Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2020

Storm Warning 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

October 30, 2020

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this storm warning at Oct 30, 2020, 3:34 AM AKDT. It was in force for 24 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
Oct 30, 2020, 3:34 AM AKDT (11:34 UTC)
Expired
Oct 31, 2020, 3:52 AM AKDT
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

341 
FZAK51 PAFG 301134
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
334 AM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

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.

PKZ298-310215-
334 AM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 999 mb low near 74N 168W will move inland near Wainwright 
tonight. A front will move into the Arctic waters on Sat and shift
east on Sun.

$$

PKZ225-310215-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
334 AM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE
THIS AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...W winds 35 kt becoming NW 50 kt in the late morning. 
Seas 14 ft. Snow. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...NW winds 45 kt. Seas 14 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.SUN...W winds 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.MON...W winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-310215-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
334 AM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...W winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Snow. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow showers. Freezing 
spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Snow.
Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.MON...W winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE...W winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-310215-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
334 AM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
MORNING...

.TODAY...SW winds 25 kt decreasing to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow
showers. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.MON...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.TUE...W winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-310215-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
334 AM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

.TODAY...S winds 15 kt. 
.TONIGHT...S winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...SW winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...SW winds 25 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. 
.MON...NW winds 15 kt. 
.TUE...SW winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-310215-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
334 AM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

.TODAY...S winds 15 kt. 
.TONIGHT...S winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...SW winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 30 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Freezing fog and blowing snow. Vsby
1 NM or less. 
.MON...NW winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...S winds 20 kt.  

$$

Oct 20
2 follow-up statements
025 
FZAK51 PAFG 302215
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
215 PM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

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.

PKZ298-311400-
215 PM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 993 mb low 100 nm W of Wainwright will move E to 100 nm N of 
Oliktok Point tonight as it weakens to 1000 mb, them move rapidly 
NE and merge with a 1007 mb low in the Northern Beaufort Sea Sat 
afternoon. A 1007 mb low will develop in MacKenzie Bay tonight and
move E. High pressure will push NE into the Central Arctic 
tonight, then moves E across the Arctic through Sun morning as it 
weakens. A 1008 mb low will move to 300 nm N of Wainwright Sat 
afternoon and continue SE to MacKenzie Bay by Mon morning.

$$

PKZ225-311400-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
215 PM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

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

.TONIGHT...NW winds 50 kt becoming N 35 kt. Seas 14 ft. Freezing 
fog. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...W winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Snow.
Freezing spray. 
.TUE...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-311400-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
215 PM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

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

.TONIGHT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing fog. Snow showers.
Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.MON...W winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Snow.
Freezing spray. 
.TUE...W winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...W winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-311400-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
215 PM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...

.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.MON...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.TUE...W winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.WED...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-311400-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
215 PM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

.TONIGHT...S winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...SW winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...SW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. Snow.
.MON...NW winds 15 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.TUE...SW winds 20 kt. 
.WED...W winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-311400-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
215 PM AKDT Fri Oct 30 2020

.TONIGHT...S winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...SW winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. Snow.
.MON...W winds 20 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. 
.TUE...S winds 20 kt. 
.WED...W winds 25 kt.  

$$

SDB Oct 20
572 
FZAK51 PAFG 311152
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
352 AM AKDT Sat Oct 31 2020

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.

PKZ298-010215-
352 AM AKDT Sat Oct 31 2020

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC COAST...
A 1000 mb low moving inland near Wainwright this morning will 
weaken today. A trough of low pressure 150 nm north of Wrangel
Island will move to the NW Arctic Coast this evening, then 
strengthen into a 1005 mb low as it moves east to Demarcation
Point through Monday.

$$

PKZ225-010215-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
352 AM AKDT Sat Oct 31 2020

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

.TODAY...N winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...W winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog. Snow
showers. Freezing spray. 
.TUE...NW winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.WED...S winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-010215-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
352 AM AKDT Sat Oct 31 2020

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

.TODAY...N winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.MON...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog. Snow
showers. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...N winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.WED...W winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-010215-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
352 AM AKDT Sat Oct 31 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.MON...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.TUE...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED...W winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-010215-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
352 AM AKDT Sat Oct 31 2020

.TODAY...SW winds 10 kt. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 15 kt. 
.SUN...SW winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. Snow.
.MON...W winds 15 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.TUE...W winds 20 kt. 
.WED...SW winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-010215-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
352 AM AKDT Sat Oct 31 2020

.TODAY...SW winds 10 kt. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...W winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. Snow.
.MON...W winds 15 kt. 
.MON NIGHT...SW winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.TUE...W winds 20 kt. 
.WED...W winds 20 kt.  

$$

Oct 20

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 Oct 29, 3:13 PM AKDT, 12 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 29, 3:13 PM AKDT, 12 hours 21 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
313 PM AKDT Thu Oct 29 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Flurries will spread across the Central Interior into the Eastern
Interior this afternoon, enhancing as a trough digs south and
east. As this does so, this will establish longwave trough pattern
that will engulf Northern Alaska into and through the weekend. An
arctic low will drop south to the Northwest Coast Friday evening
and into the Western Interior by Saturday morning, reinforcing
colder temperatures for much of Northern Alaska. This arctic low
will also bring a continuation of snow squalls along the Northwest
Coast south into the Seward Peninsula today through Friday,
including the Kotzebue Sound area. This pattern will keep strong
northwest flow across a large fetch of open water in the Chukchi
Sea and bring elevated surf of 1 to 3 feet above normal high tide
line from Utqiagvik south to the Bering Strait, including the
northern Seward Peninsula and Kotzebue Sound into the early
weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
At the surface, models are in general good agreement through
Sunday, with the placement of major features. A 995 mb low north
of Wrangel Island will drop south to Point Lay as a 1003 mb low
Friday evening. This low will continue to track south through
Southcentral Alaska into the northern Gulf of Alaska by Sunday
morning. Weak ridging will nose into the Western Interior in the
wake of the arctic low as it drops south Saturday night.
Elsewhere, ahead of this arctic low, a shortwave will sweep across
the Central and Eastern Interiors today into this evening and
again for Saturday, increasing the chances of flurries and light
snow for the Central and Eastern Interior.

Aloft, at 500 mb, models initialize well with a trough digging
south and east across the Interior today as a 494 dam low north
of Wrangel Island drops south out of the Arctic to near Point Lay
Friday evening. This low will continue south, creating a deep
trough that will encompass most of the West Coast early Saturday
morning and swing south and east, covering most of the Central and
Eastern Interior by Sunday afternoon. As this low digs south,
weak ridging will nudge into Northwest Alaska from the southwest
Bering on Sunday morning into the start of next week.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Persistent northwest winds will continue to bring snow squalls,
heavy at times, into the Northwest Coast today ahead of an arctic
low dropping south to near Point Lay Friday evening. This low
will bring in a reinforcing shot of cold temperatures that will
slide into the Eastern Brooks Range Sunday morning. As the low
continues south, snow showers will spread east along the Brooks
Range and North Slope on Saturday, bringing minor accumulations of
1 to 3 inches. Winds will decrease Saturday behind the low,
easing the effects of the high surf that has been impacting the
Northwest Coast and snow chances will decrease as well. In the
meantime, strong northwest winds will continue to impact the
Northwest Coast bringing elevated surf of 1 to 3 feet above
normal high tide line from Utqiagvik west through Friday.

West Coast and Western Interior...
A trough digging south with a persistent northwest flow will keep
the chances of snow squalls moving onshore today in the Kotzebue
Sound region. An arctic low will drop south Friday evening into
Saturday, bringing in additional round of snow showers, first to
the coastal areas of Kotzebue Sound then south across the Seward
Peninsula in the Western Interior by Saturday afternoon. Expect
snow total accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, with locally higher
amounts into Saturday. In additions to the snow squalls, blowing
snow may reduce visibility at times Friday evening into Saturday
along the coast from Point Hope into the Kotzebue Sound south
towards the Bering Strait, with strong northwest winds. With this
continued strong northwest flow, elevated surf of 1 to 3 feet
above normal high tide line will impact the north facing coastal
areas of the Seward Peninsula as well as Kotzebue Sound into
early Saturday.

Central and Eastern Interior...
A shortwave trough sweeping through is producing flurries across
the Central Interior, from Tanana southeast through Fairbanks,
this afternoon. As this shortwave trough digs deeper, south to the
Alaska Range, this will enhance snow chances from Delta Junction
southeast to Northway later this evening. Expect minor snow
accumulations of up to 2 inches, with heaviest amounts towards
Northway. Attention quickly shifts to Saturday as an arctic low
drops south into the Western Interior, increasing chances of snow
across the region. Another round of minor snow accumulations
expected, of up to 1 inch. A deep trough will set up over the
Eastern and Central Interiors, bringing in an additonal shot of
colder air. High temperatures will cool from the upper teens to
low 20s today into the single digits by early next week over much
of the region. Low temperatures will likely drop into the single
digits above to single digits below, with the coldest low
temperates in the Eastern Interior, east of Fairbanks, in the cold
spots of the Fortymile Country north to the Yukon Flats.
Temperatures in these areas could dip below the teens below zero
by early next week, depending on cloud cover and winds.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...
Elevated surf of 1 to 3 feet above normal high tide line will
continue into Saturday for portions of Northwestern Alaska, Point
Hope south to the Bering Strait, including the northern Seward
Peninsula near Shishmaref and Kotzebue Sound. Conditions will
improve as the the persistent northwest flow eases on Sunday.

Extended Forecast Days 4 to 7...
Weak ridging will nose into the Northwest Coast ahead of another
trough dropping south out of the arctic late Monday evening into
Tuesday. As this trough digs south through the West Coast and
Western Interior Tuesday into Wednesday, ridging will quickly
build in behind it on Thursday, first into the West Coast and
spread east into the Eastern Interior by Friday morning. This is
ahead of a large system moving out of the Northern Pacific into
the Chuktosk Peninsula next Friday afternoon. As the low
approaches the West Coast, a front will move onshore creating a
southwesterly flow Thursday morning then into the Central Interior
by Friday afternoon. There is still some uncertainty with this
system, we will continue to monitor it.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Gale Warning for PKZ220-PKZ225

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ230.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ235.

&&

RZ OCT 20

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 29, 11:13 PM AKDT, 4 hours 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1113 PM AKDT Thu Oct 29 2020

AKZ207-209-210-300815-
Chukchi Sea Coast-Baldwin Peninsula and Selawik Valley-
Northern and Interior Seward Peninsula-
Including Point Hope, Shishmaref, Kivalina, Espenberg, Kotzebue,
Selawik, Noorvik, Buckland, Deering, Candle, Council, Haycock,
Pilgrim Springs, Serpentine Hot Springs, and Taylor
1113 PM AKDT Thu Oct 29 2020

...High Surf Friday into Saturday...

High surf is expected Friday into Saturday along the Chukchi Sea
Coast from Point Hope to Shishmaref. Water levels are expected to
be 2 to 3 feet above the normal high tide line, leading to the
potential for erosion and minor flooding along the coast.

Residents should move belongings inland, well above the normal
high tide line, to avoid them being damaged or washed away.

For the latest forecast go to www.weather.gov/fairbanks

CULVER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 29, 8:59 PM AKDTHigh Surf AdvisoryAFG38 hr
Oct 30, 3:31 AM AKDTGale WarningAFG24 hr
Oct 30, 3:31 AM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG24 hr
Oct 30, 3:34 AM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG24 hr
Oct 30, 3:38 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG35 hr
Oct 30, 3:43 AM AKDTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG25 hr
Oct 30, 3:43 AM AKDTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG25 hr
Oct 30, 2:53 PM AKDTWinter Storm WarningAFG68 hr
Oct 30, 3:01 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG13 hr

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2020Every storm 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.