Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Warnings in 2020

High Wind Warning 14, NWS Juneau, AK

April 28, 2020

NWS Juneau, AK issued this high wind warning at Apr 28, 2020, 4:46 AM AKDT. It took effect at Apr 28, 2020, 7:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 10 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
Apr 28, 2020, 4:46 AM AKDT (12:46 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 28, 2020, 7:00 PM AKDT
Expired
Apr 29, 2020, 4:55 AM AKDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

As transmitted.

222 
WWAK77 PAJK 281246
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
446 AM AKDT Tue Apr 28 2020

AKZ027-028-290015-
/O.UPG.PAJK.HW.A.0007.200429T0200Z-200429T1300Z/
/O.NEW.PAJK.HW.W.0014.200429T0300Z-200429T1400Z/
Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area-
Southern Inner Channels-
Including the cities of Craig, Klawock, Ketchikan, and Metlakatla
446 AM AKDT Tue Apr 28 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM
AKDT WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area and 
  Southern Inner Channels.

* WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 6 AM AKDT Wednesday.

* LOCATION...The Southeast Gulf Coast and the Southern Inner 
  Channels including Ketchikan, Craig, Hydaburg, Metlakatla, 
  Thorne Bay, and Kasaan.

* WINDS...Southeast winds gusting to around 60 mph possible.

* TIMING...Winds will increase through Tuesday with periods of 
  potentially high winds Tuesday night.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. 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
3 follow-up statements
817 
WWAK77 PAJK 281912
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
1112 AM AKDT Tue Apr 28 2020

AKZ027-028-290300-
/O.CON.PAJK.HW.W.0014.200429T0300Z-200429T1400Z/
Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area-
Southern Inner Channels-
Including the cities of Craig, Klawock, Ketchikan, and Metlakatla
1112 AM AKDT Tue Apr 28 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO
6 AM AKDT WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph 
  expected. 

* WHERE...The Southeast Gulf Coast and the Southern Inner 
  Channels including Ketchikan, Craig, Hydaburg, Metlakatla, 
  Thorne Bay, and Kasaan. 

* TIMING...Winds will continue to increase through Tuesday
  afternoon with periods of highest winds Tuesday night. 

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. 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.

&&

$$
327 
WWAK77 PAJK 290122
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
522 PM AKDT Tue Apr 28 2020

AKZ027-028-291330-
/O.CON.PAJK.HW.W.0014.200429T0300Z-200429T1400Z/
Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area-
Southern Inner Channels-
Including the cities of Craig, Klawock, Ketchikan, and Metlakatla
522 PM AKDT Tue Apr 28 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKDT
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...The Southeast Gulf Coast and the Southern Inner 
  Channels including Ketchikan, Craig, Hydaburg, Metlakatla, 
  Thorne Bay, and Kasaan.

* WHEN...Winds will increase through Tuesday evening with a peak
  around midnight.

* IMPACTS...Loose objects will be blown around. Damaging winds 
  can blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible.
  Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
877 
WWAK77 PAJK 291255
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
455 AM AKDT Wed Apr 29 2020

AKZ027-028-291400-
/O.CAN.PAJK.HW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-200429T1400Z/
Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision Coastal Area-
Southern Inner Channels-
Including the cities of Craig, Klawock, Ketchikan, and Metlakatla
455 AM AKDT Wed Apr 29 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The very strong gusty winds have diminished across the southern
Panhandle so the High Wind Warning is cancelled. Gusts to 40 mph 
may still occur through early Wednesday morning but continued gusts
to 60 mph are no longer expected. 

$$

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 Apr 27, 2:57 PM AKDT, 13 hours 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 2:57 PM AKDT, 13 hours 49 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
257 PM AKDT Mon Apr 27 2020

.SHORT TERM.../Monday through Wednesday/ Active weather continues
across the Panhandle over the next few days as another impactful
low pressure system is expected to move into the region. As of
late Monday afternoon, a 986 mb low in the east central gulf was
slowly moving north and weakening. This low will continue to
weaken into tomorrow before being taken over by a more potent low
moving in from the south. This next system is expected to bring
another round of heavy rain to the Panhandle and potentially high
winds across the south.

For Monday evening and into Tuesday morning, widespread rain
showers will continue over much of the Panhandle with Yakutat
being the exception. There will not be much of a break, if any, in
the rain as the next system will be right on the heals of the one
today. By Tuesday morning, a 987mb low near 51 N 141 W will
continue northward pushing a front into the Southern Panhandle.
Heavy rain will spread northward throughout the day as the low
treks northward along longitudinal line 139 W. With southeasterly
flow aloft over the region, expect heaviest rainfall amounts over
the south with lesser amounts across the north. Through Tuesday
night expect one to two inches of rain in the Southern Panhandle
with locally higher amounts possible. Across the Central and
Northern Panhandle expect a half inch to one and a half inches of
rain. Lesser amounts expected across the Upper Lynn Canal area and
Yakutat.

Potentially impactful winds expected in the Southern Panhandle
Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning. As the gale
force low heads northward, the pressure gradient will tighten and
southeasterly flow will increase aloft. Winds at 850 mb will
increase to 65 kt through the day on Tuesday then die down to 35
to 45 kt as the low heads northward on Wednesday. The surface
pressure gradient on Tuesday is not optimal for a high wind event
at the surface for the south as there is more of an E or ENE
component to the gradient between a ridge over BC and the low
moving north in the gulf. The gradient becomes conducive for high
winds late Tuesday afternoon and evening; however at this time the
low will be weakening and winds aloft will be diminishing as
well. The best timeframe for potentially high winds in the
Ketchikan area and on Prince of Wales should be Tuesday afternoon
through early Wednesday morning. With this thinking in mind, have
condensed the timing for the High Wind Watch to 00z Wed through
12z Wed. Confidence is only marginal in this high wind event
materializing as the best dynamics do not quite all line up.

No major changes were made to the forecast for today. Used a blend
of the NAM/GFS and hires models for minor tweaks.

.LONG TERM.../Wednesday through Monday as of 10 pm Sunday/ Active
weather pattern in the long range is starting to trend more toward
being less active. Overall pattern keeps a broad upper trough
over, and upstream of the region through the period with the
Pacific storm track continuing to send storms East across the
northern Pacific. The improving trend comes for next weekend when
guidance pushes the eastern end of the jet stream a little
farther south delaying the next storm into the panhandle.

Mid range changes were minor with a lingering low in the gulf that
gradually moves northwest into the north central gulf and
gradually weakens away. Generally wet conditions expected into Thu
night for the panhandle remains mostly unchanged.

Overall forecast changes were more focused on the extended range
tonight as with the farther south trend of storm tracks the
weekend is looking drier particularly for the north on Sat. A low
that had rather large spread on where it was going for the
weekend yesterday has clustered up a bit more in the guidance
today. Most guidance is suggesting that the low will struggle to
get into the southern gulf and its front will likely mainly affect
the southern panhandle. Chance pops are kept for the southern
panhandle, but the north has been lowered to slight chance or
lower on Sat.

Favored GFS and ECMWF for guidance in the mid range and WPC and
NBM for extended range shifts.

&&

.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...High Wind Watch from Tuesday evening through late Tuesday
night      for AKZ027-028.
     Strong Wind Tuesday afternoon for AKZ027-028.
     Strong Wind until 7 PM AKDT this evening for AKZ021.
     Strong Wind from Tuesday morning through Tuesday afternoon for
     AKZ021.
MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ036-041.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ022-031>035-042-043-051>053.

&&

CM/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
Apr 28, 3:23 AM AKDTGale WarningAJK12 hr
Apr 28, 3:38 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK48 hr
Apr 28, 3:39 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK24 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.