Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2019

Storm Warning 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK

July 20, 2019

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this storm warning at Jul 20, 2019, 12:27 PM AKDT. It was in force for 14 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
Jul 20, 2019, 12:27 PM AKDT (20:27 UTC)
Expired
Jul 21, 2019, 2:42 AM AKDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

546 
FZAK51 PAFG 202027
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

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.

PKZ298-210215-
1227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1004 mb low near Cape Lisburne will deepen and move northeast 
to 75 nm north of Kaktovik as a 998 mb low by this evening. The 
low will continue northeast tonight to be a 998 mb low over Banks 
Island by Sunday morning. This will bring increasing winds across 
the Beaufort Sea coast today. Gale level winds are possible east 
of Deadhorse this afternoon into tonight.

$$

PKZ225-210215-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
1227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

.TODAY...W winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft subsiding. Fog.
.TONIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.SUN...S winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.SUN NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Fog.
.MON...S winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-210215-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
1227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

.TODAY...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.TONIGHT...S winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Fog.
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog, rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.MON...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...NE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-210215-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
1227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

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

.TODAY...NW winds 20 kt. Seas building to 5 ft. Fog, rain.
.TONIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.SUN...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog, rain.
.MON...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-210215-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
1227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

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

.TODAY...S winds 25 kt becoming NW 40 kt. Seas 5 ft building to
7 ft. Fog, rain.
.TONIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Fog.
.SUN...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.MON...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ245-210215-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
1227 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TODAY...SE winds 25 kt becoming S 50 kt. Seas 5 ft building to
8 ft. Fog, rain.
.TONIGHT...SE winds 50 kt becoming W 35 kt after midnight. Seas 7
ft. Fog.
.SUN...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.MON...W winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

Jul 19
2 follow-up statements
280 
FZAK51 PAFG 202242
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
242 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

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.

PKZ298-211415-
242 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 998 mb low just to the north of Deadhorse will quickly move 
northeast into Canadian waters this evening and will be a 998 mb 
low over Banks Island by Sunday morning. A strong low will move 
north across eastern Russia Sunday. This will cause winds to 
increase over the Chukchi Sea Sunday afternoon. 

$$

PKZ225-211415-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
242 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

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

.TONIGHT...SE 25 kt. Seas building to 5 ft. Fog, rain.
.SUN...S winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.SUN NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Fog.
.MON...S winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.THU...S winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-211415-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
242 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SW winds 10 kt becoming E 20 kt. Seas building to
4 ft. 
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog, rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...NE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.THU...S winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-211415-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
242 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

.TONIGHT...SW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft subsiding. 
.SUN...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog, rain.
.MON...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.THU...S winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-211415-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
242 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

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

.TONIGHT...W winds 35 kt decreasing 25 10 kt. Seas 5 ft 
subsiding.
.SUN...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TUE...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.THU...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ245-211415-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
242 PM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W winds 50 kt decreasing to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft subsiding
to 5 ft. 
.SUN...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...W winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.THU...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.  

$$

Jul 19
429 
FZAK51 PAFG 211042
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
242 AM AKDT Sun Jul 21 2019

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.

PKZ298-220230-
242 AM AKDT Sun Jul 21 2019

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A developing low over eastern Russia this morning will deepen to 
990 mb this afternoon as it moves N across Chukotka this 
afternoon. The low will continue NW tonight to be a 996 mb low 
near Wrangel Island Monday morning, continuing NW Monday. This low
will cause winds to increase over the Chukchi Sea today and 
Monday. A weather front associated with this low will move N
across the Chukchi Sea today and the Beaufort Sea Monday.

$$

PKZ225-220230-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
242 AM AKDT Sun Jul 21 2019

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...E winds 25 kt becoming S. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.TONIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Fog.
.MON...S winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.THU...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-220230-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
242 AM AKDT Sun Jul 21 2019

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH
EARLY MONDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...E winds 25 kt. Seas building to 5 ft. Fog.
.TONIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog.
.MON...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.THU...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-220230-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
242 AM AKDT Sun Jul 21 2019

.TODAY...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft subsiding. Fog.
.TONIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.MON...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...SW winds 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.THU...E winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-220230-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
242 AM AKDT Sun Jul 21 2019

.TODAY...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.TONIGHT...SE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Fog.
.MON...SW winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...W winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Fog.
.TUE...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...E winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.THU...E winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.  

$$

PKZ245-220230-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
242 AM AKDT Sun Jul 21 2019

.TODAY...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.TONIGHT...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.MON...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 5 kt. Seas 1 foot. Fog.
.TUE...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Fog.
.TUE NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.WED...E winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.THU...E winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.  

$$

Jul 19

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this storm 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 storm warning went out at Jul 20, 2:58 AM AKDT, 9 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 2:58 AM AKDT, 9 hours 29 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
258 AM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

.DISCUSSION...

Synopsis...
A rapidly deepening low pressure system will traverse the North
Slope today, resulting in wind gusts up to 40 mph in the Brooks
Range passes and wind gusts in excess of 50 mph this afternoon and
evening east of Deadhorse. Wind gusts of 60 mph possible near
Barter Island. Additional rainfall amounts of one quarter to one
half inch across much of the North Slope today, and one half to
one inch possible across the Brooks Range.

Elevated surf is possible for the southwest facing shorelines on
St Lawrence Island, Diomede and Chukchi Sea coast south of Point
Hope Sunday and Monday as the pressure gradient strengthens
between an area of low pressure over Siberia and high pressure
over Western Alaska.

Aloft, at 500 mb, a 520 dam low is located in the high Arctic,
with a shortwave extending southwest across the western Beaufort
Sea and into the Chukchi Sea. This shortwave will quickly move
east across the Arctic Coast today and move over Banks Island
Saturday night. The parent low will slide eastward and waken
through the weekend and early next week. A 562 dam low in the
southern Gulf of Alaska this morning will meander around the Gulf
of Alaska through the next several days, while a ridge axis
extends north into the southern Bering Sea from the north Pacific.
The ridge axis will build north and east across Alaska Sunday and
Monday, becoming centered along the Alcan border Tuesday.

Surface...
A 1003 mb low over the Western Brooks Range this morning will
quickly deepen as it lifts northeast today to be a 998 mb low
near Nuiqsut later this morning, continuing northeast this
afternoon to be a 998 mb low 75 nm north of Kaktovik this
afternoon, and a 998 mb low over Banks Island by early Sunday
morning. High pressure will build eastward behind the low Saturday
evening and night across the North Slope. A weather front will
push across the West Coast and the Interior today, with another
weather front pushing across the North Slope Sunday. High pressure
will build northeast across the Interior Sunday into Monday.

Models...00Z model suite initialized well against the 00Z RAOBS
and the 00Z surface obs. Models are in good agreement with the
overall synoptic pattern through Tuesday, at which point
solutions begin to diverge. At the mesoscale level though,
differences are apparent in the near term. 00Z model solutions
differ in the exact timing and placement of the rapidly deepening
low moving across the North Slope today, with the NAM moving the
low the furthest north and the ECMWF being the slowest. The
differences in the track and timing will make the exact placement
of the strongest winds on the eastern Arctic Coast difficult.
Model convective indices show limited instability today, primarily
along a line from Dot Lake to Chicken and east.

North Slope and Brooks Range: A rapidly deepening low will move
across the North Slope today and over the Beaufort Sea by this
evening, bringing strong winds and rainfall. In the Brooks Range
passes, southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph are
expected this morning, continuing into this afternoon. As the low
moves northeast, west winds will increase to 20 to 35 mph with
gusts to 50 mph mainly east of Nuiqsut this afternoon and evening,
with 60 mph possible near Barter Island. Upgraded the High Wind
Watch for zone 204 to a High Wind Warning for wind gusts to 60
mph. Strong wind headlines remain in place for zones 203, 205, and
206. Rainfall will accompany the low. Additional rainfall amounts
of one quarter to one half inch across much of the North Slope
today, and one half to one inch possible across the Brooks Range.
On Sunday, another weather front will push across the North
Slope, bringing another round of rain to the region. Temperatures
warming Sunday and Monday.

West Coast and Western Interior: A weather front moving across the
West Coast and Western Interior today will bring more rain to the
region, with the best rain chances occurring along a line from
Unalakleet to Galena and north. Heaviest rainfall amounts will be
north of a Kotzebue to Ambler line, with amounts ranging from a
quarter of an inch to half an inch, with isolated higher amounts
in the favored upslope areas. Elsewhere rainfall amounts will
generally be a tenth of an inch or less. On Sunday and
continuing into Monday, the pressure gradient tightens across
over the Bering and Chukchi Seas, resulting in southwest winds of
20 to 30 mph. Latest guidance suggest that this will lead to
elevated surf for southwest facing shorelines on St Lawrence
Island, Diomede and Chukchi Sea coast south of Point Hope Sunday
and Monday. At this time, coastal flooding is not anticipated.
Temperatures warming Sunday and Monday.

Central and Eastern Interior: A weather front moving across the
Interior today will bring increased southwesterly winds.
Southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph are expected during the day, with
gusts up to 25 mph possible across the Yukon Flats. This could
bring additional smoke to communities in the Yukon Flats. As the
front moves eastward it will bring scattered to widespread showers
from the Upper Koyukuk Valley to the Southeastern Brooks Range,
with isolated showers elsewhere. Isolated thunderstorms possible
this afternoon mainly east of a line from Dot Lake to Chicken.
Warmer and drier conditions expected Sunday and Monday as high
pressure builds in. Temperatures start an upwards trend on Sunday,
with temperatures in the 80s once again making an appearance by
Monday.

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

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
A deepening surface low moving across the Brooks Range and North
Slope today will bring gusty west to southwesterly winds,
especially north of the Yukon River. Minimum relative humidity
levels are expected to remain above 35 percent and temperatures
are expected to be in the mid 70s in the warmest locations in the
Yukon Flats to near Eagle. A weather front pushing east across
the West Coast and Interior today will bring showers with it. The
best wetting rain chances are along a line from the Seward
Peninsula to Coldfoot and north, with most of the shower activity
south of there expected to be more isolated in nature.
Thunderstorm activity limited today to a line from Dot Lake to
Chicken and east this afternoon.

The area of most concern, the Yukon Flats, will see slightly
cooler temperatures today, with highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s
and minimum relative humidity values in the upper 30s. Conditions
will remain somewhat dry as the area is not expected to receive
wetting rains.

As ridging aloft builds in Sunday and Monday, a warming trend will
ensue, with highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s returning to the
Interior by Monday.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
A quarter of an inch to one inch of rainfall is expected across
much of the North Slope and the Brooks Range through Sunday as a
series of systems move through the area. This will cause some
minor rises in rivers that drain the Brooks Range.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning for AKZ204.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-
PKZ235.

Gale Warning for PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

JUL 19

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 8:52 AM AKDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
852 AM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

AKZ207-211400-
Chukchi Sea Coast-
Including Point Hope, Shishmaref, Kivalina, and Espenberg
852 AM AKDT Sat Jul 20 2019

...Elevated Surf Expected Sunday into Monday...

Strong southwesterly winds will bring elevated surf to the Chukchi
Sea Coast Sunday into Monday. Winds and surf will increase early
Sunday morning and will peak Sunday night. Water levels are
expected to be one to two feet above the normal high tide line.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 2:55 AM AKDTHigh Wind WarningAFG17 hr
Jul 20, 3:42 AM AKDTGale WarningAFG23 hr
Jul 20, 3:43 AM AKDTGale WarningAFG23 hr
Jul 20, 3:46 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG58 hr
Jul 20, 8:45 AM AKDTHigh Surf AdvisoryAFG51 hr
Jul 20, 2:24 PM AKDTWind AdvisoryAFG4 hr
Jul 20, 2:42 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG47 hr

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2019Every storm 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.