Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2020

Blizzard Warning 16, NWS Fairbanks, AK

April 25, 2020

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Apr 25, 2020, 2:39 AM AKDT. It took effect at Apr 26, 2020, 12:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 15 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
Apr 25, 2020, 2:39 AM AKDT (10:39 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 26, 2020, 12:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Apr 27, 2020, 3:02 AM AKDT
In force
15 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

690 
WWAK41 PAFG 251039 CCA
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
239 AM AKDT Sat Apr 25 2020

AKZ204-260200-
/O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.200427T0000Z-200427T1400Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
239 AM AKDT Sat Apr 25 2020

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM SUNDAY TO 6 AM AKDT
MONDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected with visibilities one
  quarter mile or less at times in snow and blowing snow. Snow
  accumulation of 1 to 2 inches.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...4 PM Sunday to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will cause
  whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant drifting of 
  the snow is likely. Travel will be very difficult to impossible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road
conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$

AKZ203-260200-
/O.COR.PAFG.WW.Y.0073.200426T2100Z-200427T1400Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
239 AM AKDT Sat Apr 25 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SUNDAY TO 6 AM
AKDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on difficult travel.
  In addition, areas of poor visibility are expected. Total snow 
  accumulations of up to one inch are expected.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...1 PM Sunday to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will cause
  areas of blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibilities to 
  one half mile or less at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow means periods
of snow and blowing snow will cause travel difficulties. The
latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$
5 follow-up statements
020 
WWAK41 PAFG 252332
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
332 PM AKDT Sat Apr 25 2020

AKZ204-261400-
/O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.200427T0000Z-200427T1400Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
332 PM AKDT Sat Apr 25 2020

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM SUNDAY TO 6 AM
AKDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected with visibilities one 
  quarter mile or less at times in snow and blowing snow. Snow 
  accumulation of 2 to 5 inches.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...4 PM Sunday to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will 
  cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant 
  drifting of the snow is likely. Travel will be very difficult 
  to impossible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road
conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$

AKZ203-261400-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0073.200426T2100Z-200427T1400Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
332 PM AKDT Sat Apr 25 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SUNDAY TO
6 AM AKDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on difficult travel.
  In addition, areas of poor visibility are expected. Total snow
  accumulations of 2 to 5 inches are expected.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...1 PM Sunday to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will 
  cause areas of blowing and drifting snow, reducing 
  visibilities to one half mile or less at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow means periods
of snow and blowing snow will cause travel difficulties. The
latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$
817 
WWAK41 PAFG 261040
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
240 AM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

AKZ204-270200-
/O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.200427T0000Z-200427T1400Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
240 AM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
6 AM AKDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected with visibilities one 
  quarter mile or less at times in snow and blowing snow. Snow 
  accumulation of 2 to 5 inches.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...4 PM Sunday to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will 
  cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant 
  drifting of the snow is likely. Travel will be very difficult 
  to impossible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road
conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$

AKZ203-270200-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0073.200426T2100Z-200427T1400Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
240 AM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 6 AM AKDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on difficult 
  travel. In addition, areas of poor visibility are expected. 
  Total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches are expected.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...1 PM Sunday to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will 
  cause areas of blowing and drifting snow, reducing 
  visibilities to one half mile or less at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow means periods
of snow and blowing snow will cause travel difficulties. The
latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$
787 
WWAK41 PAFG 261910
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1110 AM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

AKZ204-271400-
/O.EXT.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.200426T2000Z-200427T1400Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
1110 AM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY UNTIL 6 AM AKDT
MONDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected with visibilities one
  quarter mile or less at times in snow and blowing snow. Snow
  accumulation of 2 to 4 inches.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Noon today to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will cause
  whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant drifting of 
  the snow is likely. Travel will be very difficult to impossible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road
conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$

AKZ203-271400-
/O.EXT.PAFG.WW.Y.0073.200426T1910Z-200427T1400Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
1110 AM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on difficult 
  travel. In addition, areas of poor visibility are expected. 
  Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are expected.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Until 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will 
  cause areas of blowing and drifting snow, reducing 
  visibilities to one half mile or less at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow means periods
of snow and blowing snow will cause travel difficulties. The
latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$
138 
WWAK41 PAFG 270706
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1106 PM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

AKZ203-270815-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WW.Y.0073.000000T0000Z-200427T1400Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
1106 PM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

Snow continuing, but conditions have improved.

$$

AKZ204-271400-
/O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200427T1400Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
1106 PM AKDT Sun Apr 26 2020

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected with visibilities one 
  quarter mile or less at times in snow and blowing snow. Snow 
  accumulation of 2 to 4 inches.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Noon today to 6 AM Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will 
  cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant 
  drifting of the snow is likely. Travel will be very difficult 
  to impossible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road
conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$
840 
WWAK41 PAFG 271102
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
302 AM AKDT Mon Apr 27 2020

AKZ204-271215-
/O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200427T1400Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
302 AM AKDT Mon Apr 27 2020

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

Conditions along the Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast have improved.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this blizzard 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 blizzard warning went out at Apr 24, 2:14 PM AKDT, 12 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 24, 2:14 PM AKDT, 12 hours 25 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
214 PM AKDT Fri Apr 24 2020

.Synopsis...Ice from the Nordale bridge broke loose yesterday and
moved through Fairbanks after getting plugged up for a while as
it moved through. Flooding around Hunts Creek near Chena Hot
Springs Road continues, but is localized and the jam is moving
downstream. Most other flooding is due to ponding of meltwater at
this time. Overnight temperatures falling below freezing is
helping to slow the melt process so expect the nuisance flooding
to gradually dry up. Mostly clear across the forecast area with
the exception of some stratus expected to move east across the
Arctic tonight, and some clouds and snow showers in the Upper
Tanana Valley that will be tapering off.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Models...The 24/12Z solutions are in pretty good agreement
through the weekend and into the middle of next week before
diverging. Surface solutions in good agreement through Monday,
then quite a bit of disagreement, especially in the Arctic. Not
much as far as precipitation the next few days and solutions are
similar in handling it. Temperatures will be very important of the
next couple weeks as breakup continues and it looks like most
solutions are leaning toward the cooler overnight lows through the
weekend and most of next week. Will generally not be making any
significant changes to the short term temperatures, but will look
at nudging the extended period temperatures down a bit.

Aloft...At 500 hpa...Trough associated with a 504 dam low just
southeast of Banks Island extends southwest over the Fortymile
Country and the Eastern Alaska Range and will swing east of the
state tonight. Ridging from a 548 dam high over Siberia extends
southeast over Chukotka, the Seward Peninsula, and Southcentral
Alaska. Ridging is pushing east over the Arctic Coast and the
Interior. Troughing lies to the south extending from south of the
Gulf of Alaska over the Alaska Peninsula across the Southern
Bering Sea to the southern tip of Kamchatka. By Saturday afternoon
not much change as ridging will continue over most of the state
with troughing to the south. The change will be a 505 dam low
moving from just east of the New Siberian Island to 300 nm
northwest of Point Barrow. The low will continue to dive into the
area Saturday night and by Sunday afternoon it will be over
Oliktok Point at 501 dam with a trough extending southwest over
the Bering Strait. Ridging will be push south with the axis south
of the Alaska Range. The low will move east over MacKenzie Bay
Sunday night as the low that was over the Canadian Archipelago
rotates northwest over the Beaufort Sea, then into the Eastern
Arctic by Monday afternoon. At 850 hpa...Temperatures slightly
cooler for most of the area tonight through Saturday evening, then
slightly warmer through Tuesday.

Surface...Rather benign pattern for most of the area. Weak high
pressure over most of the Interior with low pressure to the south
and north. A 1029 mb high over the Eastern Arctic will move east
this evening with low pressure moving to the Dateline by Saturday
morning, and to 300 nm northwest of Utqiagvik at 998 mb by
Saturday afternoon. The low will move to 100 nm north of Kaktovik
by Sunday afternoon at 995 mb. High pressure will persist east to
west over the south slopes of the Brooks Range and Upper Yukon
Flats, while low pressure associated with a 976 mb low to the
south pushes north over Southcentral and the Southeast Panhandle
through the weekend.

Arctic Coast and Brooks Range...Some stratus and patchy dense fog
will persist over the northwest Arctic coast. Mostly clear from
Utqiagvik east, but expect that stratus to migrate east as the
high pressure moves out of the area tonight. Winds generally
southeast to south tonight 10 to 20 mph. Winds will be increasing
Saturday night as the low moves closer to the coast bringing
potential for stronger winds and blowing snow to areas east of
Deadhorse. Slightly warmer temperatures with the south flow
through Sunday morning.

West Coast and Western Interior...Mainly clear with north to
northeast winds. Along the north side of the Seward Peninsula,
through the Bering Strait, and on St Lawrence Island expect some
stratus and foggy conditions, especially overnight and into the
early afternoon before it clears. Temperatures slightly cooler
the next couple days

Central and Eastern Interior...Mainly clear with the exception of
the southeast interior this evening. Some snow showers in the
Upper Tanana Valley this evening will be tapering off. Slightly
cooler temperatures. Wind north to northeast 5 to 15 mph.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...No concerns at this time.

Extended forecast for days 4 to 7...A low pressure system will
bring another round of winter to the Arctic Coast while the
remainder of the forecast area will be under weak high pressure.
Temperatures cooler, especially at night with lows falling into
the teens. Warming later in the week.

&&

.Fire Weather...No concerns at this time.

&&

.Hydrology...Minor flooding continues along the Chena River
downstream of Hunts Creek but is slowly subsiding for the moment.
Continue to watch the Chena around the Nordale Bridge as the ice
is pretty solid in the area and not breaking up yet. Smaller
streams, creeks, and sloughs continue to open up and lake ice is
turning as meltwater from the snowpack is ponding on it. Minor
nuisance flooding due to ponding of meltwater by frozen drainage
ditches, and ponding of meltwater in low lying areas continues.
Ice is still firmly in place on most of the major rivers and
lakes, but extreme caution should around them as conditions can
change rapidly. Cooler temperatures have slowed the melting, but
that will not stop the ice from breaking down. For the latest
river information go to www.weather.gov/aprfc.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ210.

&&

SDB APR 20

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 24, 5:04 PM AKDTFlood WatchAFG4 days
Apr 25, 2:29 AM AKDTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG45 hr
Apr 25, 2:36 AM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG40 hr
Apr 25, 11:13 AM AKDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAFG52 hr
Apr 25, 1:39 PM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFG38 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2020Every blizzard warning in 2020

Sources

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