Blizzard Warning 19, NWS Anchorage, AK

202 
WWAK41 PAFC 150259
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
559 PM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

AKZ126-150600-
/O.EXT.PAFC.BZ.W.0019.000000T0000Z-231215T0900Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, and Moose Pass
559 PM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions due to blowing snow expected. Winds 
  gusting as high as 45 mph. Visibility reduced to as low as one 
  quarter mile with whiteout conditions possible at times.

* WHERE...Whittier.

* WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight.

* IMPACTS...Travel will be difficult. Areas of blowing snow 
  could significantly reduce visibility and result in 
  significant drifting of snow.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Westerly winds in and around Whittier
  continue to lift easily transportable snow already on the ground
  leading to ground blizzard conditions. Winds are expected to
  diminish after midnight tonight.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel very hazardous. If you must travel,
have a winter survival kit with you.If you get stranded, stay
with your vehicle.

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

AKZ132-150600-
/O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-231215T0600Z/
Northeast Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Valdez and Thompson Pass
559 PM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Blowing snow expected. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. 
  Visibility reduced to as low as one half mile.

* WHERE...Thompson Pass.

* WHEN...From 9 AM this morning to 9 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Travel may be difficult. Areas of blowing snow could 
  significantly reduce visibility and result in significant 
  drifting of snow.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Northerly winds will quickly increase 
  this morning in the wake of several rounds of heavy snow. The 
  strong winds will lift easily transportable snow already on 
  the ground leading to significant blowing snow and reduced 
  visibilities. Winds are expected to peak in intensity between 
  noon and 4 pm before before diminishing Thursday night.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling, especially in open areas.

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/afc

183 
WWAK41 PAFC 150609
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
909 PM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

AKZ132-150715-
/O.EXP.PAFC.WW.Y.0063.000000T0000Z-231215T0600Z/
Northeast Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Valdez and Thompson Pass
909 PM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...

$$

AKZ126-150900-
/O.CON.PAFC.BZ.W.0019.000000T0000Z-231215T0900Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, and Moose Pass
909 PM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AKST
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions due to blowing snow expected. Winds 
  gusting as high as 45 mph. Visibility reduced to as low as one 
  quarter mile with whiteout conditions possible at times.

* WHERE...Whittier.

* WHEN...Until midnight AKST tonight.

* IMPACTS...Travel will be difficult. Areas of blowing snow 
  could significantly reduce visibility and result in 
  significant drifting of snow.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Westerly winds in and around Whittier 
  continue to lift easily transportable snow already on the 
  ground leading to ground blizzard conditions. Winds are 
  expected to diminish after midnight tonight.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel very hazardous. If you must travel,
have a winter survival kit with you.If you get stranded, stay
with your vehicle.

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/afc

817 
WWAK41 PAFC 150907
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
1207 AM AKST Fri Dec 15 2023

AKZ126-151015-
/O.EXP.PAFC.BZ.W.0019.000000T0000Z-231215T0900Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, and Moose Pass
1207 AM AKST Fri Dec 15 2023

...BLIZZARD WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

Winds and blowing snow will diminish overnight. 

$$

http://www.weather.gov/afc

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
503 PM AKST Wed Dec 13 2023

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)...

A high amplitude, negatively tilted, upper level, longwave trough
continues to sit over the western Gulf of Alaska. Several
shortwaves and compact surface lows are moving northwest ahead of
of the trough axis, bringing showery precipitation along the
immediate coast and coastal mountains. Overnight snow totals are
expected to be less than an inch of very low density snow for the
Anchorage area and up to 2 inches for higher elevations along the
Western Chugach and Turnagain Arm. However, locally higher amounts
are likely directly beneath heavier bands of snow.

Bands of snow showers from the northern Gulf over the Southcentral
coast will continue through this evening. The potential for bands
of light to moderate snow showers from Cordova west to Whittier
and Portage will linger through Thursday morning.

A compact surface low and upper-level shortwave lift north along
the western Gulf coast. These features are expected to weaken
before passing over Prince William Sound, reducing precipitation
there, and allowing a shortwave ridge to build over the rest of
Southcentral through Friday morning. Thus, expect dry and cold
conditions across the region Thursday through Friday morning.

Elsewhere, northwesterly gale force gusts from Kamishak Bay south
across Shelikof Strait and the waters surrounding Kodiak Island
will diminish Thursday as the cold air advection from the
northwest shuts off.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/ALEUTIANS/BERING SEA (Days
1 through 3: Tonight through Saturday)...

A large low pressure center in the northern Gulf of Alaska and a
ridge in the central Bering Sea continues to promote a strong
push of cold air across the Eastern Bering Sea and much of the
Alaska mainland. The presence of cold air and a tight pressure
gradient between the two atmospheric features has been allowing
for strong gusty winds across the southern portion of the Alaska
Peninsula. Bands of snow showers moving in along with these strong
winds continue to promoted areas of blowing snow and reduced
visibility. Winds have started to taper down slightly this
afternoon and will gradually ease overnight tonight into Thursday.
Snowfall will similarly diminish overnight into Thursday morning.

A low currently near the Kamchatka Peninsula is pushing its front
across the western Bering and Aleutians. The front is producing
rain and gale force winds as it lifts to the east. It will advance
steadily eastward and reach the Pribilof Island and Eastern
Aleutians on Thursday morning. As the front approaches, precipitation
should initially begin as snowfall, but is expected to transition
within a few hours to rain.

As the front continues towards the Southwest coast, northeasterly
winds along the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay coasts will begin
to increase on Thursday afternoon. Snow will begin along the
coasts shortly after on Thursday evening. Gusty winds combined
with snowfall will reduce visibility to one quarter mile or less
at times along the coasts. Thus, Blizzard Warnings are in effect
from Thursday night through Friday morning for the Kuskokwim Delta
coast (including Mekoryuk) and the Western Capes of Bristol Bay
(including Platinum and Goodnews Bay). Snow will spread inland and
winds will gradually diminish along the coast through Friday. By
Saturday, an additional storm is expected to bring another round
of snow and winds to Southwest Alaska.

AF

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Sunday through Wednesday)...

Two broad upper level longwave troughs stretch across the Bering
Sea and into the Gulf of Alaska this weekend through early next
week. The first trough pushes towards the north Gulf coast Sunday
through Sunday night and the second moves across the Alaska
Peninsula towards the north Gulf coast Monday into Tuesday. The
surface reflection is still a bit wonky in the long term but there
is fairly decent agreement across the models for the upper levels
representing these waves, with slight discrepancies on timing.
The first wave is showing another round of heavy precipitation
for the Gulf coast. The challenge will be determining precipitation
type, which will be dependent on how much warm air tracks onshore
and how high snow levels rise as a result. This is particularly
valid for Cordova/Valdez. Gusty offshore winds and gap winds near
Kodiak Island and Prince William Sound are expected Sunday through
Tuesday.

Gusty winds and precipitation will spread along the Aleutian Chain
and Alaska Peninsula and potentially into Bristol Bay through the
early portion of next week as the second upper level trough sweeps
through.

KM

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...Snow showers will continue to track from Prince William
Sound down Turnagain Arm toward Anchorage through around 06Z
this evening. It's hard to say if the showers will move over the
airport. If they do, would expect brief periods of MVFR or IFR
ceiling/vis. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail, with
decreasing clouds overnight. Light northerly winds will persist.

&&

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
National Weather Service ANCHORAGE AK
112 AM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

AKZ103-126-141800-
East Turnagain Arm-Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Seward,
and Moose Pass
112 AM AKST Thu Dec 14 2023

...BANDS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS TO CONTINUE ACROSS
THE EASTERN KENAI PENINSULA AND EASTERN TURNAGAIN ARM THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING...

Bands of moderate to heavy snow showers will continue across the
Seward Highway Corridor from Girdwood and Whittier south through
Turnagain Pass to the Hope Cutoff through Thursday morning.

Snowfall rates in heavier snow showers could reach one to three
inches per hour, leading to near whiteout conditions at times.
Gusty winds Thursday morning will also result in localized areas
of blowing snow, especially near Whittier and Seward.

Additional snow accumulations of up to 6 inches are possible for
Whittier, Portage Valley, and Turnagain Pass. 2 to 4 inches of
snow are possible around the Hope Cutoff. 1 to 2 inches of snow
are possible from Moose Pass south to Seward.