Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Warnings in 2020

High Wind Warning 1, NWS Juneau, AK

January 9, 2020

NWS Juneau, AK issued this high wind warning at Jan 9, 2020, 4:42 AM AKST. It took effect at Jan 9, 2020, 6:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 30 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 9, 2020, 4:42 AM AKST (13:42 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 9, 2020, 6:00 PM AKST
Expired
Jan 11, 2020, 12:00 AM AKST
In force
30 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

As transmitted.

216 
WWAK77 PAJK 091342
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
442 AM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

AKZ025-100300-
/O.UPG.PAJK.HW.A.0001.200110T0900Z-200112T0600Z/
/O.NEW.PAJK.HW.W.0001.200110T0300Z-200111T0900Z/
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island-
Including the city of Juneau
442 AM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT
AKST FRIDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...The Taku winds. Northeast winds 30 mph with gusts up to 
  80 mph expected.

* WHERE...Douglas, Downtown Juneau, West Juneau, and Thane.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to midnight AKST Friday night.

* TIMING...Gusty winds will rise today with gusts reaching 60 mph
  by early this evening. Peak gusts will occur Friday morning and
  Friday afternoon when gusts will be around 80 mph before easing
  Friday evening. 

* IMPACTS....Objects will be blown around in the wind. Blowing
  snow could cause low visibility at times. Power outages are
  possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile
  vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should prepare for possible power outages. Use caution if 
you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
5 follow-up statements
183 
WWAK77 PAJK 100037
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
337 PM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

AKZ025-100800-
/O.CON.PAJK.HW.W.0001.200110T0300Z-200111T0900Z/
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island-
Including the city of Juneau
337 PM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST FRIDAY
NIGHT...

* WHAT...The Taku winds. Northeast winds 30 mph with gusts up to 
  80 mph expected.

* WHERE...Douglas, Downtown Juneau, West Juneau, and Thane.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to midnight AKST Friday night.

* TIMING...Gusty winds will continue to rise through the evening 
  with gusts reaching 60 mph. Peak gusts will occur Friday morning
  and Friday afternoon when gusts will be around 80 mph before 
  easing Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Objects will be blown around in the wind. Blowing 
  snow could cause low visibility at times. Power outages are 
  possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high 
  profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
281 
WWAK77 PAJK 100736
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
1036 PM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

AKZ025-101500-
/O.CON.PAJK.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200111T0900Z/
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island-
Including the city of Juneau
1036 PM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST FRIDAY
NIGHT...

* WHAT...Taku winds. Northeast winds 30 mph with gusts up to 80 
  mph expected. 

* WHERE...Douglas, Downtown Juneau, West Juneau, and Thane.

* WHEN...From now until midnight AKST Friday night.

* TIMING...Gusty winds will continue to increase through the night
  with frequent gusts to 60 mph. Peak gusts will occur Friday 
  morning and Friday afternoon when gusts will be around 80 mph 
  before easing Friday evening. 

* IMPACTS...Objects will be blown around in the wind. Blowing 
  snow could cause low visibility at times. Power outages are 
  possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high 
  profile vehicles. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$
930 
WWAK77 PAJK 101336
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
436 AM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

AKZ025-110200-
/O.CON.PAJK.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200111T0900Z/
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island-
Including the city of Juneau
436 AM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Taku winds. Northeast winds 30 mph with gusts up to 85 
  mph expected.

* WHERE...Douglas, Downtown Juneau, West Juneau, and Thane.

* WHEN...From now until midnight AKST tonight.

* TIMING...Peak gusts will occur this morning when gusts will 
  blow around 85 mph before easing Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Objects will be blown around in the wind. Blowing 
  snow could cause low visibility at times. Power outages are 
  possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high 
  profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Wind gusts between 60 and 85 mph have been
  reported around Downtown Juneau early this morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution if you must drive. Prepare for possible power outages. 

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
205 
WWAK77 PAJK 102341
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
241 PM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

AKZ025-110900-
/O.CON.PAJK.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200111T0900Z/
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island-
Including the city of Juneau
241 PM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* WHERE...Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island.

* WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight.

* TIMING...Gusty winds will hold continue through early evening
  and then slowly weaken overnight. 

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusted to 86 mph this morning, and
  several other sites gusted above 70 mph, while the strongest
  winds were blowing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
340 
WWAK77 PAJK 110846
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
1146 PM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

AKZ025-111000-
/O.EXP.PAJK.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200111T0900Z/
Juneau Borough and Northern Admiralty Island-
Including the city of Juneau
1146 PM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT...

Numerous gusts of over 70 mph were recorded in Downtown Juneau
including a peak gust of 86 mph at the AML Dock at 432 AM Friday.
Expect gusts around 50 mph to continue overnight and Saturday.

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high wind warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind warning went out at Jan 8, 2:52 PM AKST, 13 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 8, 2:52 PM AKST, 13 hours 50 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
252 PM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

.SHORT TERM...Cool to cold air in place over Southeast Alaska
will persist into the weekend. A very cold high sits over the
Alaskan interior and Northwest Canada. Tight pressure gradient
packing along the coast mountains so strong gusty outflow winds
are expected into the weekend. Looking to see storm force winds in
the Lynn Canal area. Also looking for the development of a Taku
Mountain wave wind event for the Downtown Juneau and Douglas areas
starting early Friday into the weekend. High Wind Watch issued
for the potential of 60+ mph gusts.

The cold temperatures and strong winds Skagway to White Pass are
causing cold wind chills to 30 to 40 below so and Winter Weather
advisory issued for that.

A weak trough this evening will spark some snow showers over the
southern portion of the panhandle with advisory level
accumulations, and again this is dependent on the showers moving
over the specific areas. Localized training of the showers could
result higher snow totals.

Another wave moving across the southern panhandle is expected to
spread snow back into the southern half of the panhandle. A winter
storm watch for snowfall has been posted for the overrunning
event of the warm moist air over the colder panhandle.

The northern panhandle should dry out and clear out for Thursday,
and could see some clouds move in on Friday. Forecast confidence
is slightly better than average to the weekend.

.LONG TERM...Extended range forecast is a little up in the air
as model disagreement starts to show up rather early in the
forecast. Upper level pattern starts out with notable ridge over
the Alaska mainland (possible omega block), but the disagreement
in guidance stems from how long this feature lingers before
getting pushed out. Operational Canadian is rather progressive
with it pushing it out as early as mon. While the ECMWF, some
ensemble means, and the WPC opt for a slower progression having
some semblance of it sticking around in the Yukon into early next
week.

This uncertainly extends down to the surface with different ideas
on how much cold air will assault the panhandle and how much
effect gulf storms will have on the area for next week. However,
the overall story still remains the same, it is just the details
that are in limbo. The general story is that cold outflow will
continue to rule the forecast for most areas of the panhandle for
the extended period. Expect northerlies of 25 kt or so around Lynn
Canal and Taku Inlet as well as other outflow areas and generally
dry conditions for most areas due to offshore flow. These winds
could go up or down as we get closer to the event depending on how
much cold air actually does make it to the area. Likewise, some
precip could show up, for the outer coast especially, if not as
much outflow appears. Forecast confidence at the moment is
marginal.

Given the notable disagreement between models tonight, any
changes were rather small or no changes were made at all. favored
the GFS and WPC guidance as they displayed a good middle ground
scenario.

&&

.AVIATION...Southern panhandle will see lower conditions due to
the snow tonight and clouds lowering to IFR or MVFR levels.
Northern panhandle's main issue will be turbulence near terrain,
and possibly low level wind shear if its near an interior passage
with outflow winds.

&&

.MARINE...Gale to Storm force winds in the next 24 to 48 hours
primarily due to outflow patterns. Bumped up the seas in Lynn
Canal and Chatham for enhanced fully developed or nearly so sea
states that will be above the standard wave forecasts for wind
spreads. Northern inner channels should also have light to heavy
freezing spray in the forecast as well.

&&

.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...Winter Storm Watch from Thursday evening through Friday morning
     for AKZ023-026>028.
     Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM AKST
     Thursday for AKZ027-028.
     High Wind Watch from late Thursday night through Saturday
     evening for AKZ025.
     Strong Wind from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for
     AKZ025.
     Strong Wind through Thursday afternoon for AKZ018.
     Wind Chill Advisory from midnight tonight to 3 AM AKST Sunday
     for AKZ018.
MARINE...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ012.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ013.
     Gale Warning for PKZ012-013-022.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ021-031-032-041>043-051>053.

&&

Bezenek/EAL

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 8, 3:08 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK13 hr
Jan 8, 3:08 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAJK11 days
Jan 8, 3:09 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK48 hr
Jan 9, 4:02 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK48 hr
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK48 hr
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK3 days
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTStorm WarningAJK48 hr
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAJK4 days
Jan 9, 4:42 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAJK40 hr

Nearby

High Wind Warnings in Alaska, 2020Every high wind 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.