Alert archive / Alaska / Wind Chill Warnings in 2020

Wind Chill Warning 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

February 5, 2020

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this wind chill warning at Feb 5, 2020, 5:17 AM AKST. It was in force for 23 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
Feb 5, 2020, 5:17 AM AKST (14:17 UTC)
Expired
Feb 6, 2020, 3:54 AM AKST
In force
23 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

197 
WWAK41 PAFG 051417
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
517 AM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

AKZ203-060300-
/O.NEW.PAFG.WC.W.0005.200205T1417Z-200206T0300Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
517 AM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

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

* 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 50 
  below zero to 65 below zero.

* WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Now to 6 PM 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.

$$

AKZ204-060300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-200206T0300Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
517 AM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* 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 as cold as 50 below zero.

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

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

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.

$$
3 follow-up statements
244 
WWAK41 PAFG 052244
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
144 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020


AKZ203-061500-
/O.EXT.PAFG.WC.W.0005.000000T0000Z-200206T1500Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
144 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chill to 70 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...Now to 6 AM Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds chill are expected to become less
  severe Thursday as wind decrease. 

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.

$$

AKZ206-061545-
/O.NEW.PAFG.WW.Y.0013.200205T2244Z-200207T0300Z/
Northeastern Brooks Range-
Including Anaktuvuk Pass, Atigun Pass, Galbraith Lake, Sagwon, 
and Franklin Bluffs
144 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow with low visibility occuring, along
  with very cold wind chills. Plan on difficult travel conditions.
  Wind chills to 55 below. Snow accumulation will be 2 to 4 
  inches from the Dalton Highway west. 

* WHERE...Northeastern Brooks Range from the Dalton Highway West.
 
* WHEN...Until 6 PM Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The windiest conditions, along with the
  lowest visibility and coldest wind chills will be in passes.
  Wind chills to 55 below zero will cause frostbite in as little 
  as 10 minutes to exposed skin. Motorists should be prepared to 
  drifting snow on the highway, and very cold wind chills. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

$$

AKZ204-061545-
/O.EXT.PAFG.WC.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-200208T0300Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
144 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST FRIDAY...

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

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Now to 6 PM Friday.

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.

$$
619 
WWAK41 PAFG 052247
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
147 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

AKZ203-061500-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.W.0005.000000T0000Z-200206T1500Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, and Kuparuk
147 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chill to 70 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...Now to 6 AM Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds chill are expected to become less 
  severe Thursday as wind decrease.

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.

$$

AKZ206-061500-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0013.000000T0000Z-200207T0300Z/
Northeastern Brooks Range-
Including Anaktuvuk Pass, Atigun Pass, Galbraith Lake, Sagwon, 
and Franklin Bluffs
147 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow with low visibility occuring, along
  with very cold wind chills. Plan on difficult travel conditions.
  Wind chills to 55 below. Snow accumulation will be 2 to 4 inches.

* WHERE...Northeastern Brooks Range in Passes. 

* WHEN...Until 6 PM Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Wind chills to 55 below zero will cause 
  frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin. Motorists 
  should be prepared to drifting snow on the highway, and very 
  cold wind chills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

$$

AKZ204-061500-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-200208T0300Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
147 PM AKST Wed Feb 5 2020

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST FRIDAY...

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

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Now to 6 PM Friday.


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.

$$
400 
WWAK41 PAFG 061254
WSWNSB

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
354 AM AKST Thu Feb 6 2020

AKZ203-061400-
/O.CAN.PAFG.WC.W.0005.000000T0000Z-200206T1500Z/
Central Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including the cities of Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, 
and Kuparuk
354 AM AKST Thu Feb 6 2020

...WIND CHILL WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has cancelled the Wind
Chill Warning. 

Winds have decreased. However, very cold conditions will continue. 

$$

AKZ206-070300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WW.Y.0013.000000T0000Z-200207T0300Z/
Northeastern Brooks Range-
Including the cities of Anaktuvuk Pass, Atigun Pass, 
Galbraith Lake, Sagwon, and Franklin Bluffs
354 AM AKST Thu Feb 6 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow with low visibility occuring, 
  along with very cold wind chills. Plan on difficult travel 
  conditions. Wind chills to 55 below. Snow accumulation will be 
  2 to 4 inches. 

* WHERE...Northeastern Brooks Range in Passes.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM this evening.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Wind chills to 55 below zero will cause 
  frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin. 
  Motorists should be prepared to drifting snow on the highway, 
  and very cold wind chills. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

$$

AKZ204-070300-
/O.CON.PAFG.WC.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-200208T0300Z/
Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast-
Including the cities of Kaktovik and Flaxman Island
354 AM AKST Thu Feb 6 2020

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST FRIDAY...

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

* WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast.

* WHEN...Now to 6 PM Friday.

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.

$$

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 Feb 4, 2:39 PM AKST, 14 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 4, 2:39 PM AKST, 14 hours 38 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
239 PM AKST Tue Feb 4 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Widespread snow is expected to persist for the next couple of days
from the Y-K Delta, across the Interior, and northeast to the
eastern Brooks Range. Gusty north winds will linger across the
eastern Bering Sea and West Coast, supporting low visibility,
blowing snow, and occasional blizzard conditions particularly near
the Bering Strait where winds are strongest. High pressure will
build over the Chukchi Sea Thursday, pushing the snow south and
east and reinforcing cold temperatures across Western and Northern
Alaska.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Aloft 500 mb...
Longwave troughing encompasses the eastern Chukchi and Beaufort
Seas southwest to the central and western Bering Sea. The longwave
is anchored in place by closed lows north of Point Barrow and
Kamchatka, respectively. A ridge axis extends north from the
eastern Pacific across the Alaska panhandle, Northwest
Territories, and into the Canadian Archipelago. The Kamchatka low
will push a series of shortwaves into the easter Bering Sea,
which will strengthen and draw energy from the north Pacific. This
will chip away at the ridge and result in a very progressive
pattern across the southern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska through
this week. Meanwhile, the low north of Point Barrow will
gradually track southwest into the Chukchi Sea by Thursday as high
pressure strengthens over the Siberian Arctic. Model guidance
generally remains in good agreement into the weekend, favoring
continued longwave troughing over the Bering Sea with a return to
ridging over eastern Alaska and western Canada.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
In contrast to the southern half of the state, northern Alaska
weather looks to change little over the course of the week. A
weather front originating from a low in the Bering Sea stretches
across the Interior to the Eastern Brooks Range and Mackenzie Bay.
This will support light snow across the eastern Brooks Range in
the amount of roughly 2 to 4 inches through Thursday. North and
west of the front, north winds driven by strong high pressure over
the Siberian Arctic will support continued cold temperatures and
mainly clear skies. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the
eastern Beaufort Coast due to a combination of reduced visibility
due to blowing snow, and wind chills around 50 to 60 below.

West Coast and Western Interior...
A weather front extends northeast from low pressure situated over
Nunivak Island. Snowfall is decreasing in intensity, though light
snow is expected to linger through Thursday along the front.
Additionally, very strong north winds with gusts to 60 mph will
continue to cause blizzard conditions at times for St. Lawrence
Island as well as the Bering Strait region through tonight. Most
areas south and east of a line from Emmonak to Koyuk to Shungnak
can expect to pick up an additional 1 to 3 inches per day through
Thursday. Near freezing temperatures along the coast from Cape
Romanzof south may support periods of mixed precipitation through
this evening before going to all snow as temperatures decrease
tonight. By Thursday afternoon, the front will begin to drop
southeast to be replaced by colder temperatures and mostly clear
skies.

Central and Eastern Interior...
A complex arrangement of surface features including an extended
frontal boundary spanning the Yukon Delta to the eastern Brooks
Range, as well as low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska continues to
support light snow across much of the region. Light snow will
persist through Friday for most areas north and west of a line
from Delta Junction to Eagle. The greatest accumulation is
generally expected from Minto to Bettles, where an additional 4 to
7 inches of snow is possible through early Friday. Fairbanks can
expect roughly an inch or two of accumulation during that time
frame. Snowfall may increase in intensity at times, resulting in
low visibility. The forecast rate of snowfall stands just short of
advisory criteria, though we will monitor carefully for any
changes. Weak southerly flow across the Alaska Range will support
slightly warmer than average temperatures through this weekend.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ207.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ213-AKZ219.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ204.

Gale Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ225.
&&

COWMAN FEB 20

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 5, 2:38 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG42 hr
Feb 5, 2:40 AM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFG49 hr
Feb 5, 1:44 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG31 hr
Feb 5, 2:54 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG21 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.