Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2017

Gale Warning 36, NWS Fairbanks, AK

February 22, 2017

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 22, 2017, 3:32 PM AKST. It was in force for 24 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
Feb 22, 2017, 3:32 PM AKST (00:32 UTC)
Expired
Feb 23, 2017, 3:30 PM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

401 
FZAK52 PAFG 230032
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
332 PM AKST WED FEB 22 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.

PKZ299-231500-
332 PM AKST WED FEB 22 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 1022 MB LOW OVER THE BEAUFORT SEA WILL MOVE E. WEAK
RIDGING WILL BUILD OVER THE CENTRAL ARCTIC COAST WITH A 1041 MB 
HIGH OVER THE WESTERN ARCTIC. THE RIDGE AXIS MOVES E ACROSS THE 
ARCTIC TO THE BEAUFORT SEA BY THU AND TO BANKS ISLAND BY THU 
EVENING. A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE ARCTIC
COAST THU NIGHT.

$$

PKZ200-231500-
NORTON SOUND-
332 PM AKST WED FEB 22 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 35 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.THU...SE WINDS 30 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.THU NIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI...S WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT...S WINDS 35 KT. FOG, SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...SW WINDS 25 KT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-231500-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
332 PM AKST WED FEB 22 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 45 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.THU...S WINDS 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. 
VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.
.THU NIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.FRI...S WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 35 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT...S WINDS 45 KT. FOG, SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...SW WINDS 30 KT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 25 KT. 
.MON...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ215-231500-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
332 PM AKST WED FEB 22 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM EARLY THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SW WINDS 5 KT BECOMING E 20 KT. 
.THU...E WINDS 40 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.FRI...S WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT...SE WINDS 25 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 20 KT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-231500-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
332 PM AKST WED FEB 22 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM EARLY THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT BECOMING E 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY
1 NM OR LESS. 
.THU...E WINDS 35 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR
LESS. 
.FRI...S WINDS 25 KT. FREEZING FOG. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT...SE WINDS 35 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 30 KT. 
.MON...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

SDB FEB 17
1 follow-up statement
676 
FZAK52 PAFG 231152
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
252 AM AKST THU FEB 23 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.

PKZ299-240030-
252 AM AKST THU FEB 23 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 965 MB LOW IN THE WESTERN BERING SEA WILL MOVE NORTH TO THE 
GULF OF ANADYR BY FRI MORNING AT 999 MB. THE ASSOCIATED WEATHER 
FRONT WILL MOVE NE OVER THE BERING STRAIT TODAY AND OVER THE 
ARCTIC SLOPE TONIGHT. TWO MORE WEATHER FRONTS WILL MOVE THROUGH 
THE AREA FRI AND SAT.

$$

PKZ200-240030-
NORTON SOUND-
252 AM AKST THU FEB 23 2017

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

.TODAY...SE WINDS 30 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. 
.FRI...S WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT...S WINDS 35 KT. FOG, SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...SW WINDS 30 KT. SNOW.
.SUN...SW WINDS 20 KT. 
.MON...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-240030-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
252 AM AKST THU FEB 23 2017

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

.TODAY...S WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.TONIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.FRI...S WINDS 30 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 35 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT...S WINDS 35 KT. FOG, SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...SW WINDS 40 KT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 25 KT. 
.MON...NW WINDS 20 KT.  

$$

PKZ215-240030-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
252 AM AKST THU FEB 23 2017

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

.TODAY...E WINDS 40 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 40 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.FRI...S WINDS 15 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 25 KT. 
.MON...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-240030-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
252 AM AKST THU FEB 23 2017

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

.TODAY...E WINDS 40 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. 
.TONIGHT...SW WINDS 40 KT. BLOWING SNOW. SNOW. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.
.FRI...SW WINDS 10 KT. FREEZING FOG. 
.FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 25 KT. BLOWING SNOW. 
.SAT...E WINDS 20 KT. FREEZING FOG. SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 30 KT. 
.MON...W WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

CCC FEB 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 Feb 22, 3:11 AM AKST, 12 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 22, 3:11 AM AKST, 12 hours 21 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
311 AM AKST Wed Feb 22 2017

.DISCUSSION...
The 00z model suite initialized well against the 00z surface
analysis and verified well against the 06z surface analyses.
Model spread is minimal through early next week and in good
agreement on timing of shortwaves through a very progressive
pattern.

Aloft a 500 HPA, a 510 DAM low over Point Hope with a short wave
extending south along the west coat of Alaska will continue to
lift north and east and will be located near Prudhoe Bay this
evening as the short wave trough will moves east and will be
located along a Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks line this evening. The
shortwave trough will be the focal point for snow generally 2 to
4 inches over the interior today and tonight. A short wave ridge
builds over central Alaska tonight and Thursday morning as
another stronger shortwave moves north along the west coast as a
492 DAM low moves north through the central Bering Sea Thursday.
This shortwave moves north over the Seward Peninsula Thursday
evening and the western north slope Friday morning. As the
shortwave moves north and east another round of snow will move
into the west coast where there may be some light freezing rain
mixing in in the lower YK delta eastward to near McGrath. This
powerful short wave will flatten out the upper level ridge over
southern alaska and will provide another round of snow light snow
over the interior and heavy snow over the western Brooks range.
Multiple Winter Weather Headlines are hoisted for these areas. A
very moist west to southwest flow over the interior develops late
Saturday and Sunday as a strong low moves east over the Brooks
Range. This system has the potential to bring heavy snow over much
of the interior. The snowfall will be enhanced with upslope flow
on west and southwest facing slopes.

850 mb temperatures drop over Fairbanks from around 15 below on
Monday morning to around 25 below Tuesday morning and will remain
around 25 below through the end of next week and will likely
produce below normal temperatures for most of Alaska north of the
Alaska Range next week.

On the surface a 1011 mb low currently over the lower YK Delta
will weaken to a trough that will move east through the western
interior today and the central interior this afternoon and
tonight and will be the focal point for a around of light snow
generally in the 2 to 4 inch range. A 964 mb low over the central
Bering sea with a strong occluded front stretching northeast to
near the Bering Strait will continue to move north through the
Strait Thursday morning as a warm front moves north to near the
Seward Peninsula Thursday morning. The associated cold front plows
on shore Thursday afternoon as the warm front pushes over the
western Brooks Range Thursday afternoon and over the western north
slope Thursday night and Friday. The cold front continues to move
east into the central and eastern interior Friday and will again
be the focal point for anther round of light snow generally in 2
to 4 inch range. A third storm with associated fronts moves on
shore Saturday with another round of heavy snow and strong winds.
As the low moves east over the Brooks Range Saturday night and
Sunday heavy snow will move into the western interior Saturday and
the central interior Saturday night and Sunday. Current forecast
track is likely to bring heavy snow over much of the interior and
will need to be monitored closely.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory for AKZ226.

Winter Storm Watch for AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ209-AKZ210-AKZ217.

Blizzard Warning for AKZ213.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ211-AKZ212-AKZ214.

Gale Warning for PKZ210.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200.
&&

CCC FEB 17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 22, 3:26 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG11 hr
Feb 22, 3:26 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG24 hr
Feb 23, 2:52 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG13 hr
Feb 23, 2:52 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG13 hr
Feb 23, 2:52 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG13 hr
Feb 23, 3:53 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG3 days
Feb 23, 4:18 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG24 hr
Feb 23, 4:18 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG48 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.