Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018

Gale Warning 110, NWS Fairbanks, AK

November 27, 2018

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Nov 27, 2018, 2:28 PM AKST. It was in force for 12 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 27, 2018, 2:28 PM AKST (23:28 UTC)
Expired
Nov 28, 2018, 2:55 AM AKST
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

491 
FZAK51 PAFG 272328
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
228 PM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

Arctic 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.

PKZ298-281515-
228 PM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1032 mb high 500 nm NW of Wrangel Island with ridging extending
east to near Banks Island will remain in place while a 990 mb low
over Norton Sound weakens through Wednesday.

$$

PKZ225-281515-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
228 PM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.WED...E winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog and blowing
snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...E winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.SUN...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-281515-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
228 PM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

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

.TONIGHT...NE winds 35 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY
1 NM or less. 
.WED...NE winds 30 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...E winds 35 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. 
.FRI...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 30 kt. 
.SUN...SE winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ235-281515-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
228 PM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.WED...NE winds 30 kt. Blowing snow and freezing fog. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...E winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. 
.FRI...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ240-281515-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
228 PM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY
1 NM or less. 
.WED...NE winds 25 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI...E winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-281515-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
228 PM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY
1 NM or less. 
.WED...NE winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.WED NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI...E winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 10 kt.  

$$

Nov 18
1 follow-up statement
837 
FZAK51 PAFG 281155
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
255 AM AKST Wed Nov 28 2018

Arctic 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.

PKZ298-290330-
255 AM AKST Wed Nov 28 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1036 mb high 500 nm NW of Wrangel Island with ridging extending
east to near Banks Island will remain in place while a 990 mb low
over Norton Sound weakens and drifts over the Bering Strait
through Thursday. A weak low will remain over the McKenzie Delta
through Thursday.

$$

PKZ225-290330-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
255 AM AKST Wed Nov 28 2018

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...E winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.TONIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog and blowing
snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...E winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Snow showers.
Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 4 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.SUN...E winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-290330-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
255 AM AKST Wed Nov 28 2018

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

.TODAY...E winds 30 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.TONIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...E winds 30 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. 
.FRI...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 30 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ235-290330-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
255 AM AKST Wed Nov 28 2018

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

.TODAY...NE winds 30 kt. Blowing snow and freezing fog. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.TONIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. 
.FRI...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 25 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ240-290330-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
255 AM AKST Wed Nov 28 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...NE winds 25 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...E winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI...E winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-290330-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
255 AM AKST Wed Nov 28 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...NE winds 25 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...NE winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI...E winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 10 kt.  

$$

CCC Nov 18

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 Nov 27, 4:28 AM AKST, 10 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 27, 4:28 AM AKST, 10 hours before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
428 AM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

.DISCUSSION...
Another active day with snow and blowing snow on the North Slope
especially along the coast today and tonight and a slight pattern
shift that will lead to a strong storm moving north into the
Bering Sea Friday and Saturday.

Aloft, at 500 mb a 506 DAM low currently located just south of
the Bering Strait will weaken and retreat north and west as an
upper level ridge builds temporarily over the central Bering Sea
Thursday ahead of an upper level low that deepens to become the
anchoring low as the longwave reestablishes itself over the
western Bering Sea and provides an environment ripe for deep
cyclogenisis over the southern Bering Sea late in the week. A
series of weaker shortwaves will continue to move north along the
back side of a ridge currently over the Yukon and will provide
periods of strong winds through the Alaska Range passes and
northern foothills and will continue to keep temperatures well
above normal for most of northern Alaska through the week.

On the surface an inverted trough extends north and west from a
972 mb low currently over Kodiak Island. The trough extends along
the west coast and through the Bering Strait into the southern
Chukchi Sea and is the focus for snow and blowing snow today and
tonight. A strong gradient between the low over Kodiak Island and
a 1030 mb high pressure system near the pole continues to produce
strong winds as well as falling snow along the coastal areas of
the North Slope. Ongoing Winter Weather Advisories remain on track
with both the winds and snow expected to diminish late tonight.
Blowing snow continues to reduce visibilities to one half mile or
less at times along much of the north coast.

In the central and eastern interior warming and drying down slope
winds continue to keep temperatures well above normal especially
above the valley inversions. Expect mostly cloudy skies in the
southern interior and a slight chance of light snow over the
northern interior today. Most of the interior will have a slight
chance of light snow Wednesday night and Thursday.

The inverted trough over the west coast will be the focus for
light snow today and Wednesday for the West Coast and Western
interior where 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected.

Extended Range Forecast, Wednesday and Thursday will be the
relative quiet before a strong storm moving east off of the
Kamchatka Peninsula into the Western Bering Sea Thursday merges
with a rapidly deepening low pressure system moving north over
Dutch Harbor into the southern Bering Sea Friday Morning as a 980
mb low. The low continues to move north to be located 150 nm
northwest of Nunivak Island as a 965 mb low Friday evening and
continues to deepen around 955 mb as it passes just west of St
Lawrence Island Saturday morning. This storm has the potential to
produce very strong winds, snow and blowing snow to much of the
west coast including the lower YK Delta, Norton Sound and the
Bering Strait Friday and Saturday. The strong winds will bring the
potential for elevated water levels especially along south and
west facing coastlines. Computer models continue to differ on the
track and strength of this storm. Small differences in the track
of this storm will produce significant differences on the weather
and coastal impacts for the west coast. Continue to monitor.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...A strong area of low
pressure is expected to north through the central or eastern Bering
Sea Thursday and Friday and will bring the potential for strong
winds and elevated water to Gambell, the Bering Strait as well as
Norton Sound Friday and Saturday. The models differ on the track
and strength of this storm. Small differences in the track of this
storm will produce significant differences on impacts for the
west coast. Continue to monitor.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ205.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

CCC NOV 18

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Nov 27, 9:08 AM AKST, 5 hours 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
908 AM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

AKZ207>214-281500-
Chukchi Sea Coast-Lower Kobuk and Noatak Valleys-
Baldwin Peninsula and Selawik Valley-
Northern and Interior Seward Peninsula-
Southern Seward Peninsula Coast-
Eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills-
St Lawrence Island and Bering Strait Coast-Yukon Delta-
Including Point Hope, Shishmaref, Kivalina, Espenberg, Noatak,
Kiana, Red Dog Mine, Kotzebue, Selawik, Noorvik, Buckland,
Deering, Candle, Council, Haycock, Pilgrim Springs,
Serpentine Hot Springs, Taylor, Nome, White Mountain, Golovin,
Unalakleet, Stebbins, St Michael, Elim, Koyuk, Shaktoolik,
Gambell, Savoonga, Brevig Mission, Teller, Wales, Diomede,
Mountain Village, Emmonak, Alakanuk, Kotlik, Pilot Station,
St Marys, Scammon Bay, Marshall, Nunam Iqua, and Pitkas Point
908 AM AKST Tue Nov 27 2018

...Potential for a Strong Bering Sea Storm Friday Night Into
Sunday...

A strong storm system is expected to move north through the Bering
Sea Friday night into Sunday. This system has the potential to
bring strong winds, elevated water levels and a mixture of snow,
rain and freezing rain to the west coast. At this point, there is
still uncertainty in the exact timing and track of this system.
This will affect the placement of the strongest winds, heaviest
precipitation and highest water levels. Residents are urged to
monitor www.weather.gov/fairbanks for the latest information as we
approach the weekend.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 27, 4:44 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG47 hr
Nov 27, 4:44 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG59 hr
Nov 27, 4:44 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG4 days
Nov 27, 4:44 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG10 hr
Nov 27, 4:44 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG59 hr
Nov 27, 7:30 AM AKSTWind AdvisoryAFG12 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2018Every gale warning in 2018

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.