Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Watches in 2017

High Wind Watch 9, NWS Fairbanks, AK

December 12, 2017

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this high wind watch at Dec 12, 2017, 6:08 AM AKST. It took effect at Dec 13, 2017, 3:00 AM AKST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 12, 2017, 6:08 AM AKST (15:08 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 13, 2017, 3:00 AM AKST
Expired
Dec 12, 2017, 10:30 AM AKST
In force
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

573 
WWAK73 PAFG 121508
NPWAFG

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
608 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

AKZ223-130100-
/O.NEW.PAFG.WI.Y.0049.171213T1800Z-171214T0300Z/
Deltana and Tanana Flats-
Including Salcha, Delta Junction, Fort Greely, 
Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake, and Healy Lake
608 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM AKST WEDNESDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Wind
Advisory, which is in effect from 9 AM to 6 PM AKST Wednesday. 

* LOCATION...near Delta Junction.

* WINDS...southeast gusting 65 mph.

* TIMING...winds will increase tonight with strong winds
  developing Wednesday morning. The strongest winds will be
  Wednesday morning and afternoon. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Advisory means that strong winds are occurring or
expected. Travel may be difficult. Secure loose objects which may
be blown about by the wind.

&&

$$

AKZ225-130100-
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.A.0009.171213T1200Z-171214T0300Z/
Denali-
Including Healy, Denali National Park, Carlo Creek, and Kantishna
608 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a High Wind
Watch, which is in effect from late tonight through Wednesday
afternoon. 

* LOCATION...In Passes and along the north side of the Alaska 
  Range. 

* WINDS...South gusting to 70 mph. 

* TIMING...Winds gusting to 55 mph now through this evening will
  increase to 70 mph after midnight tonight. The strongest winds
  will be midnight tonight through Wednesday afternoon. 
 
* IMPACTS...Strong winds could blow lose objects. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Watch means hazardous high winds are expected.
Preparations should be made to prevent property damage.

&&

$$

AKZ226-130100-
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.A.0009.171213T1800Z-171214T0300Z/
Eastern Alaska Range-
Including Mentasta Lake, Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome, 
Trims DOT Camp, Eagle Trail, and Mineral Lake
608 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a High Wind
Watch, which is in effect from Wednesday morning through
Wednesday afternoon. 

* LOCATION...In Passes west of Mentasta and along the north side 
  of the Alaska Range. 

* WINDS...South gusting to 70 mph. 

* TIMING...Winds gusting to 55 mph now through tonight will
  increase to 70 mph after Wednesday morning. The strongest winds
  will be Wednesday. 
 
* IMPACTS...Strong winds could blow lose objects. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Watch means hazardous high winds are expected.
Preparations should be made to prevent property damage.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
825 
WWAK73 PAFG 121930
NPWAFG

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1030 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

AKZ225-131500-
/O.UPG.PAFG.HW.A.0009.171213T1200Z-171214T0300Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.W.0027.171212T1930Z-171214T1500Z/
Denali-
Including Healy, Denali National Park, Carlo Creek, and Kantishna
1030 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a High Wind
Warning, which is in effect until 6 AM AKST Thursday. The High
Wind Watch is no longer in effect. 

* WINDS...South gusting to 75 mph.

* TIMING...Winds will increase during the day today and will peak
  late this evening. Winds will die down some overnight. Winds
  will increase again during the day on Wednesday peaking Wednesday
  evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds could blow lose objects.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Warning means hazardous high winds are occurring or
expected. Take precautions to protect life and prevent property
damage.

&&

$$

AKZ226-131500-
/O.UPG.PAFG.HW.A.0009.171213T1800Z-171214T0300Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.W.0027.171212T1930Z-171214T1500Z/
Eastern Alaska Range-
Including Mentasta Lake, Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome, 
Trims DOT Camp, Eagle Trail, and Mineral Lake
1030 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a High Wind
Warning, which is in effect until 6 AM AKST Thursday. The High
Wind Watch is no longer in effect. 

* LOCATION...In Passes west of Mentasta and along the north side 
  of the Alaska Range. 

* WINDS...South gusting to 75 mph.

* TIMING...Winds will increase during the day today and will peak
  late this evening. Winds will die down some overnight. Winds
  will increase again during the day on Wednesday peaking Wednesday
  evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds could blow lose objects.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Warning means hazardous high winds are occurring or
expected. Take precautions to protect life and prevent property
damage.

&&

$$

AKZ223-131500-
/O.EXT.PAFG.WI.Y.0049.171212T1930Z-171214T1500Z/
Deltana and Tanana Flats-
Including Salcha, Delta Junction, Fort Greely, 
Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake, and Healy Lake
1030 AM AKST Tue Dec 12 2017

...WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY...

* LOCATION...near Delta Junction.

* WINDS...southeast gusting 65 mph.

* TIMING...Winds will increase during the day today and will peak
  late this evening. Winds will die down some overnight. Winds
  will increase again during the day on Wednesday peaking Wednesday
  evening.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Advisory means that strong winds are occurring or
expected. Travel may be difficult. Secure loose objects which may
be blown about by the wind.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high wind watch 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 wind watch went out at Dec 11, 2:16 PM AKST, 15 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 11, 2:16 PM AKST, 15 hours 52 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
216 PM AKST Mon Dec 11 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Active, southerly flow pattern continue across Northern Alaska
with a wide range of winter and strong wind hazards. Unseasonably
warm temperature both at the surface and aloft persist over the
southern half of our forecast area, which will present some
interesting forecasting challenges in terms precipitation type
through the week. The 11/12Z deterministic models are in good
agreement regarding the overall synoptic pattern through the
forecast period. There are some differences in how each individual
shortwave in the southerly flow is handled. Models are hinting at
temperatures warming aloft Wednesday over the western and central
Interior, with the AKGFS being a bit bullish and unrealistic at
+4 to +7C on 00Z this weekend into early next week, but may be
short lived.

West Coast and Western Interior...Along the west coast, low
visibility between one-quarter to one mile due to snow and
blowing snow have been reported at sites in zones 207 and 213.
Conditions will improve overnight for Saint Lawrence Island and
the Bering Strait as north winds decrease, while strong winds
continue for Point Hope through tomorrow. For zones 215, southern
216, and 227, NAM and GFS soundings continue to indicate that the
precipitation type will be freezing rain as warm air remains aloft
over the next several days. The best chance for freezing rain
will be this evening into early tomorrow morning, where up to one-
tenth of an inch is expected and winter weather advisories for
freezing rain remain in effect. To the north of the Kobuk and
Noatak valley, snow will continue overnight tonight and dissipate
tomorrow. A storm total of 8 to 12 inches is expected in zone 217,
and 3 to 6 inches with blowing snow for zone 208.

Eastern and Central Interior...Strong south
winds have topped out around 80 mph as reported by observation
sites within and near Isabel Pass with gusts around 75 mph
reported recently at a mesonet site near Fort Greely and an
estimated report of 65 to 70 mph from a spotter east of Tok in
zone 224. It looks like winds have peaked in Isabel Pass as the
strongest winds are now being reported in zone 223 south of Delta
Junction. South winds should gradually decrease over the next few
hours. For zone 225, strong, warning level southerly winds never
developed and have been between 45 to 55 mph and peaked early this
morning near 65 mph. Models are hinting at another round gusty
south winds late Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night, but this
round should be considerably weaker than the current event. Over
the northern Interior, winter storm warnings for heavy snow
remains in effect for zones 218 and 219. Snow will continue
through the evening for these zones and then taper off tonight.
Over the southern Interior, NAM and GFS soundings show a favorable
atmospheric profile for freezing rain for any precipitation that
falls through this evening before temperatures cool aloft.

Brooks Range and North Slope...Along the Arctic Coast, visibility
has been reduced to one-quarter to one-half mile at times in
blowing snow. Expecting conditions to persist as east winds
gusting to 40 mph continue tonight for the Beaufort Sea Coast and
Tuesday from Barrow west. Will likely see another 2 to 4 inches
with lesser amounts inland and to the east of Barrow by Tuesday
afternoon. A leeside trough north of the Brooks Range will develop
Wednesday with the pressure gradient over the Brooks Range
increasing. Southerly gap winds through the eastern Brooks Range
passes will increase Wednesday evening and persist into early
Thursday afternoon. Gale force winds will develop along the Arctic
Coast Wednesday evening into thursday. This will potentially lead
to issues with reduced visibility due to blowing snow along the
Arctic Coast and in the eastern Brooks Range passes.

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

&&

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

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ201-AKZ213-AKZ217-AKZ218-AKZ219.

Winter Weather Advisory for 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 PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

LTH DEC 17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 12, 5:47 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG29 hr
Dec 12, 6:08 AM AKSTWind AdvisoryAFG38 hr
Dec 12, 6:20 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG8 hr
Dec 12, 6:20 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG7 days
Dec 12, 10:30 AM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAFG34 hr
Dec 12, 2:01 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG46 hr
Dec 12, 2:33 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Dec 12, 2:39 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG24 hr

Nearby

High Wind Watches in Alaska, 2017Every high wind watch 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.