Alert archive / Alaska / High Surf Advisories in 2017

High Surf Advisory 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK

July 22, 2017

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this high surf advisory at Jul 22, 2017, 5:35 AM AKDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 22, 2017, 5:35 AM AKDT (13:35 UTC)
Expired
Jul 22, 2017, 5:39 PM AKDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

602 
WHAK49 PAFG 221335
CFWAFG

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
535 AM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

AKZ202-222145-
/O.NEW.PAFG.SU.Y.0002.170722T1335Z-170723T0200Z/
NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST-
INCLUDING BARROW, ALAKTAK, PITT POINT, AND NULAVIK
535 AM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKDT THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKDT THIS EVENING. 

* LOCATION...FROM POINT BARROW WEST.

* WAVES AND SURF...WAVES OFFSHORE 4 FEET BUILDING TO 6 FEET WITH
  WINDS AROUND 25 MPH REMAINING ONSHORE. HIGH SURF RESULTING.

* TIMING...WAVES OFFSHORE BUILDING TO 6 FEET BY NOON, PERSISTING
  THROUGH MOST OF THE AFTERNOON, THEN DIMINISHING TOWARD EVENING.

* IMPACTS...PERSONS SHOULD APPROACH THE BEACH WITH CAUTION IF AT
  ALL. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
387 
WHAK49 PAFG 222036
CFWAFG

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1236 PM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

AKZ212-230200-
/O.NEW.PAFG.SU.Y.0003.170723T2000Z-170724T2000Z/
EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS-
INCLUDING UNALAKLEET, STEBBINS, ST MICHAEL, ELIM, KOYUK, 
AND SHAKTOOLIK
1236 PM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON SUNDAY TO NOON AKDT
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON SUNDAY TO NOON AKDT
MONDAY. 

* LOCATION...CAPE DARBY TO UNALAKLEET

* WAVES AND SURF...OFFSHORE WAVES OF 6 FEET COMBINED WITH
  SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 30 MPH AND A STORM SURGE OF 4 TO 5 FEET ABOVE
  NORMAL TIDES WILL RESULT IN HIGH SURF AND MINOR BEACH EROSION.

* TIMING...WIND AND WAVES WILL INCREASE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND
  CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING BEFORE DIMINISHING AROUND NOON
  MONDAY.
 
* IMPACTS...OFFSHORE WAVES OF 6 FEET AND A STORM SURGE OF 4 TO 5
  FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDES COMBINED WITH 30 MPH ONSHORE WINDS WILL
  RESULT IN WAVES RUNNING UP THE BEACH OVER THE HIGH WATER LINE.
  EXPECT MINOR BEACH EROSION. PERSONS SHOULD APPROACH THE BEACH 
  WITH CAUTION IF AT ALL. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT 
  PROPERTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

&&

$$

AKZ202-230200-
/O.CON.PAFG.SU.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-170723T0200Z/
NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST-
INCLUDING BARROW, ALAKTAK, PITT POINT, AND NULAVIK
1236 PM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* LOCATION...FROM POINT BARROW WEST.

* WAVES AND SURF...OFFSHORE WAVES OF 6 FEET COMBINED WITH WEST
  WINDS OF 25 MPH AND A STORM SURGE OF AROUND 1 FOOT ABOVE NORMAL
  TIDES WILL RESULT IN HIGH SURF AND MINOR BEACH EROSION.

* TIMING...WIND AND WAVES WILL CONTINUE TODAY AND PERSIST THROUGH
  LATE THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE DIMINISHING EARLY THIS EVENING.
  
* IMPACTS...OFFSHORE WAVES OF 6 FEET AND A STORM SURGE AROUND 1
  FOOT ABOVE NORMAL TIDES COMBINED WITH 25 MPH ONSHORE WINDS WILL
  RESULT IN WAVES RUNNING UP THE BEACH OVER THE HIGH WATER LINE. 
  EXPECT MINOR BEACH EROSION. PERSONS SHOULD APPROACH THE BEACH 
  WITH CAUTION IF AT ALL. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT 
  PROPERTY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

&&

$$
577 
WHAK49 PAFG 230139
CFWAFG

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
539 PM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

AKZ202-230245-
/O.CAN.PAFG.SU.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-170723T0200Z/
NORTHERN ARCTIC COAST-
INCLUDING BARROW, ALAKTAK, PITT POINT, AND NULAVIK
539 PM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS CANCELLED THE HIGH
SURF ADVISORY. 

$$

AKZ212-231400-
/O.CON.PAFG.SU.Y.0003.170723T2000Z-170724T2000Z/
EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS-
INCLUDING UNALAKLEET, STEBBINS, ST MICHAEL, ELIM, KOYUK, 
AND SHAKTOOLIK
539 PM AKDT SAT JUL 22 2017

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON SUNDAY TO NOON
AKDT MONDAY...

* LOCATION...CAPE DARBY TO UNALAKLEET.

* WAVES AND SURF...OFFSHORE WAVES OF 6 FEET COMBINED WITH 
  SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 30 MPH AND A STORM SURGE OF 4 TO 5 FEET 
  ABOVE NORMAL TIDES WILL RESULT IN HIGH SURF AND MINOR BEACH 
  EROSION. 

* TIMING...WIND AND WAVES WILL INCREASE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND 
  CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING BEFORE DIMINISHING AROUND NOON 
  MONDAY. 

* IMPACTS...OFFSHORE WAVES OF 6 FEET AND A STORM SURGE OF 4 TO 5 
  FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDES COMBINED WITH 30 MPH ONSHORE WINDS 
  WILL RESULT IN WAVES RUNNING UP THE BEACH OVER THE HIGH WATER 
  LINE. EXPECT MINOR BEACH EROSION. PERSONS SHOULD APPROACH THE 
  BEACH WITH CAUTION IF AT ALL. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO 
  PROTECT PROPERTY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high surf advisory 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 high surf advisory went out at Jul 21, 2:50 PM AKDT, 14 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 2:50 PM AKDT, 14 hours 45 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
250 PM AKDT Fri Jul 21 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Active weather pattern to continue over northern Alaska
through early next week.

An early season storm will bring persistent west to southwest
winds along the west and southwest facing coasts along the Bering
Strait coast, Kotzebue Sound, and the coast line north of Cape
Krusenstern as well as the Seward Peninsula and eastern Norton
Sound as a 990 mb low pressure near Wrangel Island strengthens and
moves northeast into the Chukchi Sea Sunday morning. Persistent
west to northwest winds will bring the potential for high surf
along the northwest coast especially north of Wainwright Sunday
afternoon and Monday. High surf is expected to develop along the
northwest coast including Barrow Sunday afternoon and Monday.

High surf is expected to develop Sunday afternoon and continue
through Monday along west, southwest and south facing coasts as
strong and persistent southwest winds develop ahead of an early
season storm moving northeast out of the northern Bering Sea into
the Chukchi Sea. Models continue to struggle with storm track and
strength and small differences in the track of this storm will
have a large influence on storm surge values at a particular
location. In addition to the potential for high surf, heavy rains
are expected to develop over the south facing portions of the
Seward Peninsula and the western Brooks Range on Sunday with over
1 inch of rain expected. Limited rainfall before this fast moving
system over the Seward Peninsula and western Brooks Range will
limit concerns on small stream rises. The heavy rain will continue
to move into the western interior Sunday night and into to central
interior Monday. Wetting rains are a good bet over much of the
interior Monday and will limit fire weather concerns.

The heavy rains will move east over the Eastern Brooks Range and
eastern North Slope where previous rain event and additional heavy
rain is expected tonight. Will need to monitor these areas for
rises on rivers. See Hydro Section for additional details.

At this time the highest surf levels are expected to begin Sunday
afternoon and continue through Monday for most locations. Storm
surge values of 3 to 4 feet above normal tide levels are expected
along the eastern coast of Norton Sound from Cape Stebbins to near
Shaktoolik Sunday afternoon and continuing into Monday. Storm
surge values of 4 to 5 feet are expected Sunday afternoon to
Monday from near Shaktoolik through Norton Bay to near Golovin.
Storm surge values of 3 to 4 feet are expected along the coast
from near Golovin west to near Nome Sunday afternoon through
Monday.

Storm surge values of 2 to 3 feet above normal tide levels are
expected along the Bering Strait Coast. Storm surge values of 1
to 2 feet above normal tide levels are expected beginning Sunday
Evening and continuing into Monday in Kotzebue Sound including
Kotzebue. Storm surge values of 2 to 3 feet above normal tide
levels are expected along the coast north of Cape Krusenstern.
Storm surge values of 1 to 2 feet art expected along the northwest
coast especially north of Wainwright beginning Sunday afternoon
and continuing into to Monday with 1 to 2 foot surge values
expected around Barrow. Those with interests along the shore
should move boats and other valuables above the high water line.

The 12z model run initialized well against the 12 surface analysis
and verified well against the 18z surface analysis. Model spread
is improved over yesterdays 12z run but continues to struggle
from model family to model family on early season low track and
strength.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...
Water levels will be slow to lower on Monday with persistent west
winds over Norton Sound as well as Kotzebue Sound. Storm Surge
values are likely to remain elevated into Tuesday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
No concerns.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
A series of storm systems is expected to bring several rounds of
heavy rainfall over the Eastern Brooks Range and eastern North
Slope through Monday of next week. An additional 1 inch or more of
rainfall is expected through Monday with additional rainfall
expected tonight and Saturday morning as well as Sunday night and
Monday. Expect rapid rises in rivers and streams into early next
week east of the Colville River as ground becomes more and more
saturated.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235-
PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

CCC JUL 17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 22, 4:37 AM AKDTHigh Wind WatchAFG24 hr
Jul 22, 12:36 PM AKDTHigh Surf AdvisoryAFG71 hr
Jul 22, 3:06 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG47 hr

Nearby

High Surf Advisories in Alaska, 2017Every high surf advisory 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.