Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2020

Storm Warning 6, NWS Fairbanks, AK

November 4, 2020

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this storm warning at Nov 4, 2020, 2:58 PM AKST. 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
Nov 4, 2020, 2:58 PM AKST (23:58 UTC)
Expired
Nov 5, 2020, 5:17 AM AKST
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

517 
FZAK52 PAFG 042358
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
258 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

Northwestern 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.

PKZ299-051515-
258 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 1000 MB low 150 NM north of Nuiqsut will move to 200 NM 
northeast of Barter Island by 4am Thu as a 1003 mb low. A very 
strong low developing in the Western Bering Sea today will move to
near Anadyr as a 962 MB low by 3pm Thu and weaken in place.

$$

PKZ200-051515-
Norton Sound-
258 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TONIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...
...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 30 kt increasing to 40 kt. Seas 7 ft building
to 13 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...SE winds 50 kt. Seas 16 ft. Rain showers and snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Fog.
.FRI...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Fog.
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Fog.
.SAT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Rain showers.
.SUN...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-051515-
Dall Point to Wales-
258 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 45 kt. Seas 15 ft building to 22 ft. Rain
showers. Freezing spray. 
.THU...S winds 45 kt. Seas 20 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SW winds 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Fog.
.FRI...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 15 ft. 
.FRI NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. 
.SAT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.MON...E winds 30 kt. Seas 16 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-051515-
Kotzebue Sound-
258 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 4 ft building to 6 ft. Freezing
fog. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog. Snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SE winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Snow
showers. Heavy freezing spray. 
.FRI...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Fog.
.FRI NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SAT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-051515-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
258 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...
...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S winds 30 kt increasing to 40 kt. Seas 10 ft building
to 14 ft. Freezing fog. Snow showers. Freezing spray. 
.THU...SE winds 50 kt. Seas 22 ft. Freezing fog. Snow showers.
Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...S winds 40 kt. Seas 16 ft. Fog. Snow showers. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog.
.FRI NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.SAT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN...NE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...E winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.  

$$

Nov 20
1 follow-up statement
601 
FZAK52 PAFG 051417
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
517 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

Northwestern 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.

PKZ299-060315-
517 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 1003 MB low 150 NM northeast of Barter Island will move east
today. A very strong 954 mb low in the Western Bering Sea will
move to near Anadyr as a 957 MB low by 3pm Thu, then to 200 NM
west of Point Hope as a 985 MB low by 3pm Fri, then to 60 NM
northwest of Icy Cape as a 995 mb low by 3pm Sat.

$$

PKZ200-060315-
Norton Sound-
517 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...SE winds 45 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain and snow. Heavy
freezing spray. Vsby less than 1 NM.
.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog, rain. Vsby less than 1
NM.
.FRI...S winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog.
.FRI NIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog.
.SAT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Fog.
.SAT NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Rain. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-060315-
Dall Point to Wales-
517 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...S winds 45 kt decreasing to 35 kt. Seas 22 ft. Fog,
rain. Vsby less than 1 NM.
.TONIGHT...SW winds 40 kt. Seas 22 ft. Fog. Vsby less than 1 NM.
.FRI...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 20 ft. 
.FRI NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 15 ft. 
.SAT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON...E winds 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-060315-
Kotzebue Sound-
517 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...E winds 45 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing fog. Snow. Heavy
freezing spray. Vsby less than 1 NM.
.TONIGHT...SE winds 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow. Heavy freezing
spray.Vsby less than 1 NM.
.FRI...S winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Fog. Freezing rain. 
.FRI NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.SAT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-060315-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
517 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...SE winds 45 kt. Seas 23 ft. Snow and rain. Heavy
freezing spray. Vsby less than 1 NM.
.TONIGHT...SE winds 40 kt. Seas 17 ft. Rain and snow. Freezing
spray. Vsby less than 1 NM.
.FRI...S winds 35 kt. Seas 13 ft. Fog. Vsby less than 1 NM.
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. 
.SAT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...E winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

Nov 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 Nov 4, 2:48 PM AKST, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 4, 2:48 PM AKST, 10 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
248 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
A busy weather pattern continues for Northern Alaska through the
weekend. A storm off the Kamchatka Peninsula will continue to
deepen this afternoon and bring a surge of wind and water across
the Bering Sea with aim for the western Alaska coast as it moves
poleward up the Russian coastline through Saturday. An associated
front will impact the coast and break up slowly as it progresses
inland... however with that noted it still will bring wintery
impacts well inland to the Eastern Interior for the end of the
weekend into the weekend. On a positive note temperatures will be
on the rise from near record lows in the Tanana Valley!

&&

.DISCUSSION...

UPPER LEVELS...
A cold trof in the upper levels is noted across the eastern
interior and in the Yukon. Ridging building in front of the
Kamchatkan strong upper low driving the weather pattern. an upper
low near 85 North is being deflected by the amplifying ridge this
morning. The pattern progresses with the ridge moving into the
interior of Alaska. The Upper low elongates and stays in place in
the vicinity of the Kamchatkan Peninsula. A strong north Pacific
Ridge begins to win and pushes the Jet northward placing ridging
over the Gulf of Alaska and strong SW flow from the Bering Sea
into the interior.

SURFACE...
High Pressure over the Eastern Interior will bring another cold
day on Thursday for the eastern areas. A strong front from a large
Siberian low pressure system will swing across the Bering Sea and
hitting the west coast starting on Thursday and then moving inland
on Friday as it weakens. Offshore flow will continue on the North
Slope.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Light snow and breezy continues will continue this evening as a
weak front rotating around a low pressure system north of the
coast pushes east over the North Slope tonight. Wind will continue
to offshore as system move through the region from the southwest
to northeast. The pressure gradient will set up for southern gap
winds through the Brooks Range passes.

Central and Eastern Interior...
The arctic airmass is beginning to modify as temperatures aloft
slowly warm. Temperatures will rise dramatically Thursday night
and Friday as clouds and snow move into the area and the upper
level trough pushes to the east. A strong storm in the Bering Sea
will push deep moisture into the Interior forcing the moisture to
rise up over a deep arctic airmass on Thursday and Friday. This
will set up the potential for a significant snow event over the
Central and Eastern Interior beginning late Thursday and
continuing into Saturday. Strong gap winds will develop through
the Alaska Range passes on Thursday afternoon into Friday as a
strong pressure gradient develops across the Alaska Range. The
Tanana Valley Jet will develop as well. The upper level support
should keep the wind speeds under warning levels.

West Coast and Western Interior...
A major storm system over the Russian far east will push a strong
front across the Bering Sea tonight into Thursday. This
strengthening system will bring multiple impacts to the region
during the next 72 hours. This storm is expected to bring heavy
snow, blizzard conditions, and southerly gales to the region, and
to the remainder of the West Coast of Alaska tonight through
Friday. Snow will mix with rain Thursday and Friday in some
coastal areas mainly south of the Bering Strait.

Coastal Hazard Thursday and Friday...
After the initial front moves through the region a long 1000 km
fetch along with gale force wind from the southwest will continue
over a long duration. The YK Delta looks to have the highest
impacts with some storm surge with the peak later on Thursday and
staying high through very early on Saturday. Norton Sound area
will peak Thursday overnight and lasting into early Saturday.
North of the strait to the western Arctic coast a little later
with peak on Friday lasting into Saturday. Multiple advisories,
watches and warnings are in effect for all the western coastal
regions. See statements for higher resolution details.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...
On Saturday day 3 of the forecast the event will be on the decline
for the region as the water pulls back and wind diminishes.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning for AKZ214.

Winter Storm Watch for AKZ222.

Coastal Flood Watch for AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ213.

Coastal Flood Advisory for AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ210.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ210-AKZ215-AKZ216-AKZ221-AKZ227.

Coastal Flood Warning for AKZ211-AKZ212-AKZ214.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ209-AKZ211-AKZ212-
AKZ213-AKZ217-AKZ219.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-
PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240.

Gale Warning for PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

Storm Warning for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ235.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

PROTON NOV 20

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 3, 3:22 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG14 hr
Nov 3, 3:22 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG63 hr
Nov 3, 3:23 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG13 hr
Nov 3, 3:25 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG14 hr
Nov 4, 1:57 AM AKSTCoastal Flood WatchAFG37 hr
Nov 4, 1:57 AM AKSTCoastal Flood WarningAFG4 days
Nov 4, 5:44 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG49 hr
Nov 4, 5:47 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG27 hr
Nov 4, 5:48 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG23 hr
Nov 4, 6:22 AM AKSTWinter Storm WatchAFG9 hr
Nov 4, 6:22 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG3 days
Nov 4, 6:22 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG56 hr
Nov 4, 1:53 PM AKSTWinter Storm WatchAFG16 hr
Nov 4, 1:53 PM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAFG3 days
Nov 4, 1:53 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG16 hr
Nov 4, 2:08 PM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAFG24 hr
Nov 4, 2:23 PM AKSTCoastal Flood AdvisoryAFG3 days

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.