Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018

Gale Warning 22, NWS Fairbanks, AK

February 21, 2018

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 21, 2018, 3:08 PM AKST. It was in force for 36 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 21, 2018, 3:08 PM AKST (00:08 UTC)
Expired
Feb 23, 2018, 3:35 AM AKST
In force
36 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

074 
FZAK52 PAFG 220008
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
308 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 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.

PKZ299-221600-
308 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 997 mb low near Provideniya will move to 60 nm north of 
Shishmaref as a 1000 mb low by 3am Thu, and to 100 nm east of 
Kotzebue as a 1005 mb low by 3pm Thu. This low will continue east
across the Brooks Range and weaken Thu night. High pressure will
build over the northern Bering Sea Thu and Thu night.

$$

PKZ200-221600-
Norton Sound-
308 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 20 kt. Fog, snow.
.THU...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow and freezing fog. VSBY 1 NM or
less. 
.THU NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.FRI...NE winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. 
.MON...SE winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-221600-
Dall Point to Wales-
308 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 30 kt becoming W. Seas 12 ft. Freezing fog and
blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...W winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Blowing snow and freezing fog.
VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.FRI...E winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less.
Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-221600-
Kotzebue Sound-
308 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 25 kt diminishing to 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...W winds 30 kt increasing to 35 kt in the afternoon. 
Freezing fog. Snow.
.THU NIGHT...W winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.FRI...W winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...N winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...NW winds 20 kt. 
.MON...S winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-221600-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
308 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 25 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the evening. 
Freezing fog. Snow.
.THU...NW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow and freezing fog. VSBY 1 NM 
or less. 
.THU NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.FRI...NW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. 
.MON...S winds 20 kt.  

$$

Feb 18
3 follow-up statements
447 
FZAK52 PAFG 221313
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
413 AM AKST Thu Feb 22 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.

PKZ299-230415-
413 AM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 999 mb low near Point Hope will move E. A ridge of high 
pressure across the Central Bering Sea will move to lie from 
Bristol Bay to the Gulf of Anadyr, to a 1034 mb high over Chukotka
Thu evening. High pressure will move over the SW mainland by Fri 
morning with a 1018 mb center near McGrath and ridging extending 
NW over the Chukotsk Peninsula. The trough of low pressure will 
lie along 60N by Fri night.

$$

PKZ200-230415-
Norton Sound-
413 AM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

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

.TODAY...W winds 30 kt. Blowing snow and freezing fog. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 25 kt diminishing to 20 kt. 
.FRI...E winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 15 kt. 
.MON...SE winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-230415-
Dall Point to Wales-
413 AM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...W winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.FRI...E winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM
or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or
less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN...W winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-230415-
Kotzebue Sound-
413 AM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS
EVENING...

.TODAY...S winds 15 kt becoming W 30 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.TONIGHT...W winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.FRI...W winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...N winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 20 kt. 
.MON...S winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-230415-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
413 AM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...NW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow and freezing fog. VSBY 1 NM
or less. 
.TONIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. 
.FRI...NW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. 
.MON...S winds 15 kt.  

$$

SDB Feb 18
786 
FZAK52 PAFG 230021
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
321 PM AKST Thu Feb 22 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.

PKZ299-231700-
321 PM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 999 mb low near Point Hope will move E. A ridge of high 
pressure stretching from Bristol Bay to the Gulf of Anadyr will
move to be a 1034 mb high over Chukotsk Peninsula, Seward
Peninsula and SW Interior by Fri morning. The trough of low 
pressure will lie along 60N by Fri night.

$$

PKZ200-231700-
Norton Sound-
321 PM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

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

.TONIGHT...W winds 25 kt decreasing to 15 kt. Blowing snow. 
.FRI...NE winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 10 kt. 
.MON...SE winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...SW winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-231700-
Dall Point to Wales-
321 PM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

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

.TONIGHT...W winds 25 kt becoming N. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing 
spray. 
.FRI...E winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...S winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.TUE...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-231700-
Kotzebue Sound-
321 PM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W winds 35 kt decreasing to 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY
1 NM or less. 
.FRI...W winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...N winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. 
.MON...S winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...S winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-231700-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
321 PM AKST Thu Feb 22 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW winds 35 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.FRI...NW winds 25 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. 
.MON...S winds 15 kt. 
.TUE...SW winds 25 kt.  

$$

Feb 18
122 
FZAK52 PAFG 231235
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
335 AM AKST Fri Feb 23 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.

PKZ299-240300-
335 AM AKST Fri Feb 23 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
Weak high pressure lies over the Bering Strait and will slide N 
over the Chukchi Sea. A 991 mb low has moved to the Central Bering
Sea and will continue E with a front persisting along 60N. A 983 
mb low will move into the Western Bering Sea Sat night and to 
Nunivak Island Sun night at 982 mb. A 975 mb low will move S into 
the Western Arctic Sun night and over the Northwest Arctic Coast 
Mon. 

$$

PKZ200-240300-
Norton Sound-
335 AM AKST Fri Feb 23 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...NE winds 10 kt becoming E 20 kt. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt increasing to 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY
1 NM or less.
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 15 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. 
.MON...S winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...W winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-240300-
Dall Point to Wales-
335 AM AKST Fri Feb 23 2018

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...E winds 20 kt increasing to 30 kt. Seas 5 ft building to
8 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing fog and blowing
snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN...E winds 35 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 35 kt. Seas 12 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.MON...N winds 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.TUE...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-240300-
Kotzebue Sound-
335 AM AKST Fri Feb 23 2018

.TODAY...W winds 20 kt. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 20 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...S winds 10 kt. 
.MON...E winds 10 kt. 
.TUE...W winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-240300-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
335 AM AKST Fri Feb 23 2018

.TODAY...NW winds 20 kt. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 20 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. 
.MON...W winds 15 kt. 
.TUE...NW winds 20 kt.  

$$

SDB 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 21, 2:45 PM AKST, 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 21, 2:45 PM AKST, 23 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
245 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 2018

.DISCUSSION...
A weather system over western Alaska will move east across
mainland Alaska through Friday and be the significant weather
maker during the next 48 hours. This system is bringing snow and
freezing rain from the Seward Peninsula southward and the western
Interior south of Galena. Mixed precipitation is expected to
reach as far east as Fairbanks tonight. Periods of heavy snow will
also impact the Interior. Strong west winds and colder air will
trail behind the low late Thursday into Friday resulting in
blowing and drifting snow over the west coast and much of the
Interior from the Brooks Range southward. Temperatures will fall
to near normal for the weekend.

A broad ridge aloft over the north Pacific is bringing moist west
to southwest flow to mainland Alaska along with warm air and above
normal temperatures. This ridge will be suppressed and pushed
east into Canada on Thursday as a sharp trough aloft currently
over the Bering Sea progresses across the state into Friday.
Current forecasts are on track and we have only made minor
increases to the snowfall totals in the Interior and also bumped
up the strong winds developing in northwest Alaska on Thursday.

At the current time, it appears the chance for freezing rain will
remain from Fairbanks west. Periods of snow will continue into
Friday with amounts from 3 to 8 inches south of the Brooks Range,
with some locally higher amounts in favorable westerly facing
slopes. Gusty winds with the cold front Thursday through Friday
will pose the most significant impact. Visibility will be reduced
in many locations due to blowing and drifting snow, even at many
valley locations in the Interior.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ209-AKZ209-AKZ210-AKZ212-AKZ213-
AKZ214-AKZ215-AKZ216-AKZ217-AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ222-AKZ223-
AKZ224-AKZ225-AKZ227.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210.

Gale Warning for PKZ215-PKZ220.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-
PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

FEB 18

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 22, 3:42 AM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFG4 days

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.