Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2017

Storm Warning 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

November 18, 2017

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this storm warning at Nov 18, 2017, 3:24 PM AKST. 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
Nov 18, 2017, 3:24 PM AKST (00:24 UTC)
Expired
Nov 19, 2017, 2:48 PM AKST
In force
23 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

992 
FZAK52 PAFG 190024
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
324 PM AKST Sat Nov 18 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.

PKZ299-191530-
324 PM AKST Sat Nov 18 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 988 mb low currently over the Gulf of Anadyr will move rapidly
south and east tonight to be located over Norton Sound as a 984 mb
low tonight and southeast of Kodiak Island Sunday morning. A
low pressure trough will trail behind the low through Monday over
western Alaska. A ridge of high pressure continues to build south
and east over the high arctic ocean and north slope Monday.

$$

PKZ200-191530-
Norton Sound-
324 PM AKST Sat Nov 18 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 40 kt becoming W. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog.
Snow. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN...NE winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.MON...NE winds 10 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...S winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...W winds 40 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.THU...N winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-191530-
Dall Point to Wales-
324 PM AKST Sat Nov 18 2017

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...W winds 45 kt. Seas 16 ft building to 22 ft. Fog.
Freezing rain. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 50 kt. Seas 22 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 15 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.MON...S winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Seas 17 ft. Snow and rain. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.TUE...W winds 45 kt. Seas 20 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...NW winds 45 kt. Seas 20 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 17 ft. 
.THU...N winds 30 kt. Seas 21 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-191530-
Kotzebue Sound-
324 PM AKST Sat Nov 18 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...E winds 45 kt. Seas 8 ft. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY
1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN...E winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...E winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.THU...NE winds 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-191530-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
324 PM AKST Sat Nov 18 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...E winds 45 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing fog. Snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.SUN...NE winds 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog and blowing snow.
VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.MON...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...NW winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.THU...N winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

CCC Nov 17
2 follow-up statements
349 
FZAK52 PAFG 191357
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
457 AM AKST Sun Nov 19 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.

PKZ299-200330-
457 AM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 978 mb low over the Chukotsk Peninsula will move to near 
McGrath as a 990 mb low by 3pm Sun, then move southeast. A Strong
low in the Sea of Okhotsk will move to just west of Anadyr as a 
978 mb low by 3pm Mon, and to the southern Chukchi Sea as a 975 
mb low by 3pm Tue. 

$$

PKZ200-200330-
Norton Sound-
457 AM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...W winds 35 kt becoming N. Seas 7 ft. Fog, snow. Vsby 
less than 1 nm. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON...E winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...S winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Snow and rain. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...W winds 40 kt. Seas 11 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.THU...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-200330-
Dall Point to Wales-
457 AM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...W winds 60 kt becoming N 45 kt. Seas 24 ft. Snow. 
Freezing rain. Vsby less than 1 nm. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 14 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON...SE winds 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 23 ft. Snow and rain. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.TUE...W winds 45 kt. Seas 27 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...W winds 40 kt. Seas 18 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 12 ft. 
.THU...N winds 30 kt. Seas 14 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-200330-
Kotzebue Sound-
457 AM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS MORNING...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E winds 35 kt becoming NE 25 kt. Seas 7 ft subsiding to
5 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...E winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 4 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.THU...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-200330-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
457 AM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS MORNING...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E winds 35 kt becoming N. Seas 10 ft subsiding to 7 ft.
Freezing fog. Snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 11 ft. Snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.TUE...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 13 ft. Snow. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...W winds 35 kt. Seas 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...E winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.THU...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

Nov 17
945 
FZAK52 PAFG 192348
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
248 PM AKST Sun Nov 19 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.

PKZ299-201515-
248 PM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A Strong low in the Sea of Okhotsk will move to just west of 
Anadyr as a 978 mb low by 3pm Mon, and to the southern Chukchi Sea
as a 975 mb low by 3pm Tue.

$$

PKZ200-201515-
Norton Sound-
248 PM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

.TONIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft subsiding to 4 ft. Freezing 
spray. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...S winds 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...W winds 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray. 
.WED...W winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray. 
.WED NIGHT...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.FRI...S winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-201515-
Dall Point to Wales-
248 PM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N winds 30 kt decreasing to 20 kt. Seas 14 ft
subsiding to 9 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON...SE winds 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 23 ft. Snow and rain. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.TUE...W winds 45 kt. Seas 26 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...W winds 40 kt. Seas 19 ft. Freezing spray. 
.WED...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 16 ft. Freezing spray. 
.WED NIGHT...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 14 ft. Freezing spray. 
.THU...N winds 30 kt. Seas 14 ft. 
.FRI...S winds 30 kt. Seas 14 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-201515-
Kotzebue Sound-
248 PM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

.TONIGHT...N winds 10 kt becoming E. Seas 2 ft subsiding. 
.MON...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...E winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...SW winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 3 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.FRI...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-201515-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
248 PM AKST Sun Nov 19 2017

.TONIGHT...N winds 20 kt becoming E. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.MON...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 12 ft. Snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.TUE...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 13 ft. Blowing snow. Snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...W winds 35 kt. Seas 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...W winds 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. Freezing spray. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.FRI...S winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.  

$$

Nov 17

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this storm 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 storm warning went out at Nov 18, 2:41 PM AKST, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 18, 2:41 PM AKST, 43 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
241 PM AKST Sat Nov 18 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Very active weather pattern continues to hammer western Alaska.

Ongoing blizzard on the west coast continues to intensify this
evening with many locations already reporting blizzard conditions
along the west coast from Nome south and heavy snow and or
freezing rain in the YK delta and on St Lawrence Island and the
Bering Strait.

Aloft at 500 hpa, a strong shortwave over the Chukotsk Peninsula
continues to push east and south flattening the upper level ridge
over the southeastern Bering Sea. As the ridge continues to get
squeezed south and west the shortwave will continue to dig south
and east and strengthen the longwave that is currently over
eastern Alaska and the Yukon and is slowly moving to the west.
Cold airmass over the Yukon and eastern interior brought the first
minus 20 day to Fairbanks and many areas of eastern Alaska.
Mostly clear skies over the central and eastern Alaska will
promote another cold night with temperatures in the teens and 20s
as well as a few 30s below in coldest locations. 40 below not out
of the question for the Yukon Flats and coldest spots in the
Fortymile country Monday night. A Tanana Valley Jet will develop
this evening and will produce gusty southeast winds from Delta
Junction west to include Salcha and Nenana. Expect easterly winds
gusting to around 40 mph in Delta Junction area tonight and
Sunday morning and wind gusts to 25 mph in Salcha and Nenana.

On the surface a 988 mb low currently over the Gulf of Anadyr
moves rapidly south and east as the associated front currently
extending south and east from the low to St Lawrence Island to the
YK Delta rapidly occludes and remains the focal point for heavy
snow. The low continues to deepen to 984 mb as it moves into
Norton Sound tonight and moves over Kodiak Island as a 982 mb low
Sunday Morning. An inverted trough will remain over the west coast
and will continue to produce snow through early afternoon over the
west coast. Storm total snow is expected to between 4 and 12
inches with locally higher amounts from the Bering Strait
southeast to McGrath. Freezing rain and rain freezing on the
ground and road surfaces is expected to produce up to one half
inch of ice accumulation south and west of Anvik.

West winds will increase tonight as the low passes to the south
and will produce a 3 to 4 foot storm surge along the Norton Sound
Coast south of Stebbins and along the YK Delta Coast. The surge
will back up the Yukon river several miles producing elevated
water levels. Water levels will relax Monday as winds decrease.

A second strong low will move from the western Bering into the
Gulf of Anadyr on Monday and over the southern Chukchi Sea Tue.
This will bring another round of strong winds, snow, blowing snow
and possible blizzard conditions to the west Coast late Monday
night and Tuesday. This could bring a significant storm surge and
possible coastal flooding to the West Coast of Alaska Tue into
Wed, but still much uncertainty on this. Will keep eye on this
feature for further developments.

A third very strong low will move into the central Bering Sea
Thursday and Friday. Model guidance continues to indicate surface
pressures dropping to below 960 MBS with considerable spread on
the track of the storm. This storm has the potential to bring yet
another round of significant storm surge and possible coastal
flooding to the west coast of Alaska in addition to strong winds,
heavy snow and freezing rain. Continue to monitor.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...
A second strong low will move from the western Bering to near
Anadyr on Mon and over the southern Chukchi Sea Tue. This will
bring another round of strong winds, snow, blowing snow and
possible blizzard conditions to the west Coast Mon night and Tue.
This could bring a significant storm surge and possible coastal
flooding to the West Coast of Alaska Tue into Wed, but still much
uncertainty on this. Will keep eye on this feature for further
developments.

A third very strong low will move into the central Bering Sea
Thursday and Friday. Model guidance continues to indicate surface
pressures dropping to below 960 PBS with considerable spread on
the track of the storm. This storm has the potential to bring yet
another round of significant storm surge and possible coastal
flooding to the west coast of Alaska in addition to strong winds,
heavy snow and freezing rain. There is considerable model spread
on the track and strength of this storm as well. Continue to
monitor.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Surf Advisory for AKZ212-AKZ214.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ214-AKZ215-AKZ216.

Blizzard Warning for AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ210-AKZ211-AKZ212-AKZ213.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ208.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-
PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235.

Gale Warning for PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

Storm Warning for PKZ210.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ235.
&&

CCC NOV 17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 18, 3:24 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG23 hr
Nov 18, 3:25 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG23 hr
Nov 18, 3:25 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG13 hr
Nov 19, 4:12 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG11 hr
Nov 19, 4:58 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG10 hr
Nov 19, 4:58 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG23 hr
Nov 19, 2:47 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Nov 19, 2:48 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG4 days

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2017Every storm 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.