Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2020

Storm Warning 7, NWS Fairbanks, AK

November 4, 2020

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this storm warning at Nov 4, 2020, 3:00 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, 3:00 PM AKST (00:00 UTC)
Expired
Nov 5, 2020, 5:10 AM AKST
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

106 
FZAK51 PAFG 050000
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
300 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 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.

PKZ298-051515-
300 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC 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.

$$

PKZ225-051515-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
300 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

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

.TONIGHT...S winds 35 kt. Seas 7 ft building to 11 ft. Fog. Snow
showers. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...SE winds 50 kt. Seas 23 ft. Freezing fog. Snow showers.
Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SE winds 45 kt. Seas 21 ft. Freezing fog. Snow.
Heavy freezing spray. 
.FRI...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Fog.
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.SAT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-051515-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
300 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

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

.TONIGHT...SW winds 25 kt becoming S 35 kt. Seas 7 ft building to
11 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy freezing spray. 
.THU...S winds 35 kt. Seas 12 ft. Freezing fog. Snow showers.
Freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...S winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-051515-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
300 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...

.TONIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.THU...S winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing fog. Snow showers.
Freezing spray. 
.THU NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...SW winds 10 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing fog. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Snow showers. 
.SAT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NE winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.MON...E winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-051515-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
300 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TONIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...S winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...S winds 15 kt. 
.FRI...SW winds 20 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. 
.SAT...SW winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. 
.SUN...NE winds 25 kt. 
.MON...E winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-051515-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
300 PM AKST Wed Nov 4 2020

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU...S winds 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.THU NIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. 
.FRI...S winds 20 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Snow showers. 
.SAT...W winds 25 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...NE winds 20 kt. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

Nov 20
1 follow-up statement
898 
FZAK51 PAFG 051410
CWFNSB

Coastal Waters Forecast for Arctic Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
510 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 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.

PKZ298-060315-
510 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC 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.

$$

PKZ225-060315-
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort-
510 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

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

.TODAY...S winds 45 kt. Seas 17 ft building to 23 ft. Snow and
rain. Freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...SE winds 45 kt. Seas 21 ft. Snow with rain. Freezing
spray. 
.FRI...S winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Fog.
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Fog, rain.
.SAT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SUN...NE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...NE winds 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ230-060315-
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin-
510 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THIS
MORNING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TODAY...S winds 40 kt becoming SE 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Snow.
Freezing spray. Vsby 1NM or less. 
.TONIGHT...SE winds 35 kt decreasing to 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
Freezing fog. Heavy freezing spray. Vsby 1NM or less. 
.FRI...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Snow.
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Fog, snow.
.SAT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...NE winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ235-060315-
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett-
510 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

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

.TODAY...S winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft subsiding. Snow showers. Heavy
freezing spray. Vsby 1NM or less. 
.TONIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing fog. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...S winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing fog. Snow.
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing fog. Snow
showers. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...SW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SUN...E winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.  

$$

PKZ240-060315-
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island-
510 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...SW winds 25 kt decreasing to 15 kt. Freezing fog. Snow. 
.TONIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. 
.FRI...SW winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.FRI NIGHT...SW winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. Snow showers. 
.SAT...SW winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. 
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 20 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt.  

$$

PKZ245-060315-
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point-
510 AM AKST Thu Nov 5 2020

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...SW winds 25 kt decreasing to 15 kt. Freezing fog. 
.TONIGHT...S winds 15 kt. 
.FRI...SW winds 20 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.FRI NIGHT...W winds 30 kt. Freezing fog. Snow showers. 
.SAT...W winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.SAT NIGHT...W winds 25 kt. Freezing fog. Snow.
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. 
.MON...E winds 25 kt.  

$$

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, 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 4, 2:48 PM AKST, 12 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 4, 3:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG23 hr
Nov 4, 3:00 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG14 hr
Nov 4, 3:02 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG13 hr
Nov 5, 5:06 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG23 hr
Nov 5, 5:06 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG23 hr
Nov 5, 5:17 AM AKSTGale WarningAFG25 hr
Nov 5, 5:20 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG34 hr
Nov 5, 8:25 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFG5 hr
Nov 5, 8:25 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFG5 hr
Nov 5, 1:31 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG17 hr
Nov 5, 1:31 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG17 hr
Nov 5, 1:36 PM AKSTGale WarningAFG17 hr
Nov 5, 1:39 PM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAFG25 hr
Nov 5, 1:41 PM AKSTWind AdvisoryAFG15 hr
Nov 5, 2:28 PM AKSTCoastal Flood WatchAFG16 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.