Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2017

Gale Warning 75, NWS Fairbanks, AK

August 8, 2017

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Aug 8, 2017, 5:06 AM AKDT. It was in force for 23 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
Aug 8, 2017, 5:06 AM AKDT (13:06 UTC)
Expired
Aug 9, 2017, 4:22 AM AKDT
In force
23 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

345 
FZAK69 PAFG 081306
OFFAFG

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
506 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

Offshore Waters Forecast for the US Arctic Waters

Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of
the combined wind wave and swell height. Individual waves may be
twice as high.

PKZ599-090015-
506 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A 988 mb low 350 NM NW of Wrangel Island will move east to be
located 350 nm north east of Wrangel Island this evening as a 
1015 mb high pressure system just north of the eastern North Slope
Coast will move east over the McKenzie Delta this evening.

$$

PKZ500-090015-
Western US Arctic Offshore-
506 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT...

.Today...SW winds 20 kt increasing to 35 kt with gusts to around
50 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 ft. Fog in the afternoon. 
.TONIGHT...SW winds 35 kt with gusts to around 50 kt becoming NW
25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt after midnight. Seas 9 ft. Rain
in the evening. Fog through the night. 
.WED...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU...N winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.FRI...N winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.SAT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

PKZ505-090015-
Central US Arctic Offshore-
506 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

.Today...SW winds 20 kt becoming S 30 kt with gusts to around
45 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5 ft. Fog in the afternoon. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 30 kt with gusts to around 50 kt. Seas 9 ft.
Fog through the night. 
.WED...W winds 25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W winds 25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...W winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.FRI...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SAT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

PKZ510-090015-
Eastern US Arctic Offshore-
506 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

.Today...N winds 15 kt becoming S in the afternoon. Seas 4 ft. 
.TONIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.WED...W winds 25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU...W winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.FRI...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

CCC Aug 17
2 follow-up statements
588 
FZAK69 PAFG 082239
OFFAFG

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
239 PM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

Offshore Waters Forecast for the US Arctic Waters

Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of
the combined wind wave and swell height. Individual waves may be
twice as high.

PKZ599-091400-
239 PM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A 982 mb low 600 nm NW of Point Barrow will move to 600 nm N of 
Point Barrow by Wed morning, as a weather front sweeps E to the 
Beaufort Sea. High pressure will build in over the Arctic Coast 
behind the front. The low will move to 700 nm NE of Point Barrow 
by Thu afternoon, and a 997 mb low over the Siberian Coast will 
swing around to Wrangel Island by Thu morning, then over the NW 
Arctic Coast Thu night before diving S into interior Alaska. 

$$

PKZ500-091400-
Western US Arctic Offshore-
239 PM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...

.Tonight...SW winds 35 kt with gusts to around 50 kt becoming NW
25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt after midnight. Seas 9 ft. Rain
in the evening. Fog. 
.WED...W winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU...W winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.FRI...N winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.SAT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ505-091400-
Central US Arctic Offshore-
239 PM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT...

.Tonight...W winds 35 kt with gusts to around 50 kt becoming NW
25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt after midnight. Seas 9 ft. 
Fog. 
.WED...W winds 25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W winds 25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...W winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.THU NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.FRI...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SAT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ510-091400-
Eastern US Arctic Offshore-
239 PM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

.Tonight...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.WED...SW winds 25 kt with gusts to around 40 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU...W winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.FRI...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.SUN...W winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

SDB Aug 17
205 
FZAK69 PAFG 091222
OFFAFG

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
422 AM AKDT Wed Aug 9 2017

Offshore Waters Forecast for the US Arctic Waters

Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of
the combined wind wave and swell height. Individual waves may be
twice as high.

PKZ599-100030-
422 AM AKDT Wed Aug 9 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A 978 mb low 600 nm NW near 80N and 160W will move east to near 80
N and 135W as a 984 mb low Thursday afternoon. High pressure will
build in over the eastern Arctic Coast behind the front. A second
low near Wrangel Island will deepen to 1992 mb Thursday evening
and move northeast to be 100 nm northwest of Barrow as a 987 mb
low Friday morning. 

$$

PKZ500-100030-
Western US Arctic Offshore-
422 AM AKDT Wed Aug 9 2017

.Today...W winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TONIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU...S winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Fog, rain.
.THU NIGHT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Fog, rain.
.FRI...N winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ505-100030-
Central US Arctic Offshore-
422 AM AKDT Wed Aug 9 2017

.Today...W winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.THU...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Rain and snow. 
.FRI...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ510-100030-
Eastern US Arctic Offshore-
422 AM AKDT Wed Aug 9 2017

.Today...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.THU NIGHT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.FRI...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

CCC Aug 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 Aug 8, 4:59 AM AKDT, 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 8, 4:59 AM AKDT, 7 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
459 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Significant weather pattern change coming to northern Alaska this
weekend. The 00z model suite initialized well against the 00z
surface analysis and verified well against the 06z surface
analysis. Model spread remains reasonable in the short and mid
range and displays expected spread by the weekend.

Aloft at 500 hpa a 515 DM low currently centered near the north
pole dives south along the date line today and then swings
southeast to be located near 80N and 160W Wednesday evening. The
first of several strong shortwaves rotating around the upper
level low swings east over the western North Slope this evening
and over the central North Slope Wednesday morning and the eastern
North Slope Wednesday evening. The shortwave sweeps through the
northern interior and will erode the persistent upper level ridge
over the central and eastern interior.

Another and stronger shortwave sweeps south and east over the
western North Slope and Bering Strait Friday. Favorable upper
level dynamics will align to generate a surface low over the
western North Slope and southern Chukchi Sea Friday and will
continue to strengthen as it moves over the western Brooks Range
Friday afternoon. The low continues to deepen to around 996 mb
over the central Brooks Range Friday evening and to around 992 mb
over the eastern Brooks Range. A strong cold front will sweep
across the interior Friday and Saturday ushering in much cooler
temperatures. 850 mb temperatures over Fairbanks currently around
12 celsius will drop slightly to around 8 celsius Friday afternoon
and will drop to around 3 below Sunday morning. Snow levels will
drop from around 9 kft this afternoon to around 2 kft Sunday
morning over Fairbanks. Snow levels drop to the surface over most
of the North Slope excluding the immediate coasts Saturday and
over the Brooks Range Saturday night and Sunday.

As the low deepens over the western Brooks Range a persistent and
long fetch northwest flow will develop over the western coast of
the North Slope and Kotzebue Sound, and Bering Strait Friday and
Saturday. Will need to monitor west and north facing coasts in
these areas for high surf. See coastal hazard potential section
and special weather statements for additional information on these
hazards.

Surge models indicate the potential for elevated surf this evening
and tomorrow along the Arctic Coast west of Barrow as a 20 to 20
mph along shore wind turns to onshore late tonight or Wednesday
morning. The winds combined with 8 to 10 foot waves breaking off
shore and surge values around 1 foot above normal tide levels
will allow waves to run up to near the high water level. A special
weather statement covering elevated surf along the coast west of
Barrow has been issued.

Expect isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and evening along the
thermal trough which will lie from near Arctic Village southwest
to near St. Mary. Minimum relative humidity level are expected to
remain above 30 percent over northern Alaska with the exception
of the Upper Tanana Valley and Fortymile country where level may
drop to around 25 percent this afternoon and evening. Gusty gap
winds through the Alaska Range passes continue this morning and
will continue through this afternoon.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None. Another early
season storm is expected to develop over the southern Chukchi Sea
and move into the Bering Strait and Kotzebue Sound Friday and
Saturday. This storm is expected to bring persistent Northwest
winds along the west and north facing coasts along the Chukchi Sea
Coast, Bering Strait and Kotzebue Sound. Small changes in the
track and strength of this storm will affect which coast lines
will receive the worst impacts. Those with interests along the
shore should continue to monitor the situation for additional
information and future statements.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Expect isolated showers this afternoon and evening, mainly along
the thermal trough which will extend from near Arctic Village
southwest to near Saint Mary. Minimum relative humidity level are
expected to remain above 30 percent over all but the southeastern
interior where some locations mainly in the Upper Tanana Valley
and Fortymile Country will drop to around 25 percent both today
and Wednesday. Some gap winds with gusts up to 30 mph possible
again this afternoon and evening in the Alaska Range.

A general cooling trend is expected over the next 7 days.
Temperatures across the Interior will likely struggle reach 60
degrees by Sunday.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Water from heavy rainfall last week continues to work its way down
the river system. The Kobuk River crested today in Kiana. High
water will continue in the Kobuk Delta through the middle of the
week.

The Tetlin Road at mile 5.3 will remain flooded through at least
this week as the Tanana River will remain high and continue to
push water into low areas near this section of the road.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235.
&&

CCC AUG 17

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 8, 2:08 AM AKDT, 2 hours 58 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
208 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

AKZ201-202-090200-
Western Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Point Lay, Cape Lisburne, Barrow,
Alaktak, Pitt Point, and Nulavik
208 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

...Elevated Surf Possible Tuesday Evening Through Wednesday
Morning...

A strong front approaching the Northern Arctic Coast Tuesday
evening will push onshore Wednesday Morning. Southwest winds of
20 to 30 mph this evening will shift to an onshore northwest
direction late tonight or Wednesday morning. The winds combined
with 8 to 10 foot waves breaking off shore and tide levels up to
one foot above normal tide levels will drive wave run up to near
the high water line beginning this evening and continuing into
Wednesday.

Localized beach erosion will be possible with this storm. Those
with interests along the shore should move boats and other
valuables above the high water line.

Another storm is expected to develop over the southern Chukchi
Sea and move into the Bering Strait and Kotzebue Sound Friday and
Saturday. This storm is expected to bring persistent Northwest
winds along the west and north facing coasts along the Chukchi
Sea Coast. Small changes in the track and strength of this storm
will affect which coast lines will receive the worst impacts.
Those with interests along the shore should continue to monitor
the situation for additional information and future statements.

For the latest forecasts go to www.weather.gov/fairbanks
Special weather statement, Aug 8, 2:18 AM AKDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
218 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

AKZ207-209-210-090215-
Chukchi Sea Coast-Baldwin Peninsula and Selawik Valley-
Northern and Interior Seward Peninsula-
Including Point Hope, Shishmaref, Kivalina, Espenberg, Kotzebue,
Selawik, Noorvik, Buckland, Deering, Candle, Council, Haycock,
Pilgrim Springs, Serpentine Hot Springs, and Taylor
218 AM AKDT Tue Aug 8 2017

...High Surf Possible Friday and Saturday...

Another early season storm is expected to develop over the
southern Chukchi Sea and move into the Bering Strait and Kotzebue
Sound Friday and Saturday. This storm is expected to bring
persistent Northwest winds along the west and north facing coasts
along the Chukchi Sea Coast, Bering Strait and Kotzebue Sound.
Small changes in the track and strength of this storm will affect
which coast lines will receive the worst impacts. Those with
interests along the shore should continue to monitor the situation
for additional information and future statements.

For the latest forecasts go to www.weather.gov/fairbanks

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 8, 5:05 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG23 hr
Aug 8, 2:39 PM AKDTGale WarningAFG14 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.