Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Warnings in 2023

High Wind Warning 5, NWS Anchorage, AK

February 20, 2023

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this high wind warning at Feb 20, 2023, 4:47 AM AKST. It took effect at Feb 21, 2023, 12:00 AM AKST. It was in force for 15 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 20, 2023, 4:47 AM AKST (13:47 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 21, 2023, 12:00 AM AKST
Expired
Feb 21, 2023, 2:48 PM AKST
In force
15 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

449 
WWAK72 PAFC 201347 CCA
NPWALU

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
447 AM AKST Mon Feb 20 2023

AKZ187-210300-
/O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0006.230221T0600Z-230221T1800Z/
/O.NEW.PAFC.HW.W.0005.230221T0900Z-230221T1800Z/
Central Aleutians-
Including the city of Atka and Adak
447 AM AKST Mon Feb 20 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM AKST
TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 75 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Central Aleutians.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 AM AKST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Strongest winds are expected around 3 AM
  AKST for the cities of Adak and Atka. Wind direction will be
  west-southwest. Winds and lingering rainfall will subside
  rapidly after the wave departs to the north Tuesday morning.
  Temperatures are expected to stay above freezing for the 
  duration of the event. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

AKZ195-210300-
/O.COR.PAFC.HW.A.0007.230221T1200Z-230222T0300Z/
Pribilof Islands-
Including the city of Saint Paul
447 AM AKST Mon Feb 20 2023

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 45 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph 
  possible.

* WHERE...Pribilof Islands.

* WHEN...From late tonight through Tuesday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A rapidly approaching North Pacific low
  pressure system will enter the Bering today. This system is
  expected to produce high winds along the Central Aleutians
  tonight into Tuesday morning. Confidence is growing that this
  core of elevated winds will persist as the low advances
  northward toward the Pribilofs Tuesday morning. Wind direction
  is currently expected to be southwest. This wind flow appears 
  favorable to produce waves up to 25 feet near St. Paul harbor. 
  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A high wind watch means there is potential for a hazardous high
wind event. Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates
on this situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a
safe location prior to the onset of winds.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/afc
3 follow-up statements
135 
WWAK72 PAFC 210054
NPWALU

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
354 PM AKST Mon Feb 20 2023

AKZ195-220300-
/O.UPG.PAFC.HW.A.0007.230221T1200Z-230222T0300Z/
/O.EXB.PAFC.HW.W.0005.230221T1200Z-230222T0300Z/
Pribilof Islands-
Including the city of Saint Paul
354 PM AKST Mon Feb 20 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM AKST TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 45 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Pribilof Islands.

* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM AKST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...High winds could move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A rapidly approaching North Pacific low 
  pressure system will enter the Bering today. Confidence is 
  growing that the core of elevated winds will persist as the low 
  advances northward toward the Pribilof Islands Tuesday morning. 
  Wind direction is currently expected to be southwest. This wind 
  flow appears favorable to produce waves up to 25 feet near St. 
  Paul harbor. Conditions are expected to improve by late Tuesday 
  afternoon as the low lifts northward.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

AKZ187-211800-
/O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0005.230221T0900Z-230221T1800Z/
Central Aleutians-
Including the city of Atka and Adak
354 PM AKST Mon Feb 20 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
9 AM AKST TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 75 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Central Aleutians.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 AM AKST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong low pressure system continues to
  lift out of the North Pacific and into the western Bering.
  Strong west-southwest winds are expected around 3 AM AKST for 
  the cities of Adak and Atka. Conditions are expected to improve 
  by Tuesday afternoon as the low lifts northward.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/afc
296 
WWAK72 PAFC 211304
NPWALU

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
404 AM AKST Tue Feb 21 2023

AKZ187-211800-
/O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-230221T1800Z/
Central Aleutians-
Including the city of Atka and Adak
404 AM AKST Tue Feb 21 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS
MORNING...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 80 mph.

* WHERE...Central Aleutians.

* WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST this morning.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

AKZ195-220300-
/O.CON.PAFC.HW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-230222T0300Z/
Pribilof Islands-
Including the city of Saint Paul
404 AM AKST Tue Feb 21 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...South winds 45 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph.

* WHERE...Pribilof Islands.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM AKST this evening.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, 
  and cause power outages. Travel will be difficult.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Southwesterly winds may produce waves up to
  25 ft near St. Paul Harbor. Peak winds are expected around noon
  today.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown
around or damaged by the wind. Prepare for the possibility of
widespread power outages. Use caution if you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/afc
726 
WWAK72 PAFC 212348
NPWALU

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
248 PM AKST Tue Feb 21 2023

AKZ195-220100-
/O.CAN.PAFC.HW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-230222T0300Z/
Pribilof Islands-
Including the city of Saint Paul
248 PM AKST Tue Feb 21 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED...

Gusty winds will continue but are no longer expected to reach 
high wind warning criteria. Southerly winds 25 to 35 mph are
expected to continue through Wednesday night.  


$$

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

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 Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind warning went out at Feb 19, 4:40 PM AKST, 12 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 19, 4:40 PM AKST, 12 hours 7 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
440 PM AKST Sun Feb 19 2023

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

Blocked ridge over the Pacific has nudged up into Alaska this
morning. Areas of fog and low stratus appeared in different
locations across the mainland, some producing enough moisture for
snow flurries and freezing drizzle. Fog is also observed in the
Middle Kuskokwim and the Kuskokwim Delta. A fast moving shortwave
is riding up along the western side of the ridge. This is
partially tethered to the shortwave spinning off a western Bering
low. While the low is skirting that western edge of the Bering,
that shortwave is moving snowfall through St Paul this morning. It
appears to be a brief burst of precipitation. Cold convective
cumulus trails behind though.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

Consensus on the synoptic level is good. Resolving the embedded
shortwaves, especially across the Bering Sea and for features that
are riding along the western periphery of the ridge over the
Pacific are more uncertain. Some of the challenges for the short
term are deciphering the potential for fog for various locations
across the Mainland and wind, in terms of magnitude and impacts
over the next few days. As warmer air continues to advect under
southwesterly flow into Alaska, the transition in precipitation
type could pose challenge in some areas over Southwestern Alaska
for the forecast this week.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...Improvement to VFR is anticipated this afternoon.
Reduction to MVFR ceilings and visibility is likely to return
after dark and last until at least sunrise. IFR and LIFR is
possible in the morning. Light winds are likely to prevail.

&&

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

Lingering weak low pressure exists over the Gulf of Alaska this
evening. A North Pacific low tracks south of the Gulf towards the
Southeast Panhandle through Monday. Winds across the Gulf of
Alaska will increase to widespread small craft, with areas of gale
force winds being pulled through some of the gaps, including
Resurrection Bay, Passage Canal/Prince William Sound, and out of
the Copper River Delta, on Monday. Winds will also be increased
through the Barren Islands.

A building ridge will keep cool and dry conditions across
Southcentral over the next couple of days. Cold air advection will
drift out of the Interior down into Southcentral. Anticipate winds
to ramp in areas along the coast, mainly Seward, Valdez/Thompson
Pass, and Whitter/Portage through Monday night. Low clouds and
periods of fog are likely again overnight tonight and into Monday
morning along the western Kenai Peninsula, spilling north across
western Anchorage into the Mat-Su Valley.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 through 3: Tonight
through Wednesday)...

Quieter weather is in store heading into early next week as a
ridge of high pressure from the eastern Bering Sea moves overhead.
Low stratus and fog trapped underneath the ridge returns
overnight tonight, with conditions expected to improve Monday
morning. Meanwhile, a couple of shortwaves waves will briefly
bring light snow showers to the Kuskokwim Delta and northern
Bristol Bay, while a snow/rain mix to the Alaska Peninsula on
Monday.

For the rest of the workweek, an active weather pattern will get
underway as a series of storm systems impacts western Alaska. The
first system is associated with a North Pacific low approaching
from the Bering into the Chukchi Sea early Tuesday. Temperatures
are expected to climb into the mid to upper 30s as far north as
the Lower Kuskokwim Valley as moderate southerly winds move into
the region. Most of the precipitation will stay to the north, but
the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay will initially start out as
snow in the morning. By mid-afternoon, warmer temperatures at the
surface will help transition to a wintry mix and then all rain for
the rest of the region. However, there is some uncertainty about
precipitation type timing and transition.

After this system pushes northward, the next warmer system
arrives shortly afterwards on Wednesday. Precipitation type is
likely to be predominately be rain as the atmospheric column of
air warms above the surface for the entire forecast area. Stay
tuned for further updates.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 to 3: Tonight
through Wednesday)...

A trough extending from the Kamchatka Peninsula to the western
Bering Sea will remain anchored through Monday. A low pressure
system pushes northward tonight, bringing precipitation and gales
along the Aleutian Chain and Pribilof Islands.

A strong North Pacific low is expected to approach the western
Aleutians early Monday. The leading frontal boundary will
overspread the western Aleutians by Monday afternoon, bringing
gusty southerly winds, elevated seas, and heavy precipitation.
There is moderate to high confidence for widespread gale force
winds, with localized areas of storm force winds between Monday
and Tuesday morning. As low lifts into the western Bering Sea, the
strongest core of the winds may shift to the west-southwest,
thereby producing a terrain channeling effect for the central
Aleutians (including Adak and Atka). There is also the potential
for gusts to reach hurricane force during that timeframe as some
colder air wraps around the low. A High Wind Watch is in effect
for the region from late Monday night to Tuesday morning.
Precipitation will initially start as snow followed by moderate to
heavy rain as warmer air surges across the Aleutians.

As the low lifts northward on Tuesday, the Pribilofs can see
increasing southerly gales to storm force winds and precipitation
as well. Conditions are expected to improve briefly on Tuesday
followed by a second system arriving midweek. There remains some
uncertainty with the timing and track with the second system, so
stay tuned for further updates.

&&

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

A more marked pattern change towards much more mild and wetter
conditions earlier in the week will be nearing it's end by the
beginning of the outlook period on Thursday. By this time, models
are in reasonable agreement that the strong longwave ridge axis
extending into Mainland Alaska will begin to flatten out and begin
to retreat southeast as successive shortwaves ride over the ridge
from the Bering and help break down the ridge in place. This
should shift the deep fetch of southwest flow and the associated
moisture tap south towards the Gulf as a briefly more zonal
pattern takes shape through Friday, with an effective cold front
progressing across the Southwest into Southcentral, changing any
falling precipitation solidly over to snow. A marked cooling and
drying trend should continue into the weekend as a broad upper
trough shifts from the eastern Bering towards the Gulf and as
renewed longwave ridging develops upstream across the Bering and
Aleutians. Much of the region out west will remain fairly active,
however, with a series of lows likely to track into the
central/western Bering around the periphery of the flat ridge
gradually amplifying with time. The latest global model solutions
are hinting at perhaps another much larger and stronger low,
potentially storm force, entering the western Bering late on
Sunday.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...High Wind Watch 187.
MARINE...Gale 130-132 155 165 172 177 180-185.
		 Storm 170 173-176 179.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...VR
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...KM
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...MF
LONG TERM...AS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 19, 3:20 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Feb 19, 3:20 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC13 hr
Feb 19, 3:22 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC13 hr
Feb 19, 3:22 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC48 hr
Feb 19, 3:23 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC13 hr
Feb 19, 3:23 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC13 hr
Feb 19, 3:48 PM AKSTHigh Wind WatchAFC13 hr
Feb 20, 3:54 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC11 hr
Feb 20, 3:54 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Feb 20, 4:11 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Feb 20, 4:11 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC3 days
Feb 20, 4:11 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC3 days
Feb 20, 4:11 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC35 hr
Feb 20, 4:11 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC35 hr
Feb 20, 4:39 AM AKSTHigh Wind WatchAFC11 hr

Nearby

High Wind Warnings in Alaska, 2023Every high wind warning in 2023

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.