Alert archive / Alaska / Wind Chill Warnings in 2020

Wind Chill Warning 1, NWS Fairbanks, AK

January 6, 2020

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this wind chill warning at Jan 6, 2020, 2:20 PM AKST. It took effect at Jan 6, 2020, 6:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 39 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
Jan 6, 2020, 2:20 PM AKST (23:20 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 6, 2020, 6:00 PM AKST
Expired
Jan 8, 2020, 9:18 AM AKST
In force
39 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

946 
WWAK41 PAFG 062320
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
220 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2020


AKZ204-071500-
/O.UPG.PAFG.WC.Y.0005.200107T1800Z-200108T1800Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.WC.W.0001.200107T0300Z-200108T2100Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
220 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON
AKST WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. The dangerously 
  cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 10 
  minutes to exposed skin. Expect wind chills to range from 45 
  below zero to 65 below zero.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds will increase tonight and combined
  with very low temperatures will produce dangerously cold wind
  chill values through noon Wednesday. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$

AKZ203-071500-
/O.NEW.PAFG.WC.W.0001.200107T0300Z-200108T2100Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
220 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON
AKST WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. The dangerously
  cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes
  to exposed skin. Expect wind chills to range from 45 below zero
  to 65 below zero.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds will increase tonight and combined
  with very low temperatures will produce dangerously cold wind
  chill values through noon Wednesday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$

AKZ201-071500-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-200107T1500Z/
Western Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne
220 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2020

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST
TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills expected. The cold wind chills will
  cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin.
  Expect wind chills to around 55 below zero.

* WHERE...Western Arctic Coast.

* WHEN...Now to 6 AM Tuesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Very cold temperatures combined with winds
  will produce very cold wind chill values tonight. The low wind
  chill values will moderate Tuesday morning as winds decrease. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and sustained wind
speeds of 15 mph or more will create low wind chills. Frost bite
and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken.

$$
5 follow-up statements
207 
WWAK41 PAFG 071348
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
448 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020


AKZ201-071500-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WC.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-200107T1500Z/
Western Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne
448 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

Winds are now decreasing. 

$$

AKZ203-080300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
448 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin. 

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 10 to 15 mph along with very
  cold wind chills will continue through Wednesday morning. Winds
  will diminish Wednesday afternoon

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$

AKZ204-080300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
448 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin. 

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 10 to 15 mph will increasing
  to 15 to 20 mph this afternoon and persist into Wednesday
  morning. This is causing very cold winds chill that will
  continue through Wednesday morning. Winds will decrease
  Wednesday afternoon and win chills will become less severe then. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$
886 
WWAK41 PAFG 071428
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
528 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020


AKZ201-080300-
/O.EXB.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T0300Z/
Western Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne
528 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

* WHERE...Western Arctic Coast.

* WHEN...Now to 6 PM this evening.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...East winds 15 mph along with very cold wind
  chills will continue through this afternoon. Winds are expected
  to diminish this evening. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$

AKZ203-080300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
528 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 10 to 15 mph along with 
  very cold wind chills will continue through Wednesday morning. 
  Winds will diminish Wednesday afternoon

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$

AKZ204-080300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
528 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 10 to 15 mph will increasing
  to 15 to 20 mph this afternoon and persist into Wednesday
  morning. This is causing very cold wind chills that will
  continue through Wednesday morning. Winds will decrease
  Wednesday afternoon and wind chills will become less severe 
  then.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$
875 
WWAK41 PAFG 072152
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1252 PM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020



AKZ201-072300-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T0300Z/
Western Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne
1252 PM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING IS CANCELLED...


$$

AKZ203-081500-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
1252 PM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 10 to 15 mph along with 
  very cold wind chills will continue through Wednesday morning. 
  Winds will diminish Wednesday afternoon

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$

AKZ204-081500-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
1252 PM AKST Tue Jan 7 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 10 to 15 mph will 
  increasing to 15 to 20 mph this afternoon and persist into 
  Wednesday morning. This is causing very cold wind chills that 
  will continue through Wednesday morning. Winds will decrease 
  Wednesday afternoon and wind chills will become less severe 
  then.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$
754 
WWAK41 PAFG 081350
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
450 AM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

AKZ203-082100-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
450 AM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 10 to 15 mph along with very
  cold wind chills will continue this morning. Winds will diminish
  this afternoon and wind chills we become less severe. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$

AKZ204-082100-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
450 AM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills to 65 below occuring. The 
  dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...6 PM this evening to noon Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...West winds of 15 mph along with very cold 
  wind chills will continue this morning. Winds will diminish this
  afternoon and wind chills we become less severe. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and
sustained wind speeds of 15 mph or more will create dangerously
low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even
hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

$$
423 
WWAK41 PAFG 081818
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
918 AM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020



AKZ203-204-081930-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200108T2100Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, 
Kaktovik, and Flaxman Island
918 AM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING IS CANCELLED...



$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this wind chill 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 wind chill warning went out at Jan 6, 1:49 PM AKST, 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 6, 1:49 PM AKST, 31 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
149 PM AKST Mon Jan 6 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Highlights are:
Very cold temperatures now over most of Northern Alaska will
persist through Wed with temperatures in the 10 to 30 below range
in cloudy or breezy areas, and in the 30s and 40s below in clear
and calm areas, with some 50s below over Inland areas of the North
Slope and a few Interior Valleys. Will see a warming trend over
the West Coast and Western North Slope in the second half of the
week, while the Interior and Eastern North Slope remain very cold
in valleys through the end of the week.

Ongoing cold wind chills near Point Lay will continue through
tonight and very cold wind chills will develop over zones 203 and
204 Tuesday and will continue through Wednesday as winds increase
along the coast with the passing of a weak trough.

.DISCUSSION...
Aloft, at 500 mb the long wave pattern continues to consist of a
very deep long wave trough stretching from the Canadian
Archipelago southwest over Alaska with a ridge from the Western
Bering Sea north over NE Russia and over the Arctic Ocean north of
Wrangel Island. This pattern will become progressive with the
ridge building east over the West Coast of Alaska tomorrow, over
mainland Alaska on Wednesday, and will then persist over mainland
Alaska into the weekend. This will result in a continued cold and
clearing over the Interior by Wednesday, and remaining cold
through the weekend, while southerly flow over the West Coast
brings increasing temperatures, clouds and a chance of snow to the
West Coast late in the week.

A low aloft over the Central Interior will persist through Tuesday
evening, then move to the Alcan Border near Burwash Landing by
Wednesday evening. Bands of clouds and flurries will rotate
counter clockwise around this low with the Eastern Interior more
cloudy than now while the Western Interior is less cloudy through
Tuesday. Areas under clouds will be 10-30 below, while clear
areas will be in the 30s to lower 50s below. Clouds will decrease
from the west on Wednesday as this low aloft moves east, but
there could still be clouds and flurries along the Alcan Border
and SE Interior on Wednesday. Temps will fall in all areas of the
Interior as the clouds decrease, and remain cold through the end
of the week.

850 MB temperatures range from -20C over the North Slope, West
Coast and Alaska Range to -25C over the Interior. Will see little
change in temps through tomorrow. Will see temps rise west of
Fairbanks from Wednesday through the weekend, while temps from
Fairbanks east will remain cold into Fri and then start to rise
slowly on Saturday.

On the surface A 1028 mb high over the North Slope will persist
through Tuesday and then build south over the Eastern Interior on
Wednesday. This is causing light offshore winds and very cold
temps along the Arctic Coast that will persist through Tuesday.

An weak front over the high Arctic will move south to Line along
the Eastern Arctic Coast on Tuesday, and then move southeast
Tuesday night. This will bring clouds and flurries to the Eastern
Arctic on Tuesday and Tuesday night, along with west winds
increasing to 15-20 mph. Temps will warm slightly with this front,
however the combination of still very cold temperatures and
increasing winds will produce very cold wind chill values over the
North Slope coastal areas where wind chill values have been
issued for Tuesday and Tuesday night.

A weak front in the southeastern Bering Sea will continue to
weaken tonight and Tuesday and will bring mid level clouds and
light snot as the front approaches the West Coast.

Models initialized well aloft at 12Z and continue to show similar
solutions through Wednesday night, with fair agreement through
the end of the week. Precip fields are similar through Wed, with
just flurries except for a chance of light snow in the SE Interior
and Eastern North Slope Tuesday and Wednesday. Will use a blend
of model precipitation fields but adjust for flurries with any
clouds or fog at these very cold temperatures.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ201-AKZ203-AKZ204.
&&

CCC JAN 20

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 5, 5:47 PM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFG11 hr
Jan 6, 1:20 AM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFG27 hr
Jan 6, 4:41 AM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFG10 hr

Nearby

Wind Chill Warnings in Alaska, 2020Every wind chill 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.