monday night.

North Slope and Brooks Range...Winter Weather Advisories for snow
and blowing snow along the Arctic Coast early Monday through
Tuesday afternoon. Snow will develop over the Brooks Range tonight
and spread north to the Arctic Coast by early tomorrow morning.
From Barrow west could see 4 to 6 inches with up to 4 inches to
the east and lesser amounts of 2 to 3 inches inland. Falling snow
combined with strong easterly flow will create low visibility in
blowing snow over the next couple of days. May see blizzard
conditions develop Wednesday and Thursday along the Beaufort Sea
Coast as easterly winds increase to around 30 to 40 mph. Will
have to monitor to see if action needs to be taken for a winter
weather hazard.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning for AKZ223-AKZ224-AKZ225-AKZ226-AKZ227.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ213-AKZ217-AKZ218-AKZ219.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ207-
AKZ208-AKZ215-AKZ216-AKZ227.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220.

Gale Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

LTH DEC 17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 11, 12:43 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG35 hr
Dec 11, 12:30 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG50 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.