Alert archive / Alaska / Winter Weather Advisories in 2021
Winter Weather Advisory 9, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this winter weather advisory at Feb 3, 2021, 9:34 PM AKST. It took effect at Feb 4, 2021, 9:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 6 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Feb 3, 2021, 9:34 PM AKST (06:34 UTC)
- In effect from
- Feb 4, 2021, 9:00 PM AKST
- Expired
- Feb 5, 2021, 3:25 AM AKST
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
837 WWAK42 PAFC 040634 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 934 PM AKST Wed Feb 3 2021 AKZ155-041500- /O.NEW.PAFC.WW.Y.0009.210205T0600Z-210205T1800Z/ Kuskokwim Delta- Including the cities of Bethel, Hooper Bay, and Nunivak Island 934 PM AKST Wed Feb 3 2021 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO 9 AM AKST FRIDAY FOR COASTAL AREAS ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA... * WHAT...Blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 5 inches. Blowing snow will reduce visibility to a half mile or less. * WHERE...Coastal Kuskokwim Delta. * WHEN...From 9 PM Thursday to 9 AM AKST Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A winter weather advisory for blowing snow means that visibilities will be limited due to strong winds blowing snow around. Use caution when traveling, especially in open areas. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/afc
4 follow-up statements
317 WWAK42 PAFC 041246 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 346 AM AKST Thu Feb 4 2021 AKZ155-050200- /O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0009.210205T0600Z-210205T1800Z/ Kuskokwim Delta- Including the cities of Bethel, Hooper Bay, and Nunivak Island 346 AM AKST Thu Feb 4 2021 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM AKST FRIDAY ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA COAST... * WHAT...Blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 5 inches. Southeast winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * WHERE...Coastal Kuskokwim Delta. * WHEN...From 9 PM Thursday to 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Blowing snow will reduce visibility to a half mile or less. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow is expected to begin along the Kuskokwim Delta Coast this evening. Snow is expected to reach peak intensity around midnight with improving conditions expected during the morning hours on Friday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/afc
787 WWAK42 PAFC 050146 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 446 PM AKST Thu Feb 4 2021 AKZ155-051415- /O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0009.210205T0600Z-210205T1800Z/ Kuskokwim Delta- Including the cities of Bethel, Hooper Bay, and Nunivak Island 446 PM AKST Thu Feb 4 2021 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM AKST FRIDAY ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA COAST... * WHAT...Blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 4 inches. Southeast winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * WHERE...Coastal Kuskokwim Delta. * WHEN...From 9 PM Thursday to 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Blowing snow will reduce visibility to a half mile or less. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow and blowing snow is expected to begin along the Kuskokwim Delta Coast this evening. Snow is expected to reach peak intensity shortly after midnight with improving conditions expected during the morning hours on Friday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/afc
006 WWAK42 PAFC 050543 AAA WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED National Weather Service Anchorage AK 843 PM AKST Thu Feb 4 2021 AKZ155-051800- /O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0009.210205T0600Z-210205T1800Z/ Kuskokwim Delta- Including the cities of Bethel, Hooper Bay, and Nunivak Island 843 PM AKST Thu Feb 4 2021 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST FRIDAY ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA COAST... * WHAT...Blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches. Southeast winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * WHERE...Kuskokwim Delta coast. * WHEN...From 9 PM Thursday to 9 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Blowing snow will reduce visibility to a half mile or less. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow and blowing snow is expected to begin along the Kuskokwim Delta coast this evening. Snow is expected to reach peak intensity shortly after midnight with improving conditions expected during the morning hours on Friday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/afc
333 WWAK42 PAFC 051225 WSWALU URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Anchorage AK 325 AM AKST Fri Feb 5 2021 AKZ155-051330- /O.CAN.PAFC.WW.Y.0009.000000T0000Z-210205T1800Z/ Kuskokwim Delta- Including the cities of Bethel, Hooper Bay, and Nunivak Island 325 AM AKST Fri Feb 5 2021 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA COAST... Conditions are improving along the Kuskokwim Delta Coast as the worst of the impacts have passed and visibilities are increasing. However, gusty southeasterly to southerly winds are expected to continue through the morning hours. $$ http://www.weather.gov/afc
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this winter weather advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this winter weather advisory went out at Feb 3, 3:51 PM AKST, 5 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 3, 3:51 PM AKST, 5 hours 43 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 351 PM AKST Wed Feb 3 2021 .ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS... Analysis shows strong high pressure over the eastern Pacific with a ridge edging north into the Gulf of Alaska, and a strong low pressure system rotating over Kamchatka with an attendant front stretching southeast across the western Aleutians. Between the two, a fast moving shortwave is moving east across southwest Alaska. At the surface, an area of weakening low pressure continues to move east toward Southeast Alaska. Temperatures range from around 30 degrees in the Prince William Sound area and the 20s to around 30 degrees at other coastal areas, quickly dropping into the single digits and teens at most other areas. The coldest readings are in the teens below zero in the Copper River Basin area. Gale force winds and waves can be seen along the western Bering and Aleutians as the front continues across the area. && .MODEL DISCUSSION... Models remain in fairly good agreement on synoptic features through the next several days. The weak shortwave approaching Southwest Alaska will continue to weaken as it moves east across the state overnight into Thursday, with little effect. The main feature to watch is the approaching system forecast to move across the Aleutians Thursday into Southcentral for Friday, bringing a good chance for snow. && .AVIATION... PANC...Expect MVFR conditions to continue, as no good push to scour it out. Any additional snow this afternoon will be very light, little more than flurries. Fog may develop in the vicinity overnight, but the environment favors a stratus deck over fog, so if anything does form it should be isolated in nature and likely won't move over the terminal. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3: Wednesday through Friday)... The synoptic pattern features a low in the Gulf at the surface and an upper level trough over the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, with an arctic trough over the Brooks Range. There are numerous embedded shortwaves from western Alaska to the Gulf of Alaska. The disturbance that brought snow to most of Southcentral overnight has moved through the Cook Inlet region as of early this morning and is headed towards the Copper River Basin by late this afternoon and evening. Stratus and patchy fog will persist in the Cook Inlet and other portions of South Central. An upper level ridge will move across western Alaska and into Southcentral Alaska on Friday. This is a fast moving feature. In its wake, the models bring a slug of upper level energy across Kodiak and Cook Inlet late Friday and Saturday. This is our next potential snow maker for portions of Southcentral, but again only light accumulations are anticipated for the Anchorage Bowl. This strong lobe of vorticity will move across the northern Gulf and towards Cordova and Glacier Bay National Park. This pattern will bring strong winds to the Barren Islands and Hitchinbrook Entrance. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... Low stratus and fog has been the dominating weather across Southwest Alaska earlier today, which will continue throughout the evening for some areas. An upper level wave over the Kuskokwim Delta and Valley will continue to produce snow showers before tapering off for Thursday morning. A quieter weather pattern sets up through late Thursday, with most of Southwest Alaska drying out. The pattern shifts as a front moves over the coastal areas by Thursday night, which will then spread farther inland throughout the day on Friday. Blowing snow is possible for locations along the Kuskokwim Delta Coast as the front brings stronger winds, but there is still uncertainty in the timing of the front and heaviest snowfall. Snow accumulations of a few inches are expected as this system moves quickly across the region. Models have come into better agreement today, allowing for forecast confidence to increase. This system exits the region by Saturday morning, with a few lingering showers, before the clear conditions set back up across the Southwest mainland for the weekend. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)... A gale force front over the central Bering this afternoon will continue its eastward path, bringing widespread precipitation from the Pribilofs to the central and eastern Aleutians through the evening hours. Precipitation will stay mostly rain, or a mix of rain and snow with this warmer system before the colder air begins to move back into the region by Friday morning. The front will reach the AKPEN Friday morning as it continues to weaken. After this system diminishes, a much more uncertain pattern sets up over the western Bering and Aleutians as the models are having a difficult time with a compact low feature trying to develop on Thursday into early Friday. However, models come back into good agreement by Friday afternoon with a much larger frontal system beginning to move over the western Aleutians and Bering. Storm force winds will accompany this system over the western Bering through Saturday afternoon. && .MARINE (Days 3 through 5: Saturday through Monday)... Gulf of Alaska: A low exits the Southeast Gulf Sun. Model tracks differ slightly, but confidence is good through Mon. Widespread westerly gale force winds and waves with high end gale force gusts are expected over the Gulf Sat. These will diminish to small craft winds Sun, and continue weakening for Mon. Wave heights to 21 feet Sat move across the Gulf, subsiding to 10 feet Sun. They continue to subside as high pressure moves into the Gulf through Mon. Bering Sea: Eastern Bering high pressure yields as a front over the central Bering swings into the northern Bering Mon. The low with this front moves into the western Bering before retreating near the Kamchatka Peninsula. Model development is mixed, but confidence is improving through Mon. Widespread southeast gale force winds and waves with high end gale force gusts diminish over the central Bering Sun. Easterly small craft winds continue over the Bering through Mon. Wave heights to 24 feet over the western Bering and the Pacific side of the Aleutians through Sun will be subsiding. Expect waves to 20 feet over the central and eastern Bering through the forecast period. && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Sunday through Wednesday)... The long term pattern features an amplified upper level ridge over the Gulf and southern mainland, while upstream, a deep upper level low will drop southward from Siberia over the western Bering. By Monday, the pattern shifts slightly as the ridge moves eastward and becomes broadened across the Aleutian Chain. As another low arrives over the western Bering, the ridge becomes highly amplified once again by Tuesday. This will result in a pattern change over the Bering with much more warm southerly flow expected for Tuesday, while for the mainland, a much colder Arctic airmass remains in place. By Wednesday, the strong ridge continues to build within close proximity of a deepening upper level low over the mainland. This, combined with a strong temperature gradient will likely increase winds across the southwest coast of Alaska. This setup also results in a somewhat regressive pattern, as several upper level waves will steer systems from east to west through the middle of next week. && .AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...NONE. MARINE...Gale: 165 173 175 176 178 185 412 413. Heavy Freezing Spray: 160 180 185. && SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...MIC SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...PJS SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...AH MARINE/LONG TERM...KZ/KO
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 3, 3:08 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 3 days | |
| Feb 3, 3:31 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Feb 3, 3:31 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Feb 3, 3:31 PM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:38 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:38 AM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:39 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:39 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:39 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:39 AM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:44 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:44 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 60 hr | |
| Feb 4, 3:44 AM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 12 hr |
Nearby
Winter Weather Advisories in Alaska, 2021Every winter weather advisory in 2021
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.