Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018

Gale Warning 16, NWS Fairbanks, AK

February 19, 2018

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 19, 2018, 6:20 AM AKST. It was in force for 24 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
Feb 19, 2018, 6:20 AM AKST (15:20 UTC)
Expired
Feb 20, 2018, 6:15 AM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

139 
FZAK52 PAFG 191520
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
620 AM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

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.

PKZ299-200415-
620 AM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 990 mb low west of Wrangel Island will drift northwest. A 960 
mb low in the central Bering Sea will move to Cape Navarin as a
964 mb low by 3pm Mon, to 200 nm northwest of Cape Lisburne as a 
988 mb low by 3pm Tue, and to 300 nm northwest of Barrow as a 999
mb low by 3pm Wed. A third low will move north into the southern 
Bering Sea Tue night and to the central Bering Sea on Wed.

$$

PKZ200-200415-
Norton Sound-
620 AM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...S winds increasing to 35 kt. Freezing rain and snow. 
.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Snow. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...SW winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.WED...S winds 25 kt. Snow and freezing rain. 
.WED NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. Freezing rain. 
.THU...SW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...S winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-200415-
Dall Point to Wales-
620 AM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

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

.TODAY...S winds 40 kt. Seas 17 ft. Snow freezing rain. Blowing 
snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. Freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...S winds 45 kt. Seas 22 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. freezing spray. 
.TUE...SW winds 45 kt. Seas 21 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
rain. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...S winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Snow and freezing rain. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.WED NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing rain. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.THU...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.FRI...E winds 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-200415-
Kotzebue Sound-
620 AM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...SE winds 35 kt. Snow and blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or 
less.
.TONIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Snow. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...SW winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED...SE winds 15 kt. 
.WED NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Freezing rain. 
.THU...S winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...SW winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-200415-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
620 AM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...SE winds 25 kt increasing to 45 kt. Blowing snow. Snow. 
VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TONIGHT...S winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...SW winds 50 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED...S winds 15 kt. 
.WED NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. 
.THU...S winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...W winds 10 kt.  

$$

Feb 18
2 follow-up statements
412 
FZAK52 PAFG 192327
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
227 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

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-
227 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...

A964 mb low near Cape Navarin will move to to 200 nm northwest of
Cape Lisburne as a 988 mb low by 3pm Tue, and to 300 nm northwest
of Barrow as a 999 mb low by 3pm Wed. Another low will move north
into the southern Bering Sea Tue night and to the central Bering 
Sea on Wed.

$$

PKZ200-201515-
Norton Sound-
227 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...SW winds 35 kt. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.WED...S winds 25 kt. Snow with freezing rain. 
.WED NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.THU...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...S winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-201515-
Dall Point to Wales-
227 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 45 kt. Seas 29 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...SW winds 45 kt. Seas 26 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 16 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
rain. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...S winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing fog. Snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.WED NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
rain. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.FRI...E winds 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.SAT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-201515-
Kotzebue Sound-
227 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...S winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED...SE winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.WED NIGHT...S winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.THU...NW winds 20 kt. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...SW winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...NW winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-201515-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
227 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...SW winds 50 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED...S winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.WED NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. Freezing rain. 
.THU...NW winds 20 kt. 
.THU NIGHT...S winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...W winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...S winds 15 kt.  

$$

Feb 18
462 
FZAK52 PAFG 192344 CCA
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
244 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

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-
244 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 964 mb low near Cape Navarin will move to to 200 nm northwest 
of Cape Lisburne as a 988 mb low by 3pm Tue, and to 300 nm 
northwest of Barrow as a 999 mb low by 3pm Wed. Another low will 
move north into the southern Bering Sea Tue night and to the 
central Bering Sea on Wed.

$$

PKZ200-201515-
Norton Sound-
244 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...SW winds 35 kt. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.WED...S winds 25 kt. Snow with freezing rain. 
.WED NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.THU...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...S winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-201515-
Dall Point to Wales-
244 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 45 kt. Seas 29 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...SW winds 45 kt. Seas 26 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 16 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
rain. Heavy freezing spray. 
.WED...S winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing fog. Snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.WED NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
rain. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.FRI...E winds 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.SAT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-201515-
Kotzebue Sound-
244 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...S winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED...SE winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.WED NIGHT...S winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.THU...NW winds 20 kt. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...SW winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...NW winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-201515-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
244 PM AKST Mon Feb 19 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE...SW winds 50 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.WED...S winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.WED NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. Freezing rain. 
.THU...NW winds 20 kt. 
.THU NIGHT...S winds 20 kt. 
.FRI...W winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...S winds 15 kt.  

$$

Feb 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 Feb 18, 3:48 PM AKST, 14 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 18, 3:48 PM AKST, 14 hours 32 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
348 PM AKST Sun Feb 18 2018

.DISCUSSION...
Active weather pattern continues over northern Alaska.

The first in a series of strong winter systems affecting northern
Ala ska is winding down with snow, freezing rain and strong winds
decreasing over western Alaska this evening and over night.
Conditions have improved over the lower YK Delta and Seward
Peninsula and will improve this evening over Kotzebue Sound and
Western Brooks Range later tonight. A occluded front currently
along a Kotzebue to McGrath line will continue to weaken and move
north and east into the western and central interior where light
snow in the 1 to 2 inch range is expected. Upslope snow will
continue especially in the southwestern Brooks Range tonight and
Monday where an additional 3 to 5 inches are expected.

The second strong winter system begins impacting the Lower YK
Delta late tonight and Monday morning with strong winds, 1 to 2
inches of snow, as well up to one tenth of an inch of freezing
rain in the lower YK Delta, and eastern Norton Sound. Winds in
these areas are expected to gust in the 40 to 50 mph range.
Heavier snow in the 3 to 5 inch range impacts northern Norton
Sound and the Seward Peninsula Monday and will continue into
Tuesday. Light freezing rain may mix with the now as far north as
Nome. Very strong winds through the Bering Strait and on St
Lawrence Island are expected to develop tomorrow and continue into
Tuesday with wind gusts to 70 mph possible in these areas. The
winds combined with falling snow will create blizzard conditions
on St Lawrence Island, the Bering Strait as well as Kotzebue
Sound and along the coast northward to Point Hope. The strong
front moves rapidly east from Point Hope to Bristol Bay Tuesday
morning to Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks Tuesday evening and into
Canada Wednesday morning. The front will bring a quick shot of
light snow over the western and central interior where 1 to 2
inches of snow are expected.

A third system moves north into the central Bering Sea Wednesday
morning with another round of snow and freezing rain moving into
the lower YK Delta Wednesday morning and over the Seward Peninsula
and western interior Wednesday afternoon, and the central
interior by Wednesday evening. Considerable model spread exists
on the track and strength of this system with progressive flow.

As the third system moves through the interior Thursday and
into the Yukon Friday, a much colder airmass dives south and west
out of the high Canadian Arctic and into northern Alaska next
weekend.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ208-AKZ210-AKZ211-AKZ217.

Blizzard Warning for AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ213.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ212-AKZ214-AKZ216.

Gale Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ230-PKZ235.
&&

CCC FEB 18

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 19, 4:31 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG49 hr
Feb 19, 4:40 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG49 hr
Feb 19, 4:40 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG54 hr
Feb 19, 5:17 AM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFG40 hr
Feb 19, 5:17 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG40 hr
Feb 19, 7:04 AM AKSTCoastal Flood StatementAFG19 min
Feb 19, 7:04 AM AKSTCoastal Flood WarningAFG46 hr
Feb 19, 7:06 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG22 hr
Feb 19, 7:23 AM AKSTCoastal Flood AdvisoryAFG49 hr
Feb 19, 2:41 PM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG16 hr
Feb 19, 2:41 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG16 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.