Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Watches in 2018

High Wind Watch 9, NWS Fairbanks, AK

December 28, 2018

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this high wind watch at Dec 28, 2018, 3:10 PM AKST. It took effect at Dec 30, 2018, 6:00 AM AKST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 28, 2018, 3:10 PM AKST (00:10 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 30, 2018, 6:00 AM AKST
Expired
Dec 29, 2018, 2:18 PM AKST
In force
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

663 
WWAK73 PAFG 290010
NPWAFG

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
310 PM AKST Fri Dec 28 2018

AKZ223-291500-
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
Deltana and Tanana Flats-
Including Salcha, Delta Junction, Fort Greely, 
Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake, and Healy Lake
310 PM AKST Fri Dec 28 2018

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON...

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

* LOCATION...Delta Junction and south.

* WINDS...South winds 35 to 50 mph with gusts to 70 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning and
  continue through Monday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around.
  Buildings may be damaged.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

AKZ225-291500-
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-181231T1500Z/
Denali-
Including Healy, Denali National Park, Carlo Creek, and Kantishna
310 PM AKST Fri Dec 28 2018

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE
SUNDAY NIGHT...

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

* LOCATION...Alaska Range passes and foothills.

* WINDS...South winds 50 to 60 mph with gusts to 80 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning and
  continue through Sunday evening.

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around.
  Buildings may be damaged.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

AKZ226-291500-
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
Eastern Alaska Range-
Including Mentasta Lake, Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome, 
Trims DOT Camp, Eagle Trail, and Mineral Lake
310 PM AKST Fri Dec 28 2018

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON...

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

* LOCATION...Alaska Range passes and foothills.

* WINDS...South winds 50 to 60 mph with gusts to 80 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning and
  continue through Monday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around.
  Buildings may be damaged.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
315 
WWAK73 PAFG 291429
NPWAFG

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
529 AM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

AKZ225-300000-
/O.EXT.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
Denali-
Including Healy, Denali National Park, Carlo Creek, and Kantishna
529 AM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

...HIGH WIND WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON...

* LOCATION...Alaska Range passes.

* WINDS...South winds gusting to 70 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning and
  continue through Monday. 

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around. 
 PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

AKZ223-300000-
/O.CON.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
Deltana and Tanana Flats-
Including Salcha, Delta Junction, Fort Greely, 
Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake, and Healy Lake
529 AM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON...

* LOCATION...Near Delta Junction.

* WINDS...South winds gusting to 70 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning 
  and continue through Monday afternoon. 

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around. 
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

AKZ226-300000-
/O.CON.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
Eastern Alaska Range-
Including Mentasta Lake, Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome, 
Trims DOT Camp, Eagle Trail, and Mineral Lake
529 AM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON...

* LOCATION...Alaska Range passes.

* WINDS...South winds gusting to 70 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning 
  and continue through Monday afternoon. 

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around. 
 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$
019 
WWAK73 PAFG 292318
NPWAFG

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
218 PM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

AKZ225-301500-
/O.UPG.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.W.0016.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
Denali-
Including Healy, Denali National Park, Carlo Creek, and Kantishna
218 PM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 3 PM AKST
MONDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a High Wind
Warning, which is in effect from 6 AM Sunday to 3 PM AKST Monday.
The High Wind Watch is no longer in effect. 

* LOCATION...Alaska Range passes.

* WINDS...South winds gusting to 70 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning 
  and continue through Monday. 

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around. Snow
  and blowing snow will reduce visibility at times south of Denali
  Park.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 

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

&&

$$

AKZ226-301500-
/O.UPG.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.W.0016.181230T1500Z-190101T0300Z/
Eastern Alaska Range-
Including Mentasta Lake, Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome, 
Trims DOT Camp, Eagle Trail, and Mineral Lake
218 PM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 6 PM AKST
MONDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a High Wind
Warning, which is in effect from 6 AM Sunday to 6 PM AKST Monday.
The High Wind Watch is no longer in effect. 

* LOCATION...Alaska Range passes.

* WINDS...South winds gusting to 70 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning 
  and continue through Monday afternoon. 

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around. Snow 
  and blowing snow will reduce visibility at times from Trims Camp
  south. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

AKZ223-301500-
/O.UPG.PAFG.HW.A.0009.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.WI.Y.0072.181230T1500Z-190101T0000Z/
Deltana and Tanana Flats-
Including Salcha, Delta Junction, Fort Greely, 
Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake, and Healy Lake
218 PM AKST Sat Dec 29 2018

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 3 PM AKST MONDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Wind
Advisory, which is in effect from 6 AM Sunday to 3 PM AKST
Monday. The High Wind Watch is no longer in effect. 

* LOCATION...Near Delta Junction.

* WINDS...South winds gusting to 60 mph.

* TIMING...Strong winds are expected to develop Sunday morning 
  and continue through Monday afternoon. 

* IMPACTS...Loose items may be picked up and blown around.

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 28, 6:12 AM AKST, 8 hours 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 28, 6:12 AM AKST, 8 hours 58 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
612 AM AKST Fri Dec 28 2018

DISCUSSION...

...Current Weather and Hazards...Minimal changes from yesterday
morning for most of Northern Alaska. Light snow continues to be
the story for the West Coast and Western Interior. Only exception
is Tin City, where north winds are sustained at 40 mph with
quarter mile or less visibility. Quiet weather in the Eastern
Interior, with the only weather of note being scattered snow
showers north and west of Fairbanks. The story on the North Slope
is low clouds and occasional lower visibilities.

...Aloft...Long wave trough axis that is currently located
through the Bering Strait will continue to persist, with an
embedded short wave bringing light snow centered over the Seward
Peninsula today. As the long wave trough begins to lift to the
northeast tonight, chances for snow will increase further north,
into Kotzebue Sound west to Shungnak. A second shortwave trough
will move through the Western Interior tonight, bringing more
measurable snowfall to the Western Interior late tonight. This
trough will continue to move northeast through Saturday night,
bringing snow to the North Slope and Eastern Interior. A ridge
behind this front will move into Northern Alaska behind this
shortwave by Saturday night. Models are trending the ridge weaker,
so cloud cover is expected to persist Saturday night and into
Sunday morning. Models showing a lot of variability with the next
upper level trough for Sunday, but the consensus will be impactful
weather along the West Coast.

...Surface...A weather front currently draped along the West
Coast, through the Brooks Range and into northern Canada expected
to persist through Friday night and then move east on Saturday. A
990 mb low pressure in Prince William Sound will continue to
weaken, with no impacts to northern Alaska. A 992 mb low pressure
near Sand Point will push to the northeast, bringing snow to the
Western Interior late tonight. High pressure begins to build into
the Western Interior behind the weather front by Saturday
afternoon. This surface high pressure will move quickly across
Interior Alaska and into Canada by Saturday night.

A strong low pressure moves into the Bering Sea tonight. Models
then begin to diverge on the development of another low pressure
Saturday afternoon. The GFS brings a 953 mb low pressure south of
St. Lawrence Island, while the NAM and ECMWF models do not
indicate any significant low pressure development by Sunday
afternoon. However, all models indicate 40 mph winds and snow to
the Yukon Delta north to St. Lawrence Island and east into Norton
Sound early Sunday morning, with the duration of these winds
still uncertain. This has potential for producing blizzard
conditions Sunday and will need to be watched. Additionally,
chinook winds through Windy and Isabel Passes will develop early
Sunday morning.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...The sea ice extent will
result in no high water for the St. Lawrence coast despite the
strong winds and snow expected for Sunday.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

&&

AY DEC 18

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 28, 3:11 PM AKSTHigh Wind WatchAFG23 hr
Dec 28, 4:13 PM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG14 hr
Dec 29, 6:35 AM AKSTWinter Storm WatchAFG9 hr
Dec 29, 6:35 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG5 days
Dec 29, 6:55 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG23 hr
Dec 29, 6:55 AM AKSTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG24 hr
Dec 29, 6:55 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG24 hr
Dec 29, 2:18 PM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAFG3 days
Dec 29, 2:18 PM AKSTWind AdvisoryAFG3 days
Dec 29, 2:21 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG16 hr
Dec 29, 2:22 PM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAFG54 hr
Dec 29, 2:27 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG61 hr

Nearby

High Wind Watches in Alaska, 2018Every high wind watch 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.