Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Warnings in 2019

High Wind Warning 12, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 8, 2019

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this high wind warning at Dec 8, 2019, 3:52 PM AKST. It took effect at Dec 9, 2019, 12:00 AM AKST. It was in force for 18 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
Dec 8, 2019, 3:52 PM AKST (00:52 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 9, 2019, 12:00 AM AKST
Expired
Dec 9, 2019, 6:00 PM AKST
In force
18 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

022 
WWAK71 PAFC 090052
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
352 PM AKST Sun Dec 8 2019

AKZ101-091500-
/O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0006.191209T0900Z-191210T0100Z/
/O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0012.191209T0900Z-191210T0600Z/
Anchorage-
Including the cities of Anchorage, Eagle River, Indian, 
and Eklutna
352 PM AKST Sun Dec 8 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 PM AKST
MONDAY ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 45 to 65 mph with gusts up to 90 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Turnagain Arm and higher elevations.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 PM AKST Monday.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult, especially 
  for high profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...For the Anchorage Bowl, the southeast winds
  will hold off until Monday evening, when gusts up to 40 mph are
  expected.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

AKZ125-091500-
/O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0006.191209T0900Z-191210T0100Z/
/O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0012.191209T0900Z-191210T0600Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, Girdwood, 
and Moose Pass
352 PM AKST Sun Dec 8 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 PM AKST
MONDAY THROUGH PORTAGE VALLEY AND ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM...

* WHAT...East winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 80 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Portage Valley and along Turnagain Arm.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 PM AKST Monday.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, and
  cause power outages. Travel will be difficult, especially for
  high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
http://weather.gov/afc
3 follow-up statements
603 
WWAK71 PAFC 091222
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
322 AM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

AKZ101-100300-
/O.EXT.PAFC.HW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-191210T0300Z/
Anchorage-
Including the cities of Anchorage, Eagle River, Indian, 
and Eklutna
322 AM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS EVENING
ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 45 to 65 mph with gusts up to 90 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Turnagain Arm and higher elevations.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult, especially 
  for high profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...For most of the Anchorage Bowl, the
  southeast winds will hold off until Monday evening, when gusts
  up to 40 mph are expected. For portions of northeast Anchorage
  and the lower hillside, wind gusts to 60 mph are possible in the
  afternoon to early evening hours.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

AKZ125-100300-
/O.EXT.PAFC.HW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-191210T0300Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, Girdwood, 
and Moose Pass
322 AM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS EVENING
THROUGH PORTAGE VALLEY AND ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM...

* WHAT...East winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 80 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Portage Valley and along Turnagain Arm.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult, especially 
  for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
http://weather.gov/afc
315 
WWAK71 PAFC 091823
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
923 AM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

AKZ101-100300-
/O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-191210T0300Z/
Anchorage-
Including the cities of Anchorage, Eagle River, Indian, 
and Eklutna
923 AM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS...

* WHAT...Southeast wind 55 to 70 mph with gusts to 115 mph along 
  Turnagain Arm. Southeast winds 45 to 65 mph with gusts up to 80 
  mph expected along the Hillside. 

* WHERE...Turnagain Arm and higher elevations with highest winds
  along Turnagain Arm.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult, especially 
  for high profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...For most of the Anchorage Bowl, the 
  southeast winds will hold off until Monday evening, when gusts 
  up to 40 mph are expected. For portions of northeast Anchorage 
  and the lower hillside, wind gusts to 60 mph are possible in 
  the afternoon to early evening hours.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

AKZ125-100300-
/O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-191210T0300Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, Girdwood, 
and Moose Pass
923 AM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING THROUGH PORTAGE VALLEY AND ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM...

* WHAT...East winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 80 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Portage Valley and along Turnagain Arm.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult, especially 
  for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
http://weather.gov/afc
217 
WWAK71 PAFC 100308
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
608 PM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

AKZ101-125-100415-
/O.EXP.PAFC.HW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-191210T0300Z/
Anchorage-Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Anchorage, Eagle River, Indian, Eklutna, 
Whittier, Seward, Girdwood, and Moose Pass
608 PM AKST Mon Dec 9 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING HAS EXPIRED ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND HIGHER
ELEVATIONS...

...HIGH WIND WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR PORTAGE VALLEY AND ALONG
  TURNAGAIN ARM...

Winds have fallen below warning levels. However, strong and
gusty east to southeast winds will slowly diminish through
this evening.

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
http://weather.gov/afc

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high wind warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind warning went out at Dec 8, 7:43 AM AKST, 8 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 8, 7:43 AM AKST, 8 hours 9 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
743 AM AKST Sun Dec 8 2019

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

A high amplitude pattern remains in place with a strong upper
level ridge parked over the Alaska Panhandle while an upper level
low has moved to the northern Bering. A front currently lifting
inland over Southcentral this morning continues to drive warm,
southerly flow over the southern half of the state with
temperatures reaching as warm as 58 degrees in Seldovia late
Saturday evening. Accompanying these warmer temperatures, gusty
southeasterly winds have picked up during the overnight hours as
the front continues to move inland. Meanwhile out west, cold
northerly flow on the backside of the low in the northern Bering
persists this morning.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

Model solutions are in good agreement regarding the current front
lifting inland over Southcentral. There is overall better
agreement with the next low arriving from the North Pacific late
Sunday into early Monday. As this low moves over the AKPEN, there is
less certainty on the exact track it takes once it arrives in the
Bering, and also how much the low strengthens as it travels
northward along the Southwest coast. However, given the consistency
models have shown with the continued trend of the low strengthening
as it lifts northward, we are still confident that the impacts
(strong winds/heavy precip) will remain relatively the same.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...A frontal boundary has pushed in overnight bringing gusty
southerly flow to the terminal that will persist through midday.
Wind shear will become a concern again this evening as another
front approaches the area. Expect northerly flow at the terminal
with southeasterly flow aloft.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
A brief break in the weather is expected today as the weather
system over the area last night moves north of the area. A
powerful north Pacific low will move into the Gulf today and then
into Southcentral tonight. This will bring strong winds across
the Gulf through Monday with Storm warnings over many of the
marine areas. This will also bring very strong winds to Turnagain
Arm and the higher elevations around Anchorage. This system is
also loaded with moisture and is quite warm. Heavy precipitation
is expected along and near the Gulf coast. Rain is the expected
precipitation type over most lowland areas with temperatures in
the 40s on Monday. The exception to this will be the northern
Susitna Valley and the Copper River Basin, where there may be a
mixture of rain and snow, but chances of precipitation are low.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...

Active weather will continue to be seen across Southwest Alaska
over the next few days. Strong winds continue across the Kuskokwim
Delta Coast as one low exits to the north this morning, giving a
quick break in weather across the remainder of Southwest. The
pattern quickly shifts this afternoon as a powerful and fast
moving North Pacific low moves into the region. This low will
bring snow, which eventually transitions to rain, as it lifts
across the greater Bristol Bay area this evening into the morning
hours Monday. Strong east to southeast winds will bring gusts to
60+ mph for areas in Bristol Bay and along the Alaska Range later
today into the morning hours of Monday as the front lifts northward.

As this feature continues a northward track over the Kuskokwim
Delta, there will be the potential for blowing snow ahead of this
warm front overnight into Monday morning with sustained winds of
35+ mph. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the
Kuskokwim Delta Coast as a brief period of heavy snowfall, along
with potential blowing snow, could reduce the visibility across
the areas. By Tuesday morning, the pattern shifts back to a
quieter one with winds decreasing and precipitation beginning to
taper off.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...

As a gale force low continues moving into the northern Bering
through this afternoon, northerly flow moves into the western
Bering and Aleutians. Meanwhile, a fast moving North Pacific low
brings gale force winds into Bristol Bay and the eastern Bering by
this afternoon, with the low center strengthening as it crosses over
the Aleutians into the eastern Bering by Monday morning. This low
will continue to deepen to an impressive 955-960 mb by Monday
afternoon.

Models still have some disagreement of the position and strength
of this low, which will continue to be looked at as the low moves
into the area. There is good agreement that there will be a small
swath of storm force winds south of the Alaska Peninsula this
afternoon as the low first approaches our area. However, once the
low moves into the eastern Bering, it is less certain on strength
of winds over Bristol Bay. The GFS solution has storm force
northeasterly winds for Monday morning, while the NAM continues to
be the weaker solution with sustained winds 10 to 15 knots weaker
during this time.

&&

.MARINE (Days 3 through 5)...

...Bering Sea and Aleutian Coastal Waters...

An area of low pressure near Nunivak Island early Tuesday morning
will bring high sustained gale force winds to the eastern Bering
Sea and Bristol Bay region, with perhaps some low-end storm force
winds just offshore from the Kuskokwim Delta. This low will then
retrograde (move west) and slowly weaken as it reaches Saint
Matthew Island by evening, with the winds having subsided to less
than 30 knots by then. For the remainder of the region, winds and
waves will generally be less than 25 knots with waves generally
less than 15 feet. This will continue into Wednesday and Thursday
for all of the forecast area.

...Gulf of Alaska...

Sustained storm force winds ahead of a surface front will plague
the northern Gulf early Tuesday morning. A favorable dynamic fetch
ahead of this feature will allow seas to build into the 25 to 30
foot range. These winds will rapidly drop to the small craft variety
by the afternoon, as the best dynamics associated with the front
push inland. The wave heights will also drop due to the decrease in
wind energy.

This reprieve will be short-lived though, as yet another front,
associated with a north Pacific low, moves into the region late
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Sustained winds will increase to
gale force, with the long fetch allowing waves to once again
increase into the 20 to 25 foot range.

Heading into Thursday, both the waves and winds will subside as a
weakening area of low pressure enters the southwestern Gulf.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)...

The forecast remains fraught with uncertainty due to model
discrepancy, but some items remain consistent. Synoptically, a
progressive pattern will persist over the Bering and Alaska.
Starting Tuesday, a vertically stacked low will drift into the
northern Bering, steering modified Arctic air over the Aleutians
and Bering. The low will gradually weaken and shift towards
Siberia, but in the meantime expect scattered showers over much of
the Bering/Aleutians through Thursday. Meanwhile, a north Pacific
low will drift northward and push a warm occluded front toward
the southern Mainland. Models are consistent with bringing decent
precipitation to the AKPEN/eastern Aleutians, but how far north
and east precipitation reaches is tough to discern, given the lack
of consistency with track of the steering low and potential for a
triple-point low to develop. Right now it looks likely that the
northern Gulf Coast will see precipitation as a front pushes
north in the Wednesday to Friday timeframe. By Friday, a strong
low will approach the western Aleutians and bring a good swath of
precipitation and gusty winds. The front will quickly traverse the
Chain Friday, possibly turning the Southwest Mainland wet by
Saturday.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...WSW 155.

MARINE...Storms: 119 120 130 131 132 138 160 352.

Gales: 125 129 136 137 139 140 141 150 155 165 180 181 185 351
414.

FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...KO
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...BL
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...AH
MARINE/LONG TERM...MM/PD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 8, 3:11 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC37 hr
Dec 8, 3:11 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Dec 8, 3:11 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC12 hr
Dec 8, 3:40 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC24 hr
Dec 9, 3:20 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC25 hr
Dec 9, 3:28 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Dec 9, 3:28 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Dec 9, 3:28 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Dec 9, 9:36 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFC2 hr
Dec 9, 9:46 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC6 hr
Dec 9, 12:13 PM AKSTAreal Flood AdvisoryAFC24 hr

Nearby

High Wind Warnings in Alaska, 2019Every high wind warning in 2019

Sources

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